What is Acne?

Acne is a skin condition caused when pores or “pilosebaceous units” are plugged with dead skin cells, oil, and sometimes bacteria. It is most common among teens, though it can affect people of all ages. There are effective treatment options available.

There are a variety of different forms of acne, including:

  • Whiteheads/closed comedones.
  • Blackheads/open comedones.
  • Small red bumps (papules).
  • Inflamed pimples.
  • Large, solid, uncomfortable bumps under the skin (nodules).
  • Painful, pus-filled bumps under the skin (cystic lesions).

Acne commonly forms on the face, especially the forehead, chest, upper back, and shoulders, because these areas of skin have many oil glands. Certain factors such as hormonal changes, certain medications, diet, and stress can trigger or worsen acne. 

Acne Treatment Options

There is a large selection of acne treatment options available today. These include:

Topical Medications

  • Retinoids: These are often used for moderate acne, and are available as creams, gels, and lotions. These prescription medications can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun, so be sure to take proper precautions.
  • Benzoyl Peroxide: This agent has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial activity and can be used in combination with other medications like retinoids and antibiotics.
  • Antibiotics: These medications work by killing excess bacteria in the skin and reducing inflammation and redness. 
  • Azelaic Acid and Salicylic Acid: Azelaic acid is a naturally occurring acid made by yeast, and has antibacterial properties. Salicylic acid may help to prevent hair follicles from becoming congested and is available as leave-on or wash-off products. 
  • Dapsone: This comes in prescription gel form and is recommended to treat inflammatory acne.

Oral Medications 

  • Antibiotics: For moderate acne, oral antibiotics can be used to reduce bacteria. They should, however, be used for the shortest possible time to prevent secondary complications and antibiotic resistance. 
  • Anti-androgen Agents: If antibiotics do not work for women or adolescent girls, anti-androgen agents such as spironolactone may be used. It works by blocking the effects of androgen hormones and oil-producing glands.
  • Combined Oral Contraceptives: Certain combined oral contraceptives are approved to treat acne in women who also wish to use them for contraceptives. 
  • Isotretinoin: For severe or stubborn acne that has not responded to other treatments, isotretinoin (a derivative of vitamin A) can be a good option.

Therapies

These non-prescription therapies are available to help improve acne and work differently than regular prescriptions.

  • Chemical peels: This treatment uses applications of a chemical solution to improve the appearance of the skin. It is commonly used to improve mild acne.
  • Steroid injection: Cystic and nodular lesions can be treated by injecting a steroid drug into them. 

Who is a Good Candidate for Acne Treatment?

Individuals who have tried self-care remedies or over-the-counter therapies but still have not seen an improvement in their acne can benefit from acne treatment. For many patients, especially women, acne may persist throughout their lives, with flares common before menstruation. The best way to determine if acne treatment is a good option for you is to schedule a consultation at DermAtelier on Avenue with Dr. Beach. 

What to Expect After Acne Treatment?

After regular use of acne treatment, patients should see an improvement in the look of their complexion. While some patients may experience a drastic improvement in their acne, it is important to understand that acne can be stubborn, and new sites may crop up as others begin to heal. We recommend being patient with your treatment to see the best results.

Contact Us Today

If you would like to learn more about acne treatment at DermAtelier on Avenue, contact our office today! We will inform you how to schedule your consultation with Dr. Beach, which is your first step on your acne treatment journey. 

Acne Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid?

Benzyl peroxide can be used to improve acne but can be irritating and bleach linens - it is available at drug stores and by prescription.nSalicylic acid improves acne and is found over the counter in 1 - 2% strengths.

What can I drink in the morning for clear skin?

Drink as much water as possible throughout the day. Its preferred instead of juice or pop or soda which carry a high sugar content/ glycemic load.

What can I drink to clear my skin?

Opting for water is preferred; it has no sugar.

What Causes Acne?

Many factors are involved and have an impact - sebum/ oil, hormonal activity, skin cell retention, genetics, certain medications, C. acnes bacteria.

What helps to clear acne?

Cleansing the skin twice daily; keep hands off the skin/ avoid picking acne; medication that helps enhance skin cell turnover - retinoid all help.

How do you clear up acne?

Be patient. Medications can take 2- 3 months to show full strength/ effectnGenerally, a form of vitamin A, known as retinoid, is the most important treatment to use.

How long does acne last?

Acne can occur in pre-teens and last into ones 20s. There are some people who continue to have acne well into their 30s and 40s. Genetics can also play a role.

How should I sleep to avoid acne?

Make sure your pillowcase is fresh and hair or hair products are not settling on your face as you sleep.

Is cystic acne hormonal?

It can be. Some patients notice deep pimples they can feel but not see which are cystic and they may correspond to a time of the menstrual cycle.

What does cystic acne look like?

It is better felt than actually seen. It can look like a smooth bump under the skin and it can feel achy or painful.

What does stress acne look like?

You may notice a flareup of acne with a stressful life event, or due to a lack of restful sleep. Sometimes stress acne is regular acne that one picks at.

What foods cause acne?

Some foods have a high glycemic index and can impact acne but none directly cause acne in all people. Milk, whey protein, biotin can all trigger acne flareups.

What foods cause cystic acne?

Some foods have a high glycemic index and can impact acne - like milk products and processed foods - but none directly cause acne in all people.

How do you clear up acne?

Be patient. Medications can take 2- 3 months to show full strength/ effectnGenerally, a form of vitamin A, known as retinoid, is the most important treatment to use.

How long does acne last?

Acne can occur in pre-teens and last into ones 20s. There are some people who continue to have acne well into their 30s and 40s. Genetics can also play a role.

How should I sleep to avoid acne?

Make sure your pillowcase is fresh and hair or hair products are not settling on your face as you sleep.

Is cystic acne hormonal?

It can be. Some patients notice deep pimples they can feel but not see which are cystic and they may correspond to a time of the menstrual cycle.

What does cystic acne look like?

It is better felt than actually seen. It can look like a smooth bump under the skin and it can feel achy or painful.

What does stress acne look like?

You may notice a flareup of acne with a stressful life event, or due to a lack of restful sleep. Sometimes stress acne is regular acne that one picks at.

What foods cause acne?

Some foods have a high glycemic index and can impact acne but none directly cause acne in all people. Milk, whey protein, biotin can all trigger acne flareups.

What foods cause cystic acne?

Some foods have a high glycemic index and can impact acne - like milk products and processed foods - but none directly cause acne in all people.

Should I use benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid?

Benzyl peroxide can be used to improve acne but can be irritating and bleach linens - it is available at drug stores and by prescription.nSalicylic acid improves acne and is found over the counter in 1 - 2% strengths.

What can I drink in the morning for clear skin?

Drink as much water as possible throughout the day. Its preferred instead of juice or pop or soda which carry a high sugar content/ glycemic load.

What can I drink to clear my skin?

Opting for water is preferred; it has no sugar.

What Causes Acne?

Many factors are involved and have an impact - sebum/ oil, hormonal activity, skin cell retention, genetics, certain medications, C. acnes bacteria.

What helps to clear acne?

Cleansing the skin twice daily; keep hands off the skin/ avoid picking acne; medication that helps enhance skin cell turnover - retinoid all help.

Folliculitis Freqently Asked Questions

Can certain foods cause folliculitis?

No, foods do not cause folliculitis.

Can folliculitis be caused by stress?

If the skin gets very sweaty as a result of stress, this can contribute to folliculitis

Can folliculitis cause bald spots?

No; it does not cause balding. It occurs around the hair follicle, but does not destroy it.

Can folliculitis make you feel unwell?

It can make you feel uncomfortable or self-conscious when spots are recurring.

Can you work out with folliculitis?

Yes, however this may contribute to new spots depending on the sweat level triggered by the workout and if one is wearing tighter, less breathable workout gear.

How do you get rid of folliculitis?

Sometimes topical antibiotic works and other times oral antibiotic is required. treatment with benzyl peroxide also helps to reduce inflammation

Can you swim with folliculitis?

Yes, swimming is not prohibited with this condition.

Can you have folliculitis for years?

Sometimes people have it recurrently, unfortunately.

Can penicillin treat folliculitis?

Derivatives of penicillin may used to treat folliculitis, but each scenario is unique.

Can hormonal imbalance cause folliculitis?

Not especially, hormone excess can cause acne in some people.

Do lymph nodes swell with folliculitis?

Sometimes, if the folliculitis is significant in the groin or genital area or near the armpits.

Does hydrocortisone help folliculitis?

No, this is not an effective treatment to eradicate it (it may help decrease some of its inflammation though).

How can you tell if folliculitis is bacterial or fungal?

Folliculitis is generally bacterial; sometimes a swab is taken by the doctor to determine the bacterial organism.

How do you treat folliculitis at home?

Keeping the skin clean and avoiding sweat and occlusion - fabrics or cosmetic products - to the affected site will help.

Is folliculitis the same as acne?

No; it can look similar but its causes are different. Folliculitis tends to occur at sweaty sites where sweat gets trapped with bacteria (E.g. genitals). Acne tends to occur at oil/ sebaceous rich sites (Face, chest, back) and can occur even when one is not sweaty.

How do you stop folliculitis from spreading?

Keeping the affected area clean will help avoid spread; wearing cotton or other loose breathable clothing fibres will also help.

How do you know if folliculitis is healing?

It is healing when there are less new spots and the current spots are decreased in size or have become flat.

Is folliculitis a STD?

No; it is a local infection of the gland. It generally occurs in zones where the skin gets sweaty or at skin folds (e.g. groin, armpits)

Is folliculitis an autoimmune disease?

No; it is a local infection.

What aggravates folliculitis?

Factors like sweat and occlusion aggravate it.

What causes folliculitis in pubic area?

Bacteria, sweat and occlusion all play a role.

What causes folliculitis on buttocks?

Sweat, occlusion from tight fabrics and bacteria all play a role.

What causes folliculitis?

In the follicle there is bacteria, it then mixes with sweat and bacteria to form an enclosure known as folliculitis - inflammation of the hair follicle

Is Herpetic folliculitis curable?

Herpes may have the appearance of folliculitis and is treated with anti-viral medication.

Is Tea Tree Oil Good for folliculitis?

It can provide short term relief because it has anti-bacterial properties. However its oil component may eventually make the folliculitis worse.

Should I pop folliculitis bumps?

Popping the bumps can spread the bacteria locally and is not advised.

What does a folliculitis look like?

It can look like a small bump that is white or yellow in colour.

What happens if folliculitis goes untreated?

It can spread to other sites or become a bit deeper at the affected body site and result in discomfort.

Why does folliculitis keep coming back?

The source of the folliculitis (Sweat or bacteria or occlusion) has not been eliminated.

Why do my hair follicles itch?

It could be due to product build-up or yeast or sweat on the scalp.

Why do I keep getting folliculitis?

The source of the folliculitis (Sweat or bacteria or occlusion) has not been eliminated completely.

Where do you get folliculitis?

It most commonly occurs at the folded sweaty areas of the body (E.g. groin).

What is the best antibiotic to treat folliculitis?

There is no best antibiotic, but some people respond well to tetracycline or macrolide antibiotics.

What is chronic folliculitis?

Folliculitis that keeps recurring over a 6 month or longer period.

What is folliculitis on scalp?

Areas of the scalp that were trapped with bacteria and sebum/ oil form folliculitis.

How long does it take for folliculitis to go away?

It depends on the extent of it. If treatment is used and the triggers are avoided, then it can resolve within days to weeks.

Can certain foods cause folliculitis?

No, foods do not cause folliculitis.

Can folliculitis be caused by stress?

If the skin gets very sweaty as a result of stress, this can contribute to folliculitis

Can folliculitis cause bald spots?

No; it does not cause balding. It occurs around the hair follicle, but does not destroy it.

Can folliculitis make you feel unwell?

It can make you feel uncomfortable or self-conscious when spots are recurring.

Can you work out with folliculitis?

Yes, however this may contribute to new spots depending on the sweat level triggered by the workout and if one is wearing tighter, less breathable workout gear.

Do lymph nodes swell with folliculitis?

Sometimes, if the folliculitis is significant in the groin or genital area or near the armpits.

Does hydrocortisone help folliculitis?

No, this is not an effective treatment to eradicate it (it may help decrease some of its inflammation though).

How can you tell if folliculitis is bacterial or fungal?

Folliculitis is generally bacterial; sometimes a swab is taken by the doctor to determine the bacterial organism.

How do you treat folliculitis at home?

Keeping the skin clean and avoiding sweat and occlusion - fabrics or cosmetic products - to the affected site will help.

How long does it take for folliculitis to go away?

It depends on the extent of it. If treatment is used and the triggers are avoided, then it can resolve within days to weeks.

Is folliculitis a STD?

No; it is a local infection of the gland. It generally occurs in zones where the skin gets sweaty or at skin folds (e.g. groin, armpits)

Is folliculitis an autoimmune disease?

No; it is a local infection.

What aggravates folliculitis?

Factors like sweat and occlusion aggravate it.

What causes folliculitis in pubic area?

Bacteria, sweat and occlusion all play a role.

What causes folliculitis on buttocks?

Sweat, occlusion from tight fabrics and bacteria all play a role.

What causes folliculitis?

In the follicle there is bacteria, it then mixes with sweat and bacteria to form an enclosure known as folliculitis - inflammation of the hair follicle

What is the best antibiotic to treat folliculitis?

There is no best antibiotic, but some people respond well to tetracycline or macrolide antibiotics.

Where do you get folliculitis?

It most commonly occurs at the folded sweaty areas of the body (E.g. groin).

Can hormonal imbalance cause folliculitis?

Not especially, hormone excess can cause acne in some people.

Can penicillin treat folliculitis?

Derivatives of penicillin may used to treat folliculitis, but each scenario is unique.

Can you have folliculitis for years?

Sometimes people have it recurrently, unfortunately.

Can you swim with folliculitis?

Yes, swimming is not prohibited with this condition.

How do you get rid of folliculitis?

Sometimes topical antibiotic works and other times oral antibiotic is required. treatment with benzyl peroxide also helps to reduce inflammation

How do you know if folliculitis is healing?

It is healing when there are less new spots and the current spots are decreased in size or have become flat.

How do you stop folliculitis from spreading?

Keeping the affected area clean will help avoid spread; wearing cotton or other loose breathable clothing fibres will also help.

Is folliculitis the same as acne?

No; it can look similar but its causes are different. Folliculitis tends to occur at sweaty sites where sweat gets trapped with bacteria (E.g. genitals). Acne tends to occur at oil/ sebaceous rich sites (Face, chest, back) and can occur even when one is not sweaty.

Is Herpetic folliculitis curable?

Herpes may have the appearance of folliculitis and is treated with anti-viral medication.

Is Tea Tree Oil Good for folliculitis?

It can provide short term relief because it has anti-bacterial properties. However its oil component may eventually make the folliculitis worse.

Should I pop folliculitis bumps?

Popping the bumps can spread the bacteria locally and is not advised.

What does a folliculitis look like?

It can look like a small bump that is white or yellow in colour.

What happens if folliculitis goes untreated?

It can spread to other sites or become a bit deeper at the affected body site and result in discomfort.

What is chronic folliculitis?

Folliculitis that keeps recurring over a 6 month or longer period.

What is folliculitis on scalp?

Areas of the scalp that were trapped with bacteria and sebum/ oil form folliculitis.

Why do I keep getting folliculitis?

The source of the folliculitis (Sweat or bacteria or occlusion) has not been eliminated completely.

Why do my hair follicles itch?

It could be due to product build-up or yeast or sweat on the scalp.

Why does folliculitis keep coming back?

The source of the folliculitis (Sweat or bacteria or occlusion) has not been eliminated.



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