Acne

Acne affects around 85% of people between ages 12 and 24, though it might reappear later in life. At Park City Dermatology in Park City and Heber City, Utah, board-certified dermatologists Karen Stolman, MD, and Jessica Collins, DO, provide personalized acne treatment using today’s latest therapies. To explore medical treatments for your acne, call Park City Dermatology or request an appointment online today.

How does acne start?

Your skin gets acne when it overproduces an oily substance called sebum. Sebum locks moisture into your skin and repels specific bacteria to keep your skin infection-free, but too much of it can build up and clog your pores. Pimples and other acne lesions form when pores get clogged with excess sebum, dead skin cells, and other debris. 

Bacteria tend to gather in clogged pores, which leads to the inflammation and redness you see on skin with acne. Some treatments focus on killing this bacteria to reduce inflammation and help skin heal. Other treatments focus on minimizing sebum production. 

While acne may go away with time, acne scars are much more likely to stick around. Acne scars are a result of the damage that inflammation does to your skin. To minimize acne scars, avoid picking at your skin or popping your pimples during an acne breakout. 

What are the risk factors for acne?

Many factors can increase your skin’s oil production, putting you at a higher risk for acne. Hormones are one of these factors, which is why acne is common among teenagers in puberty. You might also experience acne during pregnancy because of pregnancy-related hormone activity. 

Other factors that can contribute to or worsen acne are:

• Stress
• A carbohydrate-rich diet
• Certain medications (ex. corticosteroids, testosterone)
• Endocrine disorders
• Heavy or oily skin care products

Some of these factors won’t cause acne directly, but they won’t improve it either. Your dermatologist at Park City Dermatology can direct you to skin care products that won’t worsen a breakout. 

How can I get rid of my acne?

Clear and smooth skin is achievable even for those with the most severe cases of acne. Modern dermatology offers multiple highly effective treatments to reduce skin oiliness and the inflammation that comes with acne. 

Park City Dermatology specializes in acne management using all the latest treatments. After examining your skin and reviewing your medical history, your dermatologist might recommend:

• Laser treatment
• Acne extractions and facials
• Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatments
• Accutane® and other prescriptions

AviClear® laser treatment is an advanced acne solution that involves three quick treatments. The laser minimizes oil production to help clear your acne for good. You see continued improvements for several months after your final AviClear treatment.

To learn more about personalized acne care, call Park City Dermatology or schedule an appointment online today.