As most of us may know, acne is a condition that plagues teenagers and sometimes women and men who are in their 30s and 40s.

While acne can be very mild with the mere presence of whiteheads and blackheads, it can be severe in some people with cysts that scar. According to Dr. Darst, the basic reason behind the triggering of acne is the plugging of the hair follicle or pore. When a patient goes through puberty, the skin at the top of the hair follicle or pore does not mature properly and flake off like it should. In addition, during this critical time period, the oil secreted by the oil gland around the hair follicle is much thicker and more easily causes a plug at the top of the hair follicle. This, in turn, causes what we know and see as blackheads and whiteheads.

The difference between a blackhead and whitehead depends on whether the pore is open and wide, or closed. When it is open and wide, the plug is visible, and when it is closed, the plug cannot be seen, which makes it look like a whitehead.

As more oil is produced and if the plug persists, then the hair follicle tends to dilate and fill with oil and turn into a red bump. As more inflammation and irritation occurs, it can be very red and may eventually lead to an acne cyst which will be a large and dilated collection of oil with an inflammation underneath the surface of the skin. As mentioned above, such cysts can often leave scars.

At Dr. Darst’s dermatology office, patients with acne are treated using several medications. Benzoyl peroxide is one such medication which helps to break down the plug and kill the bacteria that causes the acne. In addition, topical retinoids such as Retin-A, Differin and Tretinoin are used to treat acne. These medications, in effect, tell the cells at the top of the hair follicle to mature more properly and flake off as well as turn the skin over faster. In essence, these medications play an effective role in bringing the pimples through their lifecycle much faster, and eliminating them.

Furthermore, Dr. Darst uses topical anti-inflammatory agents like Clindamycin as well. However, in patients with ‘deeper’ acne, oral antibiotics such as Doxycycline and Minocycline are administered to diminish the redness and irritation, and also to heal the acne area and prevent more from occurring. In patients with more severe forms of acne, Dr. Darst provides treatment with isotretinoin (Accutane).

For a life free of the worry and low self esteem caused by acne, a visit to Dr. Darst’s dermatology office is a must! Call now and get your life transformed!