Acne

What is acne?

A skin condition, acne is most common during your teen years, but develops in adults, too. Whatever your age, you may feel embarrassed about your acne and self-conscious about your appearance. 

Overly oily skin, bacteria, and hormones are to blame for acne, which occurs when oil and dead skin cells clog your hair follicles. Acne appears on your face, forehead, upper back, shoulders, and chest. An often persistent condition, acne can leave long-lasting scars.

What are the symptoms of acne?

Your symptoms depend on the severity of your acne. Usually, you can expect to see one or more of these symptoms:  

• Pimples
• Small, red, tender bumps 
• Pus-filled bumps below your skin (cystic lesions)
• Large, firm bumps under your skin (nodules)
• Blackheads
• Whiteheads

How is acne treated?

At Coastal Dermatology & Medspa, there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to acne treatment. Dr. Goyal tailors your acne treatment regime to your type of acne and the condition of your skin. Treatment can include face washes, facials, topical creams, and nutritional counseling.

Medications can also help, by causing your skin to produce less oil, fighting bacteria on your skin, speeding up the renewal of skin cells, and reducing inflammation — which helps prevent acne scars. 

You should expect to wait at least 4-8 weeks to see clearer, healthier skin after starting prescription medicines. Your skin may look worse for a short time before it gets better.

Can changing my diet clear up acne?

What you eat affects your skin. That’s because your skin is a giant organ that’s influenced by your diet, environment, and many other factors.

To clear up your acne, you may benefit from cutting back on dairy products, including milk, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. You also may want to avoid foods that produce a hormone called insulin-like growth factor 1, which is linked to oily skin and acne. 

Foods to avoid include:

• Bread, especially white bread and bagels
• Sugary breakfast cereals
• Instant cereals
• Melons, pineapples, pumpkins, and potatoes

If your acne is troubling you, and you’d like to learn more about your options for a clearer complexion, call or schedule an appointment online today with Coastal Dermatology & Medspa.