I'm Embarrassed About My Acne

What do you do when you have an acne breakout? Cover it with makeup? Hide behind your COVID mask? Avoid social situations?

We have a better solution. 

Our team of acne experts at Easton Dermatology Associates in Salisbury and Easton, Maryland, understand how frustrating ongoing acne can be and how damaging it can be for your skin. If you’ve been trying to treat your acne on your own without any luck, we invite you to visit us for a thorough skin assessment and a personalized treatment plan. Here’s what you can expect.

A hygiene refresher course

We know you know that washing your face is important, but over time, we all tend to take short cuts and forget some important rules, so we’ve compiled a brief skin hygiene refresher course to remind you about what good skin care looks like.

• Wash your face twice a day — morning and night
• Wash after you work out
• Use a gentle motion with light pressure; don’t scrub
• Use warm, not hot, water
• Wash your hair daily, if necessary, if it’s oily
• Keep your hands away from your face
• Refrain from popping your pimples

If you follow these guidelines, you give your skin a head start as it fights against acne. These good habits can prevent excess oil and dirt from clogging your pores and triggering breakouts. 

A note about face masks: These days, we’re all wearing masks for several hours a day, which can both cause and exacerbate acne. In fact, this type of acne even has its own name — “maskne.” Do your best to keep your mask clean, or wear disposable masks to reduce the chance of introducing bacteria to your acne-prone skin. 

When to use topical medications

Mild cases of acne usually respond well to over-the-counter acne products that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. But if you’re here searching for professional treatments, you’ve probably already tried those. 

Don’t give up on topicals, though. It may be that you just need a stronger solution. We can prescribe special creams that neutralize bacteria and reduce acne.

When to give oral medication a try

Some acne responds best when the fight comes from within. In this case, we may prescribe an antibiotic to give our immune system a boost as it tackles the bacteria and infections caused by acne. These can also calm down your body’s inflammatory response, which, in turn, calms your acne.

Severe acne may require a different approach. Isotretinoin, an oral medication, is especially effective at treating stubborn cystic acne and deep, painful nodules. You may know this medication under its brand name, Accutane®, which is FDA-approved and safe to use as long as you aren’t pregnant. 

For women, we may suggest birth control pills, as the extra estrogen and progesterone in them can interfere with the androgen hormones that increase your sebum (oil) production.

How to get rid of acne scars

It’s almost impossible not to pick at your pimples, but even if you’ve managed to avoid it, your acne may have left behind raised, depressed, or discolored scars.

Fortunately, we offer Icon™ Laser treatment that quickly and painlessly diminishes the appearance of acne scars. 

This technology uses the power of light to trigger healing in the deep layers of your skin. We direct microbeams of light energy into the treatment area, and it causes countless micro perforations in your scar tissue. As it breaks up the scar tissue, it also triggers a response in your skin, causing an increase in natural collagen production. This essential protein shores up your skin, heals damage, and smooths out your complexion. 

To schedule an appointment to get rid of your acne or acne scars, call us at 410-819-8867 to book a visit at either location and clear up your skin in 2022.