Acne can significantly impact your appearance and confidence at any age. When red, inflamed pimples or cysts break out across your face, neck, chest, or back, it may make you acutely self-conscious about your appearance – especially when the blemishes are difficult to hide with makeup or clothing. Frustratingly, home remedies and over-the-counter products can be ineffective at preventing or limiting acne, preventing you from enjoying the bright, smooth complexion you have always dreamed of.
Even after the acne clears, lingering hyperpigmentation, scarring, and uneven tone and texture can remain as a constant reminder of your breakouts. These issues may cause you to limit your social or professional interactions and adversely affect how you compare yourself to others.
At the Dermatology Medical Group of San Francisco, our team of board-certified dermatologists and skin care professionals understands how distressing acne and acne scars can be, and we offer proven treatments for breakouts and scarring. Depending on your skin’s condition and specific needs, we may recommend one of these five solutions.
1. Medical-Grade Skin Care Products
Medical-grade skin care products can help you control acne breakouts with higher concentrations of active ingredients like retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid. These unclog pores, reduce inflammation, control oil production, and kill acne-causing bacteria.
The product lines available from DMGSF have gone through extensive research and clinical trials to ensure their safety and efficacy. They can complement and enhance the effects of other acne treatments, such as prescription medications and in-office procedures.
2. Chemical Peels
Chemical peels can help you resolve acne scarring for a more even skin texture. This treatment involves applying a specially formulated chemical solution to your skin, causing controlled exfoliation and promoting cell turnover. This process can smooth your complexion, minimizing the appearance of scarring over time. Chemical peels also stimulate your natural production of collagen, a structural protein that heals and repairs damaged skin.
Depending on your goals, you can choose to have a mild, moderate, or deep chemical peel. Deeper peels remove more skin cells and produce correspondingly more dramatic results, but they also have a longer recovery period and are not appropriate for all skin types. Our dermatologists can recommend the best chemical peel depth for you after learning about your concerns.
3. Laser and IPL Treatments
Light-based therapies such as Fraxel® and intense pulsed light can dramatically improve your skin’s texture and pigmentation, targeting acne scarring and reversing years of sun damage. These excellent, all-around skin resurfacing technologies are minimally invasive and don’t require lengthy recovery time. They have also established a track record of safety with minimal risk of side effects. Soon after your fractional laser or IPL treatment, you will notice your skin transforming to become smoother, healthier, and younger-looking.
4. Dermal Fillers
Soft tissue fillers from the Juvéderm® and Restylane® product lines can treat pitted acne scars. The active ingredient, hyaluronic acid, provides volume that fills in the depression, making the scars less noticeable and creating a more even skin texture. Over time, repeated filler injections also stimulate collagen production in your skin, activating your body’s inborn healing processes and gradually improving your appearance.
5. Microdermabrasion
Microdermabrasion is a gentle exfoliation technique that improves mild scarring and other superficial skin concerns. This non-invasive procedure uses a handheld device to remove dead, tired cells from your skin’s outermost layer. It is relatively painless, often described as feeling like a mild scratching or vibration. There is no downtime, and most people can resume their daily activities immediately after treatment.
After microdermabrasion, you will notice your skin looks smoother and brighter. This in-office treatment can also make topical treatments like serums and moisturizers more effective by allowing them to penetrate the deeper layers of your skin.
Get the Clear Complexion You Deserve
At DMGSF, our board-certified experts provide targeted acne treatments that work. After consulting with you and evaluating your skin’s condition, our experienced dermatologists will develop a personalized plan to resolve your acne issues with one or more of these time-tested procedures.
We continue to build on this practice’s legacy, first established in 1903 – a dedication to ensure every patient’s well-being by providing the best care possible. Schedule your consultation with our caring team today.
