Acne Therapies

Make-up

All make-up and cosmetics should be non-comedogenic, hypoallergenic, and oil-free. Moisturizer/sunscreen with an SPF OF 30 should be used each morning as well.

Benzoyl Peroxide and Azelaic Acid

 These medicines work against both the small skin colored bumps and kill the bacteria. BP can cause skin irritation and bleach clothes, so be careful when you apply it.

Retinoids (Retin-A, Differin, Retinoic Acid)

 These medicines work against the small white bumps as well as whitehead and blackheads. They also reduce inflammation. They can, be very irritating, so begin slowly. They also make your face more sensitive to the sun because of the new skin, so that is why we use them at night.

Antibiotics

Tetracycline, Doxycycline (Monodox), Minocycline (Dynacin and Minocin), Erythromycin, Clindamycin, Metronidazole, Bactrim, others Antibiotics are used primarily to decrease inflammation. They also reduce bacteria and prevent the “pus” cells from entering into the skin. Tetracycline must be taken without food, on an empty stomach. Otherwise, the food will grab hold of the drug and take it away. Doxycycline may rarely make your skin more sensitive to the sun. All antibiotics may cause dizziness, headache, skin staining, vaginal yeast infections and stomach upset. This usually goes away after stopping the drug.

Isotretinoin (Claravis, Amnesteem, Isotret)

 A derivative of vitamin A, this drug is the nearest thing to a cure we have for acne. It dries up the secretions of the follicular glands, decreases oil, and reduces inflammation. Patients with severe acne or rosacea, or resistant cases of either disease, may be prescribed this medication as first-line therapy.

Accutane: Weighing Real Risks and Real Benefits

Spironolactone

This diuretic and blood pressure medication works by blocking testosterone from stimulating the sebaceous glands. This medicine is used in women only.

Spironolactone Therapy for Recalcitrant Acne

Acne Phototherapy (with and without ALA-PDT)

This is a light-based treatment that can give excellent results in mild to moderate acne.

IPL Acne Therapy

IPL, Intense Pulse Light, is one of the safest acne treatments and is effective on mild to moderate in flammatory acne. This therapy works by causing oxygen to form within the glands responsible for acne. The bacteria that live in the glands die in the presence of oxygen and the acne inflammation goes away.

IPL Acne Therapy featuring the Viora Trios

Lo Dose Isotretinoin Therapy

Lo Dose Isotretinoin is a therapy plan where very low doses of the medicine are given for long periods of time to help keep desultory breakouts under control. Because so little medicine is used, there are rarely any side-effects such as dryness or skin irritation.

Consultation on LoDose Isotretinoin