Acne Skin Care Treatment

Many people think of acne as a problem that afflicts teenagers, but acne can affect people into their 20s, 30s, and beyond. One of the most common skin conditions treated by dermatologists, dermatology nurse practitioners and advanced practice clinicians, acne occurs when hair follicles and sebaceous (oil) glands in the skin become clogged with oil and dead skin, leading to the formation of pimples and cysts.

Acne has many possible causes. Hormonal changes during puberty is often the culprit in adolescent and teenage acne. Hormones are also often to blame for acne in adult women. Certain medicines, cosmetics and diet may cause acne. Genetics can play a role in acne as well; if you suffered from acne as a teenager, your children are more likely to develop acne during adolescence.

The dermatology team at University Hospitals sees patients with acne every day and has experience in using a variety of medications and procedures to treat it. We understand that everyone's acne is different, and that people may respond differently to various treatments. So we work with each patient to determine the best course of treatment, adjusting as necessary, until we find that works best for you.

Acne Treatments

How the UH dermatology team approaches treating acne will depend on the root cause and the severity of the acne. Some of the treatment our dermatologists and dermatology nurse practitioners may include:

• Antibiotic creams, gels or lotions
• Azelaic acid
• Benzoyl peroxide
• Dapsone
• Retinoids
• Salicylic acid
• Tazorotene