for those struggling with acne ⤵️
, says not to wait too long to see a dermatologist. “I think, for some reason, many people try to deal with acne on their own for too long,” she says. “I think people should just know that if acne is something they're dealing with, they don't need to suffer with it for long periods of time. We have so many wonderful treatments for acne.” Dr. Elbuluk emphasizes this for moderate and severe cases that are at risk of scarring.Dr.
If acne is severe enough, Dr. Palm says, dermatologists can also write prescriptions for oral antibiotics, which help prevent scarring and get acne under control much quicker. Also, she often prescribes Spironolactone, an anti-androgen that is particularly effective in treating hormonal acne. As with the nuance of going to any dermatologist, however, everyone’s treatment will look different and be dependent on severity and various factors, including having sensitive skin.
Dr. Elbuluk says she wants to be proactive in getting those patients on the appropriate treatment early on, and getting them on treatments that can help resolve their pigmentation and acne together. “That's where your dermatologist can be very helpful at not just figuring out what kind of acne you have, but understanding your skin type and what the right treatment regimen is for you,” she explains.
Dr. Elbuluk agrees that patients need to stick to the recommended dosage. “Sometimes patients are really eager to see results, so they think [if] they use more of a medication they will get faster results," she notes. "But that's often quite the contrary, as you can cause irritation to the skin.”You’re following your dermatologist’s guidelines but are eager to see results.