My Acne Is Embarrassing: Can You Help?

All over your skin, there are tiny holes called pores, and they can get clogged with dirt, bacteria, oil, and dead skin cells. When this happens, a blemish — often referred to as a pimple, zit, or whitehead — can develop. 

If you get blemishes pretty often, you may have a chronic skin condition known as acne. Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, and it most often affects adolescents and adults. But even with its commonality, acne can affect your self-confidence.

Oftentimes, acne can be painful and it can also leave some nasty scars behind, which can understandably cause emotional distress. So, if you’re feeling self-conscious about acne breakouts or acne scars, our team at Integrated Dermatology of 19th Street in Washington, DC, wants you to know that treatment options are available to you. 

Let’s take a look at what you need to know about how acne develops and how we can treat it.

What causes acne breakouts?

Acne is caused by one simple thing: clogged pores. However, how your pores get clogged varies from person to person. Anything from excess oil production (sebum) to bacteria to inflammation can fill up your pores. Typically, your face, back, chest, and shoulders are affected most by acne since that’s where the highest concentration of oil glands is.

These are some common triggers for clogged pores and acne breakouts:

• Using pore-clogging personal products such as cleansers or moisturizers
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy or puberty
• Stress
• Air pollution
• Wearing tight-fitting clothing
• Smoking cigarettes

It’s often believed that eating chocolate or not washing your face enough can lead to acne; however, there’s currently no evidence to connect those factors to acne breakouts.

Our treatment solutions for acne

If you have moderate to severe acne or mild acne that won’t clear up with over-the-counter methods, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for expert-level acne treatment. We can discuss our available options and help you decide which is best, depending on the acne severity and what your preferences are. 

For mild acne, we can recommend a skincare routine to follow and provide some helpful products that can keep your pores clean and clear of debris. Some of them may be prescription, but others might be available at your local drugstore.

In the case of severe acne that’s cystic and painful, oral antibiotics or cortisone injections are incredibly effective.

For acne scarring, we offer chemical peels and laser treatments to resurface your skin and encourage the production of skin-renewing collagen.

To get started with any of our acne treatments, schedule an appointment by calling 202-955-6995 or using our online booking feature today.