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Diseases & conditions
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Molluscum contagiosum: How to safely treat it Both the CDC and the FDA warn against treating this common childhood condition on your own with non-prescription treatments. See what they recommend.
JAK inhibitors: A newer type of medication JAK inhibitors are helping patients with alopecia areata, eczema/atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and vitiligo. Here’s what you need to know.
Everyday care
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Practice Safe Sun Everyone's at risk for skin cancer. These dermatologists' tips tell you how to protect your skin.
Relieve uncontrollably itchy skin Find out what may be causing the itch and what can bring relief.
Darker Skin Tones
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Fade dark spots Find out why dark spots appear and what can fade them.
Untreatable razor bumps or acne? If you have what feels like razor bumps or acne on the back of your neck or scalp, you may have acne keloidalis nuchae. Find out what can help.
Cosmetic treatments
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Laser hair removal You can expect permanent results in all but one area. Do you know which one?
Scar treatment If you want to diminish a noticeable scar, know these 10 things before having laser treatment.
Botox It can smooth out deep wrinkles and lines, but the results aren’t permanent. Here’s how long botox tends to last.
Public health programs
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Free materials to help raise skin cancer awareness Use these professionally produced online infographics, posters, and videos to help others find and prevent skin cancer.
Dermatologist-approved lesson plans, activities you can use Free to everyone, these materials teach young people about common skin conditions, which can prevent misunderstanding and bullying.
Find a dermatologist
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Find a Dermatologist You can search by location, condition, and procedure to find the dermatologist that’s right for you.
What is a dermatologist? A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists care for people of all ages.
Do you feel you’ve tried just about everything to get rid of your acne but still see blemishes? Don’t despair. To see clearer skin, you probably just need to make some changes.
The following tips from dermatologists can help you get started.
Give an acne treatment at least 4 weeks to work. Using a new acne product every few days may seem useful, but that approach can worsen acne. Acne treatment needs time to work. Using a different product every few days can also irritate your skin, causing new breakouts.
If a treatment works for you, you should notice some improvement in 4 to 6 weeks. It can take two to three months or longer to see clearing.
If you notice improvement, keep using the treatment. Even when you see clearing, you'll want to keep using the acne treatment. This helps to prevent new breakouts.
When to see a dermatologist about acne?
Seeing a dermatologist can help prevent acne from worsening. You can benefit from seeing a dermatologist when acne:
Causes acne cysts and nodules (deep blemishes that can leave scars when they clear)
Hasn’t cleared with treatment you can buy without a prescription
Makes you feel uncomfortable, and you want clearer skin
Attack the different causes of acne. If you don’t see improvement after 4 to 6 weeks, add a second acne product to your treatment plan.
This approach can help attack the different causes of acne. Bacteria, clogged pores, oil, and inflammation can all cause acne.
Of course, the second treatment should attack a different cause of acne. For example, if you are using an acne treatment that contains benzoyl peroxide, the second acne treatment should contain another acne-fighting ingredient. To help you select another product, here’s what the different active ingredients work on:
- Benzoyl peroxide decreases P. acnes bacteria
- Retinoids, such as adapalene gel, unclog pores and reduce oiliness
- Salicylic acid eases inflammation and unclogs pores
Try 1 or 2 products, and give them time to work. Trying too many products can stress your skin, worsening acne.
Follow directions. While using an acne treatment can seem pretty straightforward, how much you use and how often you use it can make a huge difference. Be sure to follow the directions.
If a dermatologist created your treatment plan, follow your doctor's instructions and use everything your dermatologist included in the treatment plan.
Using only some of the acne treatment that your dermatologist prescribes could be the reason you still have acne.
Wash your face twice a day and after sweating. Acne-prone skin is sensitive. Washing more than twice a day can irritate your skin, making acne worse.
For best results, dermatologists recommend washing your face when you:
- Wake up
- Are ready to go to bed
- Have a sweaty face
Stop scrubbing your face and other acne-prone skin. If your skin feels greasy, dirty, or grimy, you may be tempted to scrub it clean. Don’t! Scrubbing can irritate acne-prone skin, which worsens acne.
Use skin care products and cosmetics that don’t cause acne. These products are labeled. On the package, you may see one of the following:
- Won't clog pores
- Non-comedogenic
- Non-acnegenic
- Oil free
Resist touching, picking, and popping your acne. Popping a pimple may seem like the fastest way to clear it, but popping it can actually make things worse. Every time you touch, pick, or pop, you can worsen acne.
Resist touching, picking, and popping your acne
Popping a pimple often worsens acne.
Spread acne medication on all acne-prone skin, not just your blemishes. Applying a thin layer on your acne-prone skin helps treat existing acne and prevent new breakouts.
Enlist a dermatologist's help. If you still have acne after trying these tips, a dermatologist can help.
With today's acne treatments and a dermatologist's expertise, virtually every case of acne can be cleared. A dermatologist can tailor a treatment plan to your unique needs.
Now that you know what can help clear acne, what changes are you going to make?
Have a skin, hair, or nail problem?
No one understands your skin better than a board-certified dermatologist. Partner with the expert for the best care.
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References
Draelos ZD, DiNardo JC. “A re-evaluation of the comedogenicity concept.”J Am Acad Dermatol2006;54:507-12.
Harper, J. “Acne: The Basics.” May 2003. [The tips in this article came from a dermatologist, Julie Harper, MD, who wanted to help her patients and others get better results from their acne treatment.]
Written by:
Paula Ludmann, MS
Reviewed by:
Erin Ducharme, MD, FAAD
Matthew J. Elias DO, FAAD
Laurel Geraghty, MD, FAAD
Carrie L. Kovarik, MD, FAAD
Shari Lipner, MD, PhD, FAAD
Bassel Hamdy Mahmoud, MD, PhD, FAAD
Sanna Ronkainen, MD, FAAD
Dara Spearman, MD, FAAD
Last updated: 9/12/23
