Don’t let acne ruin your skin or your social life.

Nothing ruins your day quite like a breakout. If you find yourself dealing with acne regularly you may be looking for the right solutions to help get your breakouts under control. This is where our West Palm Beach, FL, dermatologists Dr. Barry Kuttner and Dr. Kathleen Herne can help. We offer a wide range of acne treatment options catered to your specific needs, as well as the root cause of your acne.

The problem with many at-home acne treatments is that they manage your symptoms without actually targeting the underlying cause. This means that breakouts will continue to show up despite your current habits and routines. To know how to properly treat acne you first need to understand what causes it.

Four factors directly lead to acne:

• An excess of oil production
• Clogged pores
• Bacteria
• Inflammation

Of course, other factors can also indirectly aggravate your acne. These factors include,

• Diet: what you eat can increase widespread inflammation, which can make acne-prone skin worse
• Hormones: everything from your menstrual cycle to menopause can impact oil production
• Stress: stress leads to the production of cortisol and other hormones that can also increase oil production and increase systemic inflammation
• Products and makeup: some of the hair and skin products you’re using, as well as makeup (including brushes and sponges) can clog pores
• Medications: some medications such as corticosteroids can make acne worse

If you’re having a difficult time pinpointing what’s causing your acne, our West Palm Beach, FL, dermatologists can provide you with the answers you’re looking for, as well as customized treatment options.

If you’re dealing with whiteheads and blackheads…

You most likely have acne-causing bacteria on the skin and clogged pores. Our dermatologists may recommend prescription-strength retinoids, oral antibiotics or an over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide cleanser to keep pores clean and to kill acne-causing bacteria.

If you’re dealing with papules or pustules…

Pustules are little pus-filled bumps on the skin and papules are any hard acne bumps. These are usually caused by bacteria, clogged pores and excess oil. Skincare products containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid can be effective for treating these forms of acne.

If you’re dealing with nodules and cysts…

These forms of acne develop deep within the skin, and it’s important to see a dermatologist for treatment, as cystic acne is prone to scarring. Systemic medications are usually more effective for treating these types of acne. Some medications used to treat nodular and cystic acne include antibiotics, corticosteroids, oral contraception (for women) and isotretinoin.

If you want to discuss acne treatment with our West Palm Beach, FL, dermatologists Dr. Kuttner and Dr. Herne, simply call Integrated Dermatology of West Palm Beach today at (561) 964-6664. We would be happy to help you schedule a consultation with our team.