Trauma of teen acne terminated with treatment
No teenager wants to see even a single pimple on their face at any time. But according to the American Dermatologist Association, 85 percent of all teens will bypass the occasional pimple and deal with outright acne. Of those, at least 25 percent will have permanent scarring from severe to light from their bouts with acne. Twenty percent of adults suffer from acne, which, when combined with teens, show an estimated 60 million Americans facing acne daily.
Despite how difficult dealing with acne can be and how many suffer from it, only 11 percent of individuals actually seek treatment. Most dermatologists agree that is something that needs to change, including area dermatologist Dr. Rene Bermudez D.O.
“There is no reason today for an individual to suffer from acne,” he said. “There are lots of great medications and treatments available for even the most difficult cases. Many of these treatments combine several medications into one product making it much simpler to use. No one should be struggling with acne today.”
Bermudez added that acne engulfs more than just problems with your skin. It is technically a skin disease that can impact your life.
“There are social implications for acne sufferers,” he said. “Having acne can affect your self-esteem, self-confidence and social life. It impacts more than your skin.”
The number one myth associated with acne is that poor hygiene causes it; this is not true in the least. According to Bermudez, acne may be caused by a number of reasons, all out of the control of the individual.
“Acne can be defined as one pimple or complete coverage,” he said. “Most teenagers encounter some form of acne and some are more complicated cases than others. As for the cause of acne, it has been linked to hormonal changes, which increase the oil glands of the skin. It has also been linked to genetics, as well as to an anaerobic organism that promotes inflammation. The notion that it is caused from not cleaning your skin is just unfounded and not true. In fact, sometimes the more you overly wash and scrub the worse things get.”
Another unfounded truth regarding acne is that only teenagers get it. Dr. Bermudez said he sees patients, both male and female, in their twenties, thirties and forties dealing with acne. He also said that treatment for adults is completely different than for teens because the pathophysiology of an adult is so different than that of teens and that hormones are a bigger culprit in adult acne than teens.
“The best news about acne, regardless of your age, is that it is treatable,” Bermudez said. “There are many good medications that are reasonable and effective. The majority of these are covered by insurance, but everyone’s insurance plan is different. I am very cost conscious for those that are self-paying and there are generic medications that are equally effective. The point is, no one should suffer embarrassment, low self-esteem issues or feel badly about their skin because it can be treated.”
In addition to professional treatment, Bermudez said that many over-the-counter products may help in cases of mild acne. However, factors such as oily versus dry skin, as well as summer humidity versus winter weather, may affect the regiment you choose to use.
“The goal is to avoid scarring and to improve an individual’s self-esteem,” Bermudez added. “The main message I want to impart is that many treatments exist and that acne sufferers should not hesitate to seek help.”
There are also practical things an individual can do to help alleviate some acne. Bermudez suggests washing very gently and avoid scrubbing hard on the face. Also, if you notice breakouts in certain areas, such as the forehead or the neck, you might want to experiment with different hair products, gels and sprays because sometimes the chemicals in these tend to clump in certain areas and cause trouble. Some of these products say non-acne forming on their label and many times dermatologists are consulted to guide companies so skin care can be considered.
Treating acne is an important goal for most individuals struggling with the condition. If you’ve tried many over-the-counter products and other conventional methods you may want to consider a consultation with a dermatologist. Regardless of your age, no one wants to deal with acne and no one has to today.
Despite how difficult dealing with acne can be and how many suffer from it, only 11 percent of individuals actually seek treatment. Most dermatologists agree that is something that needs to change, including area dermatologist Dr. Rene Bermudez D.O.
“There is no reason today for an individual to suffer from acne,” he said. “There are lots of great medications and treatments available for even the most difficult cases. Many of these treatments combine several medications into one product making it much simpler to use. No one should be struggling with acne today.”
Bermudez added that acne engulfs more than just problems with your skin. It is technically a skin disease that can impact your life.
“There are social implications for acne sufferers,” he said. “Having acne can affect your self-esteem, self-confidence and social life. It impacts more than your skin.”
The number one myth associated with acne is that poor hygiene causes it; this is not true in the least. According to Bermudez, acne may be caused by a number of reasons, all out of the control of the individual.
“Acne can be defined as one pimple or complete coverage,” he said. “Most teenagers encounter some form of acne and some are more complicated cases than others. As for the cause of acne, it has been linked to hormonal changes, which increase the oil glands of the skin. It has also been linked to genetics, as well as to an anaerobic organism that promotes inflammation. The notion that it is caused from not cleaning your skin is just unfounded and not true. In fact, sometimes the more you overly wash and scrub the worse things get.”
Another unfounded truth regarding acne is that only teenagers get it. Dr. Bermudez said he sees patients, both male and female, in their twenties, thirties and forties dealing with acne. He also said that treatment for adults is completely different than for teens because the pathophysiology of an adult is so different than that of teens and that hormones are a bigger culprit in adult acne than teens.
“The best news about acne, regardless of your age, is that it is treatable,” Bermudez said. “There are many good medications that are reasonable and effective. The majority of these are covered by insurance, but everyone’s insurance plan is different. I am very cost conscious for those that are self-paying and there are generic medications that are equally effective. The point is, no one should suffer embarrassment, low self-esteem issues or feel badly about their skin because it can be treated.”
In addition to professional treatment, Bermudez said that many over-the-counter products may help in cases of mild acne. However, factors such as oily versus dry skin, as well as summer humidity versus winter weather, may affect the regiment you choose to use.
“The goal is to avoid scarring and to improve an individual’s self-esteem,” Bermudez added. “The main message I want to impart is that many treatments exist and that acne sufferers should not hesitate to seek help.”
There are also practical things an individual can do to help alleviate some acne. Bermudez suggests washing very gently and avoid scrubbing hard on the face. Also, if you notice breakouts in certain areas, such as the forehead or the neck, you might want to experiment with different hair products, gels and sprays because sometimes the chemicals in these tend to clump in certain areas and cause trouble. Some of these products say non-acne forming on their label and many times dermatologists are consulted to guide companies so skin care can be considered.
Treating acne is an important goal for most individuals struggling with the condition. If you’ve tried many over-the-counter products and other conventional methods you may want to consider a consultation with a dermatologist. Regardless of your age, no one wants to deal with acne and no one has to today.
Published: August 1, 2011
