Acne

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions treated by a dermatology expert.  Acne is a skin condition problem affecting teenagers going through puberty, but it can affect adults too. Our dermatology physician assistant, Megan Eisel, PA-C, CAQ-Derm at Driftless Skin Center in Dubuque, IA can help you if you are dealing with acne.

What Causes Acne?

Acne is typically caused by debris, excess oil, and dirt clogging your pores. Other causes of acne include diet, genetic factors, and hormonal changes.

Types of Acne

There are several types of acne blemishes. The most common types of acne are blackheads, whiteheads, and painful cystic acne.

Acne Treatment Options

Over-the-counter acne products often have chemicals and abrasive agents which can irritate your skin. A better solution to troublesome acne is to visit your dermatologist or dermatology physician assistant, who may recommend:

Prescription topical or oral antibiotics to kill the underlying bacteria causing an infection in your pores. This is an excellent solution for cystic acne.

Benzoyl peroxide products to unblock clogged pores. This treatment is a great choice to treat blackheads and whiteheads.

Tretinoin medications to clear pores. Tretinoin is often recommended for severe cases of acne.

Isotretinoin therapy for severe or refractory nodulocystic acne

Extraction treatment to entirely remove blackheads and whiteheads.

What You Can Do To Prevent Acne

There are some simple tips you can follow to help prevent acne breakouts. You should:

• Exercise regularly to remove toxins and dirt from your body
• Practice stress reduction techniques to reduce acne breakouts
• Limit or eliminate greasy foods, soda, and dairy from your diet
• Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily to flush toxins from your body
• Clean and disinfect your cell phone regularly to prevent oils from transferring to your face
• Use non-comedogenic makeup to prevent pore blockage
• Change your pillowcase at least once each week to help keep your face clean
• Avoid touching your face to limit transferring bacteria and dirt onto your face
• Always clean your face before going to bed

Want To Learn More?

To learn more about the prevention and treatment of acne, talk with an expert-our dermatology physician assistant. Call Megan Eisel, PA-C, CAQ-Derm at Driftless Skin Center in Dubuque, IA. You can reach her in the office by calling (563) 900-8922, so call today.