I'm Embarrassed About My Acne: Can You Help?

Severe cystic acne can create painful blemishes and leave lasting scars. Even less severe outbreaks can put a dent in your self-confidence! Acne outbreaks are frustrating, in addition to causing embarrassment and potentially lowering your self-esteem.

At Apex Dermatology of Westlake Village, California, Dr. Karin Harp, Dr. Aria Vazirnia and the Apex team of skin care experts are here to help you get your acne problem under control. They can evaluate your skin and recommend the right acne solutions and treatments to keep you acne-free. Dr. Harp. Dr. Aria, Kristin Rupert PA-C, and Mary Hanna BC-NP can also recommend treatments to reduce scarring or marks from past outbreaks.

Recent studies and expert experience show that it is important to control acne early to prevent marks and scarring. If brown spots, pink spots, pits or dents are already happening, early intervention can make a tremendous difference.

What’s causing your acne?

Acne is common in the T-zone area of your face, across your forehead and around your nose and chin. Cheeks and temples, back, chest, and even the neck can be involved. The jawline can also be an active acne area for many people. You may experience pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, or cystic acne. 

The first place to start with controlling your embarrassing or uncomfortable acne issues is to figure out what’s happening in your skin that results in acne outbreaks. Acne can result from several different causes.

Genetics and family history can contribute to being acne prone. Stress can contribute. Changes in climate, food, or care regimen can also make things harder to control.

Acne outbreaks often occur due to the presence of harmful bacteria on the surface of your skin. Your skin might be producing too much oil, leading to clogged pores and the formation of pimples. Clogged hair follicles can result in acne, as well.

Your hormones can also play a role in adult acne. Do you notice that you’re more prone to flare ups at certain times of the month? For some people, acne comes down to heredity, as the issue can tend to run in families.

And, triggers like medications, elements of your diet, or changes to your cosmetic or household products could even play a factor in your acne outbreaks.

Addressing your acne

Once our Board-Certified Dermatologists and their team learn more about the causes of your acne, it’s time to get started putting together your customized skin care treatment plan to resolve current outbreaks, deal with remaining scarring, and reduce the frequency and intensity of your acne problem in the future.

Medication management is one effective approach to acne control and prevention. With the support of Dr. Harp and the team at Apex Dermatology, you can explore your skincare regimen, topical medications, get assistance to block hormone effects in the skin, start in-office acne treatments, perhaps have blue light treatment, and if needed start powerful acne-specific drugs like isotretinoin to clear up your skin for the long run.

You might need to make some changes in your lifestyle or skin care routines to prevent acne. Talk to Team Apex about potentially helpful changes in your diet, skin care products, and elsewhere in your life that could help reduce the frequency and intensity of acne outbreaks.

At Apex Dermatology, we offer medical facials and peels as well as Hydrafacials that can work wonders in terms of soothing active acne and maintaining a clear face. You may also benefit from treatment with BLU-U®, a quick, noninvasive light-based treatment option that targets the bacteria that cause your acne outbreaks. Laser Genesis treatments and Excel V can help active acne and reduce scarring. We also offer micro-needling, radiofrequency micro-needling, subcision and Fraxel laser for more significant scar reduction.

To learn more about all of your options for resolving persistent acne problems at Apex Dermatology, get in touch with our team today. Schedule your consultation appointment online now, or call to book.