At Blue Sage Med Spa, Amarillo, Tx, we understand if you have acne, you may need acne treatment because it affects more than appearance. Whether you are a teen dealing with acne or an adult who is new to acne it can stop you in your tracks. Acne can negatively affect your emotional health. Dealing with acne can lead to many issues such as poor self-image, depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, decreased quality of life and feeling alone. But, you do not have to deal with acne alone. We have tools to help get acne under control.

Being a teen is difficult by itself but if you are dealing with acne bullying can occur.

Other kids may pick on the teen by calling him or her names. This bullying can cause self-esteem issues that can last a lifetime. Acne affects 85% of teens but at times acne can cause teens to feel withdrawn. They may hesitate when considering making new friends. A common question we see in our office is can acne be cured? Unfortunately, there is no cure for acne and acne can not be prevented. But even though acne can not be cured it can be treated effectively. Blue Sage Med Spa, Amarillo has options available to treat acne and reduce the effect of acne.

In many years of treating people with acne one common thread seems to be that they feel their skin makes them feel self-conscious, unattractive and embarrassed. These feelings can cause some emotional setbacks. Teens or adults suffering from acne may avoid social settings, trying out for sports, promoting, getting a part-time job, dating or participating in class or work functions if they don't feel confident. At Blue Sage Med Spa we take these issues seriously and will work with you to help you get clearer skin.

Can Acne be cured?

There is no cure for acne however we have several treatments for acne. Treatment for acne recommended will depend on the severity of acne. One of the most important steps in treating acne is getting a skin care line that is formulated to treat acne. We also might suggest treating acne with light therapy or chemical peels. In some cases, we schedule clients with Dr. Uy and he will make recommendations accordingly.

What causes acne?

A question we get often at Blue Sage Med Spa, Amarillo, Tx is what causes acne? That can be a difficult question to answer because acne comes from several factors. Acne tends to appear first and commonly in teens due to typical hormone changes. Acne happens when overactive (sebaceous) oil glands are attached to hair follicles and are stimulated during puberty or other hormonal changes (sometimes resulting in ingrown hairs~that look like acne). The result tends to be clogging pores, creating blackheads, pimples and acne. (Sebum) Oils are natural and work to lubricate and protect the skin. However, the excess oil and build up of oil attaches too dirt and bacteria and the pore can become congested and clogged or a painful pimple often filled with pus. Can acne be cured short answer no but we have the best treatments for acne. The areas most affected by acne in teens and adults tend to be the face, neck, chest, shoulders and back because they have the largest number of oil glands.

Heredity: One of the causes of acne could be heredity. If one of your parents had severe acne, you may end up having acne that will be more difficult to control.

Hormones: We often see changes in hormones being one of the leading causes of acne. Androgens are hormones that increase during puberty for boys and girls. Androgens cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum (oil). Excess sebum attaches to the pores or new hair follicles can clog pores and collect bacteria. Hormonal changes during pregnancy and oral contraceptives also can affect sebum production and contribute to acne. If cortisol (stress hormone) levels are high it will send the skin's oil glands into overdrive and mix with dead skin cells and breakout-causing bacteria.

Drugs: Some prescribed medications may cause acne or make acne prone skin worse. Medications containing corticosteroids, testosterone, anticonvulsant medications, lithium, oral or injected steroids (either the medically prescribed prednisone or steroids that bodybuilders or athletes sometimes take) can cause a change in the body and acne may occur. Most cases of acne are not drug related but are caused by active oil glands attached to hair follicles.

Cosmetics: Most cosmetics and skincare products are labels non-comedogenic (meaning they will not clog your pores). However, some cosmetics and skin care products are pore clogging (comedogenic) and could be contributing cause of acne. Oil- free or water-based skin care products are usually best for those with acne and are typically non-comedogenic. Check out ingredients on all skincare products and choose products that have water listed first or second if you are concerned about acne.

Stress: Most often, stress can cause acne or make acne worse. Stress does not create acne (but can lead to an abundance of cortisol (stress-related hormone). High cortisol levels mixed with dead skin cells and breakout-causing bacteria and acne can get worse. And top that off with picking at your skin because your stressed and pimples seem to stay around longer and risk scaring.

Pressure: In some patients due to work or lifestyle may have constant rubbing in a targeted area that can irritate the skin and create breakouts. Examples may include pressure from hats, helmets, chin straps, collars, and the like can irritate the skin and aggravate acne.

What is the best treatment for acne?

Keep your hands off your face and do not pick at acne. In most cases, picking will cause inflammation and bacteria will spread. There are many effective acne treatments on the market. Sometimes that can feel overwhelming and confusing. There isn't one treatment for acne that works for everyone so you must be patient. The best treatments for acne can take 4-8 weeks to get acne to clear and sometimes clients report a purge stage. We will be here the whole time offering our support. We understand acne and have successfully treated many cases and helped our clients get their acne under control.

Topical Treatment for acne?

One of the most common acne treatments that we offer is topical acne treatment. Some topicals help kill the bacteria. Other topical treatments may contain a retinoid, prescription-strength benzoyl peroxide, antibiotic, or even salicylic acid. We will work with you to determine what you need.

Does Blue Light Therapy work for acne?

Blue light therapy is an FDA- approved acne treatment. Light therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses light energy to kill acne causing bacteria on the skin. Blue light therapy is used to address acne breakouts. Blue light therapy also has anti-inflammatory benefits ~ decreases redness and helps get rid of free radicals that oxidize and age your face.

Are chemical peels good for acne?

Chemical peels work great for mild to moderate acne. Chemical peels reduce the appearance of acne scars and discoloration. At Blue Sage Med Spa, Amarillo we use a PCAskin medium strength chemical peels that are excellent for hyperpigmentation and superficial acne scars. PCAskin chemical peels have several active ingredients that treat acne. Lactic acts is one of the most common alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and is used for acne-prone skin. It helps to lightly exfoliate the skin and fades dark spots. Salicylic acid is another active ingredient for oily skin to loosen dirt from pores. PCAskin also incorporates citric acid to reduce sebum (oil) by its drying effects and antiseptic qualities which may kill bacteria that leads to acne.

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