Acne Treatments

Various factors can cause acne breakouts, including hormonal changes, genetics, environmental factors, stress, skin care, and diet. Whatever the factors contributing to acne development, the primary cause is the excess production of sebum, an oily substance produced by the sebaceous glands. Sebum hydrates and protects the skin but causes acne when the glands produce too much. As dead skin cells, grime, and hair mix with the skin’s sebum, the brew clogs pores and creates a cycle of breakouts.

With multiple treatment options available, we don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach to treating acne. Not only are there different types of acne, such as blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, and cystic acne, but the severity of the breakouts also varies. In some cases, we recommend combining treatments to produce optimal results.

Acne treatments we offer for our Fort Myers and Naples patients include:

Chemical Peels

A peel containing salicylic acid removes excess oil and exfoliates dead cells from the skin’s surface to keep pores clear. A TCA (trichloroacetic acid) peel that includes salicylic acid is especially effective for treating chronic or cystic acne that doesn’t respond to topical medication. A peel, unlike topical creams, penetrates deep into the skin and kills bacteria that cause acne. A peel also cleanses pores and hair follicles and shrinks pores. Medium peels are also effective treatments for acne scars.

SkinPen® Microneedling

Microneedling is one of the most popular skin rejuvenation treatments because it stimulates new collagen production with no downtime. But it can also be an effective approach for treating chronic acne breakouts. During a SkinPen microneedling treatment, the device creates microchannels in the skin’s surface. In addition to triggering collagen and elastin production, microneedling decreases sebum production and shrinks pore size to prevent blackheads from developing.

LightStim

Clinical research shows that specific light wavelengths effectively treat acne. LightStim uses blue light to destroy bacteria that cause acne and red light to soothe and calm the skin by reducing inflammation. The no-downtime procedure is cleared by the FDA to treat mild to moderate acne flare-ups. Treatments take about 15 to 20 minutes, and patients often need to return periodically to maintain their results.

Although acne can’t be prevented in most cases, there are ways to help minimize its severity. These include:

• Washing your face daily with a mild cleanser and warm water
• Using professional-grade skincare products
• Applying moisturizer routinely
• Using non-comedogenic makeup products and removing makeup before going to bed
• Avoiding touching your face

If you’ve tried various acne treatments at home without seeing results, the specialists at Naples Aesthetics — formerly the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery & Med Spa of Naples can help. using the online form or call us at (239) 262-5662 to schedule an appointment.