Adult acne effects the majority of people at some point in their life. Hopefully, the experience is temporary and mild: a rogue pimple, now and again. Luckily, there are effective acne treatments “for those of us with the unfortunate but occasional breakouts or acute smatterings of blemishes across our face and body” says Byrdie, in the article “Here’s What Accutane Does to Your Body.” Over the counter acne medication, such as chemical peel in a bottle, or “topical creams and medicated cleansers (or, in some cases, antibiotics) usually do the trick” for clearing up mild adult acne.
Unfortunately a significant amount of men and women suffer from severe acne, something over the counter medication is not strong enough to clear up. Byrdie explains, “for those with an excessive amount of pimples, visible redness, and deep-rooted cystic acne, these topicals and low-grade prescription medications aren’t aggressive enough;” which means “you’re still left with unsightly marks that physically affect your skin and, in turn, tarnish your self-confidence.”
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When people with severe acne do not respond to OTC acne treatments, antibiotics, or birth control, a dermatologist may recomend isotretinoin, more comonly known as Accutane.
What is Accutane and How Can it Help Get Rid of Acne?
Accutane is serious stuff, with a litany of potential side effects. But “despite its setbacks,” says Byrdie, “Accutane can actually be a “cure” of sorts, for those with chronic acne, a sentiment Dr. Hadley King, a dermatologist at Skinney Medspa, agreed with when we spoke with her last month. “Accutane can be a life-changing medication for people who suffer from severe acne,” King says. “For severe recalcitrant acne, isotretinoin [the medical term] is an excellent option.”
How does Accutane work to clear up severe acne? To answer this question, Byrdie explains the physiology of acne “One of the main effects acne has on the body is in the sebaceous glands of the skin.” The sebaceous glands produce the oils on your skin, known as sebum. When the sebaceous gland produces too much sebum, it can trap dirt and bacteria inside pores, leading to acne. Using Accutane to treat severe acne “reduces sebum production and makes the pores less ‘sticky’ so they don’t get clogged and cause acne.” Essentially, Accutane, heals current acne break outs while preventing new acne from forming.
Can Accutane Get Rid of Acne for Everyone?
Accutane is a great for helping get rid of acne, but it is not for everyone. Many men and women cannot take Accutane, due to its high rate of adverse side effects, which you can learn more about in the Article from Byrdie.
Cosmetic Lasers and Professional Acne Treatment
Another route for those looking for treatments that can help get rid of acne is professional acne treatments from a skin and laser spa, such as SKINNEY Medspa in NYC. While results may vary, numerous scientific studies, such as “Lasers Alleviate Acne” published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, have demonstrated that cosmetic lasers can help destroy the bacteria that clogs pores and causes acne breakouts. Lasers can also decrease the production of sebum, which is what Accutane does to help get rid of acne. *
Cosmetic Lasers can do more than help prevent and treat acne breakouts, scientific studies have also shown thermal energy to reduce the appearance of acne scars, as found in an academic article published in the Seminars of Plastic Surgery.
