Dealing with persistent acne can often feel like an uphill battle you’re fighting alone. After experiencing acne problems for a prolonged period of time, you may start to wonder, can a dermatologist help with acne?
The answer is yes: working with a dedicated skincare professional can help you identify the cause of your acne and seek effective treatment that will deliver the results you desire.
If you’re on the fence about making your first appointment, then this article is for you. Our experts go over everything you need to know about addressing your acne with a dermatologist so that you can finally uncover the radiant skin you deserve—and the relief that comes with it.
When Should You See a Dermatologist?
Sometimes, it can be hard to tell when your acne situation is severe enough to warrant a visit to the dermatologist.
However, the truth is that it’s completely valid to seek help from a professional no matter where you are in your skincare journey. People enlist the help of dermatologists when they need solutions for everything from cystic acne to severe breakouts.
As a rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to start searching out a dermatologist if your pimples or blemishes are causing you:
- Emotional distress
- Physical pain
If you’re still in doubt, ask yourself if any of the following statements apply to you. If they do, it may be smart to make professional help a priority:
- You’ve tried countless products and strategies without seeing significant improvement with your moderate to severe acne.
- Your acne is suddenly flaring up or increasing in severity.
- You’re beginning to notice that your acne breakouts leave behind acne scars.
In these situations, working with a dermatologist can increase your ability to proactively prevent further skin problems and promptly treat issues as soon as they arise.
How Can a Dermatologist Help With Acne?
Skincare professionals such as dermatologists have received rigorous education that helps them understand the root of skin problems. They use their specialized expertise to help patients address their concerns at the source rather than simply addressing surface-level symptoms.
More specifically, a dermatologist can:
- Analyze your unique symptoms and provide a diagnosis
- Prescribe topical and/or oral acne medication
- Suggest treatments and perform special procedures
Going to a dermatologist is a far more effective skincare strategy than leaving your acne alone and hoping it goes away on its own or trying the same home solutions repeatedly without seeing any real results.
A good dermatologist will analyze not only the appearance of your skin but also the type, location, duration, severity, and treatment history of your stubborn acne. This can help you understand the bigger picture of what may be to blame for your blemishes.
Benefits of Seeing a Dermatologist
When you work with a dermatologist, you gain access to their extensive wealth of knowledge.
When it comes to their education, dermatologists generally complete:
- Four years of medical school
- One year of internship
- Three years of residency
On top of that, these professionals must pass a licensing exam to become certified.
While searching your symptoms on the internet can be a good starting point, there’s only so much Google can tell you when it comes to accurate and personalized skincare solutions. A dermatologist, on the other hand, can work together with you to devise and adapt a proper treatment plan for your unique skin condition and acne type.
Additionally, one of the most important benefits of a board certified dermatologist is their ability to prescribe more aggressive treatments for you as necessary, such as retinoids, antibiotics, or even laser treatments.
What Should You Do After You Receive Your Dermatologist-Approved Acne Treatment?
If a dermatologist prescribes you a treatment plan, congratulations—you’ve taken a significant step forward in your acne recovery journey. Your dermatologist may recommend a topical treatment, an oral medication, or a combination of the two for treating acne.
However, it’s still vital to take care of your skin on a daily basis to ensure you are treating acne for clearer skin. In fact, your regular skincare routine can play an integral role in the prevention of pimples.
For this reason, you should:
- Practice good hygiene and stick to a dedicated skincare regimen to keep your face clean of oils and contaminants that could clog your pores and worsen acne-prone skin. A good facial cleanser is great for oily skin as it works to rid the skin of dead skin cells and acne causing bacteria.
- Be sure to keep your skin adequately hydrated so that your pores don’t overproduce oil with a non-comedogenic facial moisturizer.
Keep in mind hormone fluctuations can also contribute to acne breakouts. If you believe your blemishes are caused by a hormonal imbalance, consider taking hormonal acne supplements that can support your body and balance your hormone levels to reduce this specific type of breakout. If your condition worsens, speak with a medical professional to learn more about hormonal imbalance testing.
Trust CLEARSTEM’s Dermatologist-Approved Skincare Solutions
If your acne is starting to affect your quality of life, it’s time to enlist the help of a board certified dermatologist. It’s also important that you prioritize skincare products specifically designed by professionals.
At CLEARSTEM, we understand that effective acne treatment has to start from a science-backed system. That’s why our advanced solutions are designed by 2 board-certified dermatologists who actively treat patients in our skin clinic. Additionally, tools like the CLEARSTEM Functional Lab Testing provide a deeper understanding of underlying causes, ensuring you're not just treating symptoms but addressing root causes.
No matter where you are in your skincare journey, you can trust our products to provide a clear path toward radiant, beautiful skin.
Sources:
Cleveland Clinic. Dermatologists. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12165-dermatologists-skin-care-doctors
