Acne

Why do I still have acne?

Whether you’ve been trying to self-treat teenage acne or are still battling acne as an adult, you’re probably frustrated with how ineffective your efforts have been. Acne is a skin disease triggered by many factors, including the balance of hormones in your body.

What causes acne?

Acne arises when your body produces excess hormones, such as testosterone. That’s why acne is common during years associated with hormonal changes, such as puberty.

Androgens produce sebum, which is a waxy substance that protects your skin. When there’s too much sebum in your follicles, the follicles can’t shed dead skin cells. Instead, the excess sebum and dead cells form clumps that erupt into lesions such as blackheads and whiteheads.

The bacteria that live on your skin can get trapped in these follicles, too.

This can cause your skin to erupt into red, inflamed lesions such as pimples and cysts.

How can I treat acne?

The most important way to treat your acne is by keeping your hands off your lesions. That means no squeezing, scrubbing, or washing your face more than twice a day. You can damage your skin if you handle it too roughly, and you won’t cure your acne, either.

Because acne has many causes, over-the-counter treatments aren’t usually enough to keep your skin clear. If you have a mild case of acne, look for ingredients that dry up excess oil or help your skin shed dead cells, such as:

  • Benzoyl peroxide
  • Salicylic acid
  • Retinoid

How does a dermatologist treat my acne?

Dr Matilda bases your acne treatment on the underlying causes in your particular case. Therapies may include:

  • Laser treatments to improve skin quality
  • Chemical peels to remove dead skin cells
  • Retinoids or resorcinol to stimulate skin shedding
  • Topical therapies to dry up excess sebum
  • Antibiotics to kill bacteria that cause acne
  • Hormonal therapy to control excess androgens
  • Prescription Accutane for severe, cystic acne

Clear skin starts with an acne consultation with Dr Matilda Mphahlele. Book an appointment online today.