Different Types of Acne and How to Treat It

Conveniently located to serve Pensacola, FL.

Front desk photo of Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery office

When you get a pimple, where it pops up, can be a sign of what’s causing it. If you’re using the same treatment for all different types of acne, you’re probably still going to see breakouts. Different kinds of acne respond to different types of medications and treatments. An important step in eliminating breakouts is to identify what type of acne you’re dealing with. There are four main types of acne people struggle with: Hormonal, cystic, blackheads and whiteheads.

Often breakouts seem to occur randomly, however sometimes they always happen around a specific time of the month. This is a sign of hormonal acne. Hormonal breakouts typically occur on the lower face around the mouth, chin, and jaw area. In women, these breakouts commonly flare up the week prior to their menstrual cycle. If you have hormonal breakouts, a good skin care regimen is very important and there are also prescription options available that help with this type of acne.

Cystic acne occurs due to an infection caused by bacteria that’s clogging the pore. Cystic acne appears as small boils or “cysts” under the skin. The boil itself can be tender but the skin over the top of the boil is smooth and can take weeks to come to a head. Cystic acne can be very hard to get rid of but can be treated. Prescription medications, like Accutane and/or antibiotics are very effective in treating cystic acne. However, Accutane has significant side effects and close monitoring by a physician is essential. Intralesional corticosteroid injection (commonly called a steroid shot or cortisone shot) can also be an effective treatment for cystic acne.

Blackheads are pores that get clogged with the body’s own oil. When the natural oil in the skin becomes thick, it doesn’t flow properly out of the pore, causing it to get backed up and form a plug. Regular facials and extractions work wonders to keep blackheads under control.

When a clogged pore becomes inflamed or infected, it creates a bump on the surface of the skin. This bump will develop a “whitehead”, which consists of white blood cells, as the body’s immune system tries to fight the infection. In a whitehead, once the infection is gone, the bump and redness will subside. Topical treatments, like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid and retinoid creams help clear the bacteria causing the whitehead and speeds healing. Regular use of these topical treatments can also help prevent new whiteheads from forming. It is important to follow the recommendations of a skin care professional so that you don’t overly dry your skin.

One of the most important ways to prevent breakouts is by having a good skin care routine. A skin care expert can help determine what type of acne you are suffering with and the best products to treat it. Do not pop or pick at your acne! This can cause scarring that is much more difficult to treat than the acne itself. In addition to a daily skin care routine, having a Hydrafacial or chemical peel periodically, even monthly, can give your skin a beautiful healthy glow. These treatments sloth off all of those dead skin cells that contribute to acne problems. These simple skin care treatments are a great way to keep your acne under control.

For those people that have severe acne scars, treatments like micro-needling, fractional lasers and IPL’s that can be used to improve the red/dark marks or pitting that acne lesions may have left behind.

If you’ve been experiencing acne problems and are ready for a real solution, schedule a free consultation with one of our skin care experts. Together, we can formulate a treatment plan to address your particular skin needs.

You May Also Like…

Post-Weight Loss Surgery

Post-Weight Loss Surgery

Post-Weight Loss Surgery Losing weight is one of the most significant things a person can do to improve their health...

Brighten Your Skin This Winter!

Brighten Your Skin This Winter!

This New Year, put your best “face” forward with these procedures that don’t require a major commitment. Why “brighter...