Better Health Centre |+| Acne and Dermetologist

Acne Treatments – when should you visit a Dermatologist?

Author: Allan Johns

Although acne is a very common problem, it is something that can’t always be treated with over the counter acne treatments. 

For most people there is a much better chance of getting the positive results you want for your skin if you visit a dermatologist.  Even if you prefer to treat the acne on your own, it is still best to see a dermatologist. 

The reason for this is that when your acne is very serious or doesn’t seem to go away with over the counter acne medications, it could be something other than acne that needs to be treated right away.

If your acne is only minor and you don’t have any real concern that it could be something other than the normal every day variety then a home remedy or an over the counter cure should work just fine at getting rid of your acne. 

It isn’t until you have concerns that your skin problems are more than normal acne, that other treatments don’t seem to be helping, or your acne is severe that you will need to seek acne treatment from a dermatologist. 

Most acne cures that a dermatologist will prescribe are stronger and more effective than the ones found in pharmacies. 

Before you go in to see the dermatologist, make some notes about your experience with your acne.  For example, make a note about how long you have been dealing with acne problems, whether it typically shows up as blackheads, whiteheads, or lesions, whether your skin has had any bad reactions to certain products, whether you have sensitive, dry, or oily skin, and what types of acne treatments you have tried so far. 

Sometimes information about whether your family members have had problems with acne will be helpful too.  Other things that the dermatologist may ask about are whether you have any allergies. 

Females will need to provide information about their menstrual cycle and males will need to provide information about how often they shave.

Depending on what the doctor says about the severity of your acne and your history with acne, he/she will have different ideas about the most effective acne cure for you.  When your condition is severe, the doctor will typically lean towards antibiotics as the first best treatment. 

Antibiotics are typically taken orally, but can also be prescribed as lotions that you would apply to the effected area.  The purpose of the antibiotic is to get rid of the bacteria in your skin that is causing the acne.  This treatment can begin to work within weeks for some people and may take months to go into effect for others.

Another kind of acne treatment that the dermatologist may prescribe is topical treatment.  This uses ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and retinoic acid to remove dead skin cells and clean out the pores.

With most of the acne treatments, you can experience dry skin and other side effects.  If you experience severely dry, cracking skin or any of the other side effects while using the treatments, inform your dermatologist immediately.