Acne
by Dr. Sandra Johnson, Johnson Dermatology

Acne is a very common condition that affects 85-100% of people. Ninety five percent of people with acne have post acne scarring. Acne causes a substantial amount of psychological distress.  Acne is one of my favorite conditions to treat because it blends medical and cosmetic dermatology so well.  Also it is very rewarding to see a teenager come into clinic with hair covering their face and looking at the ground not making eye contact at the first visit for acne.   Two to three months later when they return for their follow-up visit, their hair is out of their face, their head is held high, they are smiling and happy.  It is rewarding to not only make teenage acne better but also to make their lives better and happier. 

In addition to treating teens with acne, I also treat a lot of women ages 20 to 50 years with acne.  Although it is more difficult to treat non-teens with acne, it is equally rewarding.  I often simplify a woman’s skin care protocol, save her a lot of money spent on products, make her acne better and usually help prevent the effects of aging. 

There are many myths to acne including it is because you are dirty. One cannot scrub or clean away acne. There are a few stages of acne:
1. Blockage of a follicle or follicles (comedone)
2. Keratinaceous material gets plugged up behind the blockage (papule)
3. Bacteria colonize and live off the keratin (pustule)
4. This causes more inflammation (pustule)

There are many effective ways to treat acne. These include over the counter preparations that contain salicylic acid, glycolic acid or benzoyl peroxide. When these do not work, I advise evaluation from the dermatologist. We have stronger more effective medications. We also offer chemical peels and laser among other treatments to help acne. 

There are many myths to acne including that acne is a result of being dirty. The truth is that one cannot scrub or clean away acne.  Another myth is that eating pizza causes a pizza face.  There are some foods that may be linked with worsening of acne. These foods include milk and nuts.  A third myth is that tanning cures acne.  While it is true that tanning causes mutations in the skin that may lead to skin cancer and tanning decreases the immune response in the skin that may lessen the redness of acne; tanning will actually intensify the darkening of active acne lesions often known as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

To summarize, acne is a very common condition that deserves to be treated to prevent the emotional and physical scars that acne may leave behind.  For more information, please feel free to visit our website www.johnsondermatology.com or call our clinic 479-649-DERM.

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