acne awareness month Archives - Page 2 of 2 - Zel Skin & Laser Specialists
comedonal acne

Acne Pop-Up: Comedones

Do you ever feel like you have big pores? Do you suffer from small bumps on your skin that simply won’t go away?

You may be suffering from comedonal acne. There are two types of acne comedones:

  1. Closed comedones. These are small bumps with a little white head from trapped oil and dead skin.
  2. Open comedones. a.k.a. blackheads. This occurs when a pore becomes clogged with oil and it remains stuck there.

Our Providers treat comedonal acne on the skin of all ages and there are many options available for treatment. Keeping the pores clear of debris is important to treat existing comedones and prevent new ones from forming.

After a careful discussion and examination of your skin by one of our providers, we’ll make recommendations to help you achieve your best looking skin. For this type of acne we can utilize treatments such as HydraFacial or chemical peels to clean out the pores and wipe the slate clean for our topical treatments to work. Often times, a medical wash with benzoyl peroxide will be recommended. However, use caution and make sure to rinse your skin well after using! Benzoyl peroxide is responsible for bleaching towels, sheets and other fabrics. A Vitamin A cream such as Retin-A may also be prescribed for its’ ability to keep dead skin from accumulating and clogging the pores.

If you know someone who has been struggling with acne or you have been dealing with it yourself, give us a call to have a consultation with one of our medical providers. We are accepting new patients and able to accommodate most appointment requests within one week!

Types of Acne

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions and complaints discussed in our office, occurring most commonly in teenagers and young adults but affecting patients of all ages. There are several different types of acne and during June, Acne Awareness Month, we will be offering blog and social media posts to take the guesswork out of your skin!

When it comes to pimples and acne spots here are some common types:

Cysts and Nodules

These are usually deep, “underground” and may be painful or sensitive. Often times they may never come to a head, and they tend to stick around for a long time.

Pustule

This type of acne is characterized by a red bump with a white top. The white top is a collection of bacteria, dead skin and oil trapped beneath the top surface of the skin.

Open comedones

Often times called blackheads – open comedones form when debris like oil clogs a pore and then becomes exposed to the air. Just like leaving an apple on the counter and it turns brown, sebum exposed to air turns dark — hence the term “blackhead”!

Papules

These red, mounded bumps typically do not have a white or black top to them and they may also be tender to the touch

There are multiple causes for all types of acne including hormonal changes, medications, diet, product use, and genetic tendencies. The common thread amongst all types of acne is that in order for acne to form a clog occurs in the pore. This can occur because of bacteria, oil, dead skin, etc.

Of course, since there are so many types of acne there are many different treatment options! Oral medications, topical creams, washes, chemical peels, and light therapies are all tools that can be used to treat acne.

Stay tuned this month as we discuss all of these types of acne in our “Acne Pop-Up” series. We’ll also be looking at some information on how to treat and prevent pesky breakouts. If you, or someone you know, is suffering from acne our medical providers are here to help! Our PA’s and MD’s are now accepting new patients in all locations. Wait times are usually less than one week.

1 2

Contact

2 Carlson Parkway N., Suite 100
Plymouth, MN 55447

Book an appointment with us now!

Book Appointment