How Do You Treat Acne?

Acne is the occurrence of inflamed or infected oil glands in the skin. Pores are tiny holes in the skin that provide a place for oil to escape. When the sebum (the oil produced by the skin’s glands) releases through the pores, dirt and dead skin follow through and when there is a blockage, pimples occur.  Acne occurs most often in puberty and throughout teenage adolescence because hormones can cause a shift in androgen levels. When androgen levels rise, they make the oil glands underneath the skin grow larger, which in turn produces more sebum. An excess of sebum is dangerous for the cellular walls in the skin’s pores and results in bacteria growth.

Accutane, also called Isotretinoin, is used to treat severe, cystic acne.  Accutane is usually used when other therapies have been unsuccessful. Results are seen after a few months of use. About half of those that use Accutane are cured from further severe acne breakouts. Although Accutane is a natural derivative of vitamin A, it is a potent medicine with many side effects and requires careful evaluation of the patient.  Before prescribing Accutane to women, two pregnancy tests are needed.  If the results are negative, possible side effects will be discussed with you.

Treating Acne in NYC

After a thorough discussion with Dr. Rokhsar, you can then decide if this is the right medication for you.  At low dosages there are minimal side effects. Side effects do include chapped lips, dry skin and nose, mild nose bleeds, muscle aches and irritation of the eyes or eye lids. People with severe acne also develop significant acne scarring. Accutane treats acne but not acne scarring. Dr. Rokhsar was involved in the development of the Fraxel laser which greatly improved the treatment of acne scarring.

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