Acne is a common skin condition that can negatively impact your self-esteem and quality of life. Although the occasional pimple may not be cause for concern, chronic acne can lead to painful recurring outbreaks that last for years. Frequent, severe breakouts have even been linked to high levels of depression and anxiety.

At Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania in the greater Philadelphia area on the Main Line in Devon, Jordan V. Wang, MD, MBE, MBA, and the board-certified dermatologists understand how quickly persistent acne diminishes your confidence. Our dermatologists offer individualized treatments for acne conditions to address your unique skin concerns. From topical retinoids to laser therapy, we have the most effective solutions to treat any type of acne and acne scarring.

Blackheads and whiteheads (comedones) are the most common types of acne conditions. While these lesions rarely leave scarring, inflammatory acne often does. These inflammatory lesions include:

Papules

Papules are small, red bumps that may feel tender to the touch, though they typically aren’t.

Pustules

Like papules, pustules are small, red, and raised. The main difference is that pustules contain white or yellow pus that causes tenderness.

Nodules

Nodules are a painful type of inflammatory acne in which hard, solid masses form beneath the skin’s surface. These lumps don’t contain pus and typically cannot be popped.

Cysts

Cysts are the most severe type of acne. These lesions contain pus and form deep beneath the skin’s surface. Some cysts can take months to disappear on their own.

Although acne commonly appears on the face, it can develop anywhere on the body, including the neck, chest, back, and shoulders. Fortunately, our board-certified dermatologists offer the most effective acne treatments available at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania.

There are three primary causes of acne:

• Collection of dead skin cells in the pores
• Overproduction of oil from the sebaceous glands
• Bacteria in the pores

The type of your acne helps determine the best treatment for you. For example, regular exfoliating treatments can help to reduce acne caused by dead skin cells.

As an inflammatory condition, acne can result from many different factors, including:

• Stress
• Hormones
• Dirt and sweat accumulated during a workout
• Makeup and skin care products
• Diet (studies have shown that milk and processed foods may trigger breakouts)

   

The above factors don’t necessarily cause acne, but they can intensify breakouts in acne-prone skin.

After a comprehensive skin evaluation, your board-certified dermatologist can create your individualized acne treatment plan. Treatments for acne range from topical ointments and oral medications to laser therapy.

Topical Medications:

• Benzoyl peroxide
• Retinoids
• Azelaic acid

Oral Medications:

• Antibiotics (Doxycycline, Minocycline, Tetracycline)
• Hormone (androgen) blockers (Spironolactone, birth control pills)
• Isotretinoin (Accutane) – requires doctor supervision during treatment

Procedures:

• Chemical peels: Removes the outermost layer of the skin to reduce acne
• Steroid injections: Uses steroids to calm inflamed acne lesions and promote healing
• Laser therapy: Uses laser technology to clean clogged pores, reduce inflammation, and minimize redness, as well as treat acne scars

At Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania, your dermatologist customizes your treatment to reduce acne, minimize and treat scarring, and prevent new lesions from forming.

Although effective acne treatments can deliver long-lasting results, the condition itself has no known cure. New lesions can develop, particularly later in life. In many cases, an individual who once endured acne during adolescence will enjoy clear skin for several years. Our board-certified dermatologists at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania have extensive experience in creating effective customized acne treatment plans for our patients of all ages.

Younger patients are particularly susceptible to returning acne outbreaks. Occasionally, acne subsides in younger patients during treatment, but the outbreaks can return after treatment. This is especially common in those who use topical treatment and is less frequent in Accutane patients.

Residual scarring is especially common after inflammatory acne subsides. The more severe your acne is, the more likely it is to leave behind scarring. Treating acne early on can help prevent permanent skin damage.

The board-certified dermatologists at Laser & Skin Surgery Center of Pennsylvania offer multiple treatments to minimize the appearance of acne scars. Depending on the type of scarring you have — raised, depressed, hyperpigmented, hypopigmented, etc. — your dermatologist can determine the right laser and energy-based device treatment for you.

Some of the most common devices we use to treat acne scarring include:

• Vbeam® Prima
• Clear + Brilliant® Touch 
• Fraxel® Dual
• Infini Genius® RF Microneedling

Publications

Aksoy B, Yildirim E, Wang JV, Koc E, Karadag AS. Prognostic factors determining success in acne treatment–Part I: Disease and patient factors. Skinmed. (In Press).

Aksoy B, Yildirim E, Wang JV, Koc E, Karadag AS. Prognostic factors determining success in acne treatment–Part II: Treatment factors. Skinmed. (In Press).

Schoenberg E, O’Connor M, Wang JV, Yang S, Saedi N. Microneedling and PRP for acne scars: A new tool in our arsenal. J Cosmet Dermatol 2020;19(1):112-4.

Schoenberg E, Wang JV, Zachary CB, Saedi N. Treatment of acne scars with PRP and laser therapy: An up-to-date appraisal. Arch Dermatol Res 2019;311(8):643-6.

Wang JV, Saedi N. The utility of understanding atrophic acne scar formation for prevention and treatment. Br J Dermatol 2018;179(4):819.