Acne

Acne is a common skin complaint among both teens and adults. Fortunately, help is available through the care of Alisa Seeberger, FNP-C, of Seeberger Dermatology in Alamogordo, New Mexico. When you’re ready to take action to improve the look and feel of your skin, schedule a consultation online or over the phone.

What is acne?

Acne is a very common skin condition characterized by blemishes. Some people only experience mild acne and occasional breakouts and don’t always need treatment. For others, acne is a painful condition that makes it hard to feel confident about the appearance of their skin. Advanced acne can cause significant scarring if left untreated. 

Acne can take many forms, including:

• Whiteheads
• Blackheads
• Papules
• Pimples (pustules)
• Nodules
• Cystic acne (severe nodular acne)

It’s not uncommon for people to simultaneously have more than one form of acne. 

What causes acne?

To understand how acne develops, it helps to think about the way your hair follicles normally function. Your skin is covered in thousands of follicles, each of which looks like a tiny tunnel into the deeper layers of your skin. 

A hair root lies at the base of each follicle, creating hair cells that stack up and exit your skin. Oil, dead skin cells, and debris also make their way out of your skin through your hair follicles. When a follicle becomes clogged, bacteria within the follicle rapidly multiply, creating the swollen bumps associated with acne. 

Some additional factors that cause or contribute to acne include:

• Excess oil production within a follicle
• Bacteria growth within a follicle
• Dead skin cells accumulating in a follicle

Hormonal fluctuations, certain medications, and genetic factors can also increase your risk of developing acne. Factors like stress, an unhealthy diet, and picking at your skin don’t cause acne but can worsen breakouts. 

Are there treatments that can help with acne?

There are several ways to fight acne. Oral medications like Accutane® are a good fit for certain types of acne that don’t respond to other options, but drug therapy carries a risk of side effects. 

Topical medications can help control breakouts by preventing or slowing bacterial growth. Women sometimes find relief through hormonal birth control pills, which help balance hormone production. 

Corticosteroid injections can soothe large, deep breakouts like cystic acne but don’t prevent future issues. Light therapy is a good fit for many people and helps clear mild to moderate acne breakouts. 

When you come for your personalized consultation, your practitioner discusses which acne treatments best align with your needs. Call or schedule your visit online today.