Acne
-
- Tweet
Heber Valley Dermatology
General Dermatology & Cosmetic Dermatology located in Heber City, UT
Acne can cause significant emotional distress as well as irritation and pain. If you or your child has an acne problem or scarring from previous bouts of acne, Jessica Collins, DO, at Heber Valley Dermatology can help. Dr. Collins and the team use a range of treatments to help reduce the severity of acne and improve the appearance of acne scars. Schedule your consultation by calling one of the two Heber Valley Dermatology offices in Heber City, Utah, or use the convenient online booking tool.
Acne Q&A
What is acne?
When you have acne, your skin develops clusters of spots or pimples that are red and uncomfortable. Acne is a skin condition that’s common, especially in younger people, although it can develop when you’re older too.
Your skin is continually shedding dead cells that typically fall away. If you have acne, your dead skin cells get trapped by sebum, which is an oil produced by your skin. The sebum and dead skin cells clog up the pores in your skin.
Your skin can also have an overgrowth of bacteria called cutibacterium acnes (p. acnes). If the p. acnes bacteria get into the pores blocked with sebum and dead skin cells, they can multiply rapidly. As a result, your pores get red, swell, and become painful. Severe bacterial infections can cause acne nodules or cysts to develop.
Acne is irritating and painful, and if you have the condition, you may feel embarrassed about the way you look. Severe acne can also cause facial scarring.
How is acne treated?
Dr. Collins provides effective medical treatments to relieve the symptoms of acne. You might need antibiotics like Bactrim to kill the p. acnes bacteria or medications like isotretinoin. She may also recommend topical ointments containing salicylic acid, glycolic acid, or a retinoid such as adapalene (Differin Gel).
Deep cleansing facials and chemical peels can help remove the dead skin cells and unblock your pores. Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments also help resolve acne by killing the p. acnes bacteria.
How is acne scarring treated?
Dr. Collins can help reduce the appearance of acne scarring using several innovative approaches like microneedling or laser therapy.
Microneedling involves creating a large number of tiny abrasions on your skin. The damage isn’t harmful, but it’s enough to stimulate your body’s natural repair system into producing new collagen fibers. These fibers help to heal your skin and reduce acne scarring.
Non-ablative fractional CO2 laser treatment is another option that uses microscopic laser columns to resurface your skin. The laser promotes collagen growth that repairs scar damage. It also promotes rapid healing, as it’s able to target the scars precisely and leave the surrounding skin untouched.
If you have acne or want to get rid of acne scars, call Heber Valley Dermatology to book an appointment online today to schedule a consultation.
