Seeking acne treatment in Pittsburgh for you or your child? We specialize in acne treatment for all ages here at Vujevich Dermatology Associates. Whether you’re experiencing mild, moderate or severe acne, we have your care covered.
Acne is a very common skin condition affecting millions of Americans of all ages. In fact, acne is the most common skin condition in the United States. It is caused by a complex interaction of clogged pores, oil production, inflammation, and bacteria. Acne can appear as pimples, whiteheads, or blackheads, and usually appears on the face, forehead, chest, upper back and shoulders.
While acne is not harmful to your health, it can be persistent and can cause emotional distress. It can affect a person’s self-confidence, which in turn can affect relationships and cause mood changes and social withdrawal. Acne can also lead to skin discoloration and permanent scarring, even without picking at pimples. Patients who seek acne treatment often report higher quality of life once their skin begins to improve.
What Causes Acne?
Acne is caused by hair follicles that become packed with excess oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. Acne can also be triggered by hormonal fluctuations and the lack of a proper skin care regimen. An unbalanced or unhealthy diet can also lead to acne.
Friction against the skin, such as tight collars, helmets, and phones, can irritate the skin leading to acne. Stress, while it does not cause acne, can cause current cases of acne to worsen. There are many causes of acne, and understanding which cause is affecting your skin will help you obtain the correct type of treatment.
Types of Acne
There are four distinct types of acne. These types include:
- Comedones
- Papules and pustules
- Nodules
- Cystic acne
Your dermatologist will diagnose both the type and severity of your acne to help create the most appropriate acne treatment regimen tailored to you.
Acne Medication and Treatment Options
Your acne treatment options are based on the severity of your acne. Whether you have mild vs moderate acne, or even severe acne, will determine the appropriate treatment needed. Mild cases of acne can be cleared by maintaining a skin care regimen prescribed by your dermatologist. Mild acne treatment options can include medicated cleansers or moisturizers. For moderate cases of acne, prescriptions such as antibiotics or hormonal medications may be added to the prescribed skin care regimen. For severe cases of acne, isotretinoin (formerly known as Accutane) may be prescribed.
At Vujevich Dermatology Associates, we offer acne medication right from our office for certain types of acne and levels of severity. Ask us about tretinoin cream 0.025% during your next visit.
Isotretinoin (formerly marketed as Accutane®) for Acne
As you can see, dermatologists have many tools designed to improve acne including medicated washes, creams, and pills (antibiotic and hormonal). These treatments used in various combination over time can yield excellent results for most people.
However, in some cases these standard therapies are not enough. Vujevich Dermatology Associates prescribes isotretinoin (formerly marketed as Accutane®) to treat stubborn acne, or patients with severe inflammation, pain, or scarring caused by acne. This 5-8 month treatment can lead to long term acne clearance in more than 80% of patients when taken correctly. Our patients report high satisfaction and improved self-esteem following treatment with isotretinoin.
For more information on acne and treatment options, please visit The American Academy of Dermatology website. For patients on isotretinoin, please visit the iPLEDGE website.
Contact Our Pittsburgh Offices to See a Dermatologist for Acne
Our providers at Vujevich Dermatology are board-certified and highly trained in the treatment of acne. We can offer many options and recommendations for your specific acne treatment regimen, whether you or your child develops acne.
Seeking a pediatric dermatologist specifically? Elizabeth J. Froelich is one of the few pediatric dermatologists in the local Pittsburgh area. Dr. Froelich is a board-certified dermatologist and board-certified pediatric dermatologist by the American Board of Dermatology. She specializes in pediatric dermatology, adult dermatology and dermatologic surgery.
To schedule an appointment for your acne, contact us today at Vujevich Dermatology Associates in Pittsburgh, PA.We have 3 locations including our South Hills, Washington, and Pleasant Hills offices.