Summertime and Acne … It’s the Worst!
Did you know that the summer months are more difficult for those who suffer with acne? According to a study published by The Journal of Dermatology, the majority of patients said their acne is worse when temperatures rise. Why? The summer heat, sweat and humidity all work to increase oil production in the skin. This is probably why June is recognized as Acne Awareness Month.
Acne is the most common skin problem in the country. It often begins in puberty but can also affect adults in their 20s, 30s, 40s and even into the 50s. Most acne appears on the face, but it can also show up on the shoulders, upper arms, chest, neck and back. Untreated acne can be emotionally damaging, especially for teens, and can lead to scarring.
Common Causes of Acne
Nearly 85 percent of all people get acne at some point in their lives; and by the mid-teen years, more than 40 percent of teens have acne or acne scarring. Below are the most common causes of acne:
- Overproduction of oil by enlarged oil glands in the skin
- Blockage of the hair follicles that release oil
- Growth of bacteria called acnes within the hair follicles
- Pores clogged with dead skin cells
- Bacteria causing inflammation within pores
- Environmental factors, such as humidity, that cause skin swelling
- Medications
- Genetic factors
- Hormonal changes
Tips for Managing Acne in the Summer
There are things you can do to help reduce the occurrence of breakouts during the summer months. Here are a few:
- Wear sunscreen. Many acne medications make the skin more sun-sensitive. That’s why it’s important to up your sunscreen game in the summer. Be sure you are using a sunscreen with SPF of at least 30. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before you plan to be in the sun and every 90 minutes while you are out in the sun. Reapply after swimming.
- Eat fresh fruit and stay hydrated. Fruits like berries are rich in antioxidants that help the skin heal and melons like cantaloupe help stimulate collagen growth in your skin. Be sure to drink eight glasses of water daily to keep your body and skin well hydrated.
- Skip heavy makeup foundation. Heavy foundation can block pores. Keep your makeup simple during the hot days of summer.
- Be consistent with your acne treatment program. Even if your acne improves, do not stop your treatment program. This will help prevent future breakouts.
Treatment for Acne
While acne is not curable, your Water’s Edge dermatologist can create a treatment plan that helps control and prevent breakouts. Treatment options include:
- Topical prescriptions
- Acne surgery
- Microdermabrasion
- Oral antibiotics or birth control pills
- Photodynamic therapy
In honor of Acne Awareness Month, Water’s Edge is offering our Teen Clear Skin Treatment for a special price of $90 in June. If you or a teen you know is suffering from acne, purchase them the Teen Clear Skin Treatment today. It is a non-prescription product that promotes clearer skin and helps prevent future breakouts.
5 Tips to Help Your Teen Overcome Acne
Acne is the most common skin disorder in the U.S. and affects 40 to 50 million Americans. Just when appearance often becomes so important to teens acne can strike and strike hard. By the mid-teens, more than 40 percent of adolescents have acne.
At Water’s Edge Dermatology, teens come to see our acne experts tens of thousands of times each year. We know that acne can take a toll on a teen’s outlook on life, social adjustment, and even school performance. Studies show that teen acne can result in lower self-esteem, poor body image, social withdrawal, depression, anger, and frustration.
The good news is that there are things that parents can do to help teens overcome acne, starting with these five steps from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD):
Tip 1: Take acne seriously
Telling your teen that acne will clear up on its own may do more harm than good. Kids with acne may be bullied and called names like “pizza face” or “crater face.” Studies have shown that when acne clears, self-esteem also rises. Treatment can help prevent acne from getting worse. Without treatment, acne sometimes becomes severe and may leave permanent scars
Tip 2: Be cautious about reminding your teen to use acne treatment
It’s true that for treatment to work, your teen must use it. But because they are teenagers, daily parental reminders sometimes feel like nagging and may actually backfire. Fewer reminders may be more effective. Do help your teen keep all of their dermatology appointments. Studies have shown that teens are more likely to follow a treatment plan right before and after an appointment.
Tip 3: Reduce stress
Just about everything can be stressful during teenage years. Stress can cause acne to flare up, so do what you can to reduce stressful situations for your teen, encouraging physical activity, build into their schedules downtime to chill out, and share the importance of just taking a moment to pause and take a deep breath.
Tip 4: Watch for signs of depression
Acne can affect how teens feel about themselves and can lead to depression, anxiety or both. Watch for these signs:
- Sadness lasting 2 weeks or longer
- Loss of interest in activities your teen once enjoyed
- Avoiding social activities
If you spot any of these behaviors, seek professional counseling to help you help your teen. At some point, once you are confident your teen is ready, consider seeing a dermatologist for acne treatment.
Tip 5: Let your teen have the freedom to meet with the dermatologist alone
Allowing your teen the opportunity to meet with the dermatologist without you in the room can help the doctor find out what your teen wants, develop a treatment plan that makes sense to the teen, and create a trusting medical relationship that will make it more likely that your teen will follow treatment regimens and keep follow-up appointments.
Water’s Edge dermatologists can treat your teen’s acne and help prevent new breakouts from occurring, with several treatment options customized to meet your teen’s needs. Click here to request an appointment Request an appointment.
How to Deal With Period-Related Skin Problems
When we talk about menstrual skin, we’re talking about a whole range of skin problems women can encounter during their menstrual cycle each month.
Between the ages of 10-15, most girls begin to menstruate, i.e., they start getting their monthly period. This shedding of tissues and blood from the uterine lining occurs every month for the next 40-something years in most women.
Powerful hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, which help regulate your skin’s ongoing elasticity, circulation and appearance, also control menstruation. That means your period and your skin condition are intimately related, for decades.
The hormonal changes associated even with normal menstruation alone can wreak havoc on a woman’s skin. Added to that, some women also struggle with hormonal imbalances and menstrual cycle irregularities – adding to skin problems such as acne, dryness and flakiness, excessive facial and body hair.
So, what menstrual skin changes occur during your period? Are there special skin care tips for healthy, glowing skin at every stage of your monthly cycle? Here’s the lowdown on menstrual skin, and how to cope with it.
The Menstrual Cycle & Skin Changes
With the start of each monthly period and menstrual cycle, estrogen levels fall and tend to give your skin a dull, washed-out appearance. Then as if that’s not challenge enough, while you’re on your period, your skin is drier and more sensitive than usual.
But have the smartphone and selfie-stick ready for the days immediately after menstruation; because that’s when your skin is at its healthiest.
Then towards the end of the menstrual cycle, just before your next cycle and period begin, progesterone, testosterone and cortisol levels all go up, helping lead to excessive oil production and sending many women with acne-prone skin into an outbreak.
Menstrual Skin Care: What to do when?
For dull, flaky skin at the start of your period:
- Moisturize with gentle skin care products that help retain moisture
- Hydrate from the inside out by drinking plenty of water
- Eat healthy fats, such as avocado, nuts, and fish
For dry, sensitive skin during your period:
- Calm and soothe with gentle products containing Aloe Vera and chamomile
- Use only a lightweight moisturizer, since the roller-coaster that is your menstrual cycle will have you overproducing oil within a couple of weeks
- Improve circulation and nourish your skin with regular exercise
- Eat vitamin-rich foods, such as broccoli, almonds, and fruit
To maximize skin benefits immediately after your period:
- Go easy on make-up and let your skin breathe
- Consider a HydraFacial to extract pore-clogging, acne-causing debris from your skin
- Eat and drink foods rich in anti-oxidants, such as green tea
For oily, acne-prone skin in the premenstrual period:
- Cleanse with gentle products containing salicylic acid
- Exfoliate and moisturize with an oil-free moisturizer
- Eat acne-fighting foods and avoid greasy foods
All-in-all, it can be daunting, trying to maintain healthy, glowing skin at each stage of your menstrual cycle. But it is entirely possible, and worth the effort. Plenty of sleep, a healthy diet, regular exercise and some basic skin care; these are the first steps. They should lay a solid foundation for maintaining healthy, attractive skin throughout your menstrual cycle.
And if you run into a menstrual skin problem persistently pestering you that you just cannot seem to solve; it’s time to consult with your professional partner in skincare – hopefully one of our outstanding ed providers located across South-Central Florida.
Three Major Misconceptions & Myths About Professional Acne Treatment
We’ve heard more than our share of acne treatment myths in recent years; from how people get acne, to how they can get rid of it, and just about everything in between. Let’s look at three of the more common misconceptions about professional acne treatment.
Myth 1: Dermatologists are basically professional strength pimple-poppers
This is probably the biggest myth about what dermatologists bring to the table when treating acne here in 2018. If psychiatrists are sometimes referred to as “shrinks”, and chiropractors as “bone crackers”, maybe it's understandable that dermatologists are labeled by some (we forgive you!) as glorified “pimple poppers”. But, it's also inaccurate.
Popping pimples is what plenty of people choose to do for themselves already. Plenty more watch graphic videos of the process on YouTube. But our Water’s Edge Dermatology acne experts and others will tell you, pimple-popping is perhaps the worst thing you can do to cystic acne.
This inflammatory act may satisfy an emotional need in the heat of an impulsive moment. But it traumatizes the pimple – both the clogged pore and the skin surrounding it. Your fingers may also be introducing bacteria to your skin and bloodstream that can actually worsen an acne outbreak.
Perhaps the worst part about giving in to frustration and impulsively popping a pimple (or carefully plotting the dark deed for days, either way!) is that it greatly increases your risk of developing an acne scar—either a permanent depression or bump.
So, no; professional acne treatment by a credentialed, qualified dermatology provider has nothing to do with pimple popping. The provider actually uses a very thin, sterilized needle to inject the pimple with medicine, usually an anti-inflammatory. Within minutes to hours, the pimple shrinks from the inside, which smooths the skin. No blood, pus, popping or scarring involved.
Myth 2: I had isotretinoin treatment, so I can’t have a facial
People with severe acne sometimes need a powerful oral medication called isotretinoin. Doctors used to caution patients to wait up to a year after stopping isotretinoin treatment before having cosmetic procedures and/or aesthetic treatments. Imagine just how frustrating that would be. You’re finally getting control of your acne with the right medication – but then hear you have to wait a year to have treatments that could rid you of acne scars and blemishes!
Thankfully, a panel of experts has concluded that there isn’t sufficient evidence to support such cautionary recommendations or restrictions any longer. While patients who have taken oral isotretinoin should still avoid mechanical dermabrasion and laser ablation procedures for 6-12 months, that’s all they need to avoid. There is no good reason to avoid manual dermabrasion, superficial chemical peels, laser hair removal, fractional laser procedures, or even some forms of facial surgery. If you have taken isotretinoin and want a cosmetic treatment or aesthetic procedure, discuss what for you with your cosmetic dermatology provider.
Myth 3: Stronger (more highly concentrated) treatments are always better
While a “stronger” dose makes sense for many medications (e.g. extra strength pain relievers, maximum strength cold relief, etc.), a higher concentration on the label doesn’t necessarily mean an acne treatment is any better for treating acne, or better for you.
When you apply something to your skin for acne, there’s a delicate balance between effectiveness and irritation. Products like benzoyl peroxide do tend to work a little better at higher concentrations. But the maximum concentration isn’t the best for everyone. In fact, many skin products such as benzoyl peroxide can be highly irritating to the skin at higher concentrations.
The bottom line on “stronger” formulas is to proceed with caution, always doing spot tests of any topical ointment being introduced to your skin for the first time. The most foolproof way to be sure you’re getting the best possible treatment for your particular skin and acne, at the right concentration and strength, is to find a Water’s Edge Dermatology office near you and receive professional acne treatment and guidance from a licensed, credentialed and experienced dermatology provider.
What’s New & Effective in Acne Treatments?
For teenagers and adults alike, acne is a difficult condition to live with. Finding the right acne treatment for your unique skin can be even more challenging. Anyone who's struggled with acne will tell you it can flare up at any time, for no apparent reason. Being prepared with expert advice and effective treatment options is key to managing the most common skin problem on earth -- with about 80 percent of adults having suffered with acne issues at some stage of life.
For some people, using the same topical spot cream can work for years. Others try every new acne product that hits the market. The problem lies with not knowing which acne treatments really work, and which are actually inferior and/or ineffective products propped up by marketing spin . It’s also impossible to predict how your skin will respond to the newest gel, lotion, mask, or tablet.
That’s why you need the right professional partner in skincare to advise, guide, and provide you with an extra level of difference-making acne care when needed. To clarify the current situation, here’s a look at what’s new in acne treatments.
Online Dermatology Visits for Acne
A study published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, has shown that photos taken by patients on a smartphone and submitted through a technology platform called NORA, can be as effective in monitoring and treating acne as in-office encounters with a dermatologist.
Another study with 8,000 participants is currently underway, and early findings are encouraging. They suggest that virtual dermatology services such as Water’s Edge Online Dermatology Visits can be a convenient, affordable, and effective way to consult board-certified dermatologists about acne and other skin problems.
Accutane Still Works for Many, and May Actually Help Depression
Isotretinoin (Accutane) is a medication that has been used for years to treat severe acne, providing much success for many patients. But it has long been thought that this highly effective acne drug might also trigger depression and other psychological problems for some people.
Now, however, a new meta-analysis of more than 30 studies has found that isotretinoin may actually help relieve depressive symptoms. The findings, which were published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, show that the incidence of depression is lower and depression scores actually improve following treatment with isotretinoin.
Laser & Light-Based Acne Treatments
While Laser skin resurfacing is beneficial in reducing acne scars and improving the overall appearance of the skin, new light-based treatments are an emerging alternative. These therapies for inflammatory acne have a solid safety profile, with no increased risk of bacterial resistance.
A couple of words of caution as you learn more about laser and light-based acne treatments. Home-use devices for light therapy can be far less effective than in-office treatments. There are countless such products for sale online, but none will match the strength and effectiveness of in-office procedures. Also, know that light therapy is usually most effective when used in combination with more proven treatments.
New Nitric Oxide Gel Acne Treatment
Researchers at Novan, Inc. have studied the physiology of acne and developed a new nitric oxide gel that has a different mechanism of action than traditional topical treatments. The SB204 gel stops the inflammatory process and treats acne in a completely new way.
Traditional acne treatment with retinoid drugs treats the condition by peeling and shedding the skin. The new nitric oxide gel is gentler on the skin. In terms of safety, the findings of a placebo-controlled trial show that the gel does not lead to an increase in the systemic level of nitrate. In addition, the gel does not affect the cardiovascular system. This new nitric oxide gel for acne is expected to hit the market by 2019.
All the above and other such upcoming advances in acne treatment can be quality-of-life-savers for teens seeking acne treatment, and for millions of adult acne sufferers as well. What’s most important is to find the right dermatology practice and professional skincare partner in your area. Because whether it’s teen or adult acne, it’s a confounding skin condition best managed in tandem with an experienced dermatology provider at your disposal.