Dermatology Acne Treatment

Acne is one of the most common skin conditions, affecting people of all ages and skin types. While often thought of as a teenage concern, acne can persist well into adulthood, especially hormonal and cystic forms. At Schweiger Dermatology Group, our dermatology providers offer personalized acne treatment plans designed to clear active breakouts, prevent new blemishes, and restore your skin’s confidence.

Understanding what causes acne and which treatments work best for your skin type can make a significant difference in long-term results. Whether you’re managing mild whiteheads, deep cystic acne, or acne scars, professional care can help you achieve clear, healthy-looking skin.

What Is Acne?

Acne develops when the skin’s pores become clogged with oil (sebum), dead skin cells and bacteria. This buildup leads to inflammation and visible breakouts that can appear on the face, back, chest, shoulders or neck.

Acne-prone skin tends to produce excess oil, making pores more likely to clog. While acne can affect anyone, certain factors like hormones, genetics and lifestyle play a key role.

Many patients ask, “When does acne start?” It most commonly begins during puberty due to hormonal fluctuations, but adults can also develop new breakouts later in life. Hormonal acne, for instance, often appears around the chin and jawline in women during menstruation or stress.

What Causes Acne?

Acne can have several causes. While the primary culprit is excess oil production, many other factors can increase the likelihood of acne and its severity, including:

• Hormonal Changes: Fluctuations in androgens can increase excess oil production in the skin. This mainly occurs during puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, leading to more frequent acne breakouts during those periods.
• Genetics: Your genetic makeup can influence your skin’s sensitivity to hormones, oil production, and the rate of skin cell turnover. If your parents had acne, you’re more likely to develop it, too.
• Diet: While the link between diet and acne is still being researched, some studies suggest that high-glycemic foods and dairy products can make acne worse in some individuals.
• Medications: Certain medications, such as corticosteroids, androgens, lithium, and some birth control pills, can trigger or worsen acne as a side effect. Always consult with your healthcare provider about potential cosmetic skin-related side effects.
• Greasy Cosmetics: Oil-based makeup, sunscreens, and hair products can clog pores similar to your skin’s natural overproduction, leading to acne breakouts.
• Stress: While stress doesn’t directly cause acne, it can exacerbate existing acne by triggering the release of stress hormones like cortisol. These hormones can increase inflammation and oil production in the skin.

Signs and Symptoms of Acne

The symptoms of acne vary depending on the type and severity of the condition. Common signs of acne include:

• Whiteheads (closed clogged pores)
• Blackheads (open clogged pores)
• Papules (small red bumps)
• Pustules (pimples with visible pus)
• Nodules (painful, solid lumps beneath the skin)
• Cysts (deep, inflamed lesions that may cause scarring)

Understanding the different types of acne helps determine the best treatment approach. Mild acne may clear with topical treatments, while cystic acne treatment often requires prescription medications or in-office procedures to control inflammation.

If you’ve wondered, “What type of acne do I have?” a dermatologist or dermatology provider can identify whether your breakouts are comedonal (clogged pores), inflammatory, hormonal, or cystic and build a targeted plan for lasting results.

Types of Acne

Several types of acne can occur, each with its symptoms and causes. Understanding your acne type allows for targeted care, which can help minimize scarring. The most common kinds of acne include:

• Comedonal Acne: This type of acne occurs with blackheads and whiteheads due to clogged follicles.
• Hormonal Acne: This type of acne occurs when there is an overproduction of sebum that blocks the pores, often resulting in lower face cysts or pimples that worsen during cycles
• Cystic Acne: This type of acne causes deep, sometimes painful, pus-filled pimples. These can leave scars on the skin.
• Fungal Acne: This type of acne happens when yeast gets into the hair follicles. Fungal acne may become inflamed and itchy.
• Nodular Acne: This type of acne causes pimples deep beneath the skin that can last for long periods of time.

Hormonal and Adult Acne: Why It Happens and How It’s Treated

Many adults experience persistent or late-onset acne even years after their teenage breakouts have cleared. This form, often called hormonal acne, can be linked to fluctuations in estrogen and testosterone, stress, or conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Hormonal acne typically appears as deep, painful cysts around the chin, jawline, and neck.

At Schweiger Dermatology Group, hormonal acne treatment may involve both topical and systemic therapies, such as retinoids, oral contraceptives, or anti-androgen medications like spironolactone. Our dermatology providers customize these plans based on your medical history, hormonal triggers, and skin type. By addressing internal and external factors, our goal is not only to clear current breakouts but to prevent new ones from forming.

For patients dealing with stress-related acne, lifestyle adjustments like improved sleep, balanced nutrition, and mindfulness techniques can also support long-term improvement.

Adult Acne vs. Teen Acne

Teen acne is a common skin condition, largely due to puberty. Around 85% of teens have acne during that time of their lives. Teen acne is caused by bacteria called C. acnes and increased hormones that lead to extra sebum production and clogged pores. Teen acne is commonly treated with medicated face washes, but it can sometimes be treated with topical or oral medications when it’s moderate or severe.

Adult acne is a chronic condition that can negatively impact the quality of adult patients’ lives. It usually falls into one of two subtypes: persistent and late-onset. Persistent adult acne is teen acne that has either never resolved or returned from the teen years. Late-onset acne occurs after 25. Acne treatment for adults can include anything from medications to laser therapies.

Acne by Skin Type and Location

Acne isn’t limited to the face. Many patients develop breakouts on the chest, shoulders, or back, a condition often called “bacne.” Back and body acne can be caused by friction from tight clothing, sweating during workouts, or hair and skincare products that clog pores. Cystic acne on the back and chest acne may require oral medications or in-office treatments to prevent scarring.

Your skin type also plays a role. Oily or combination skin tends to experience more frequent breakouts, while dry or sensitive skin may react to certain acne products. During your consultation, your dermatologist or dermatology provider will identify your skin type and customize an acne treatment plan that balances effectiveness with comfort.

For the best acne treatment, our team may recommend pairing prescription medications with procedures like chemical peels or laser therapy for full-face and body clarity.

How To Prevent Acne

The nice thing about working with an acne specialist is you have many tools at your disposal to treat and get rid of acne. You also received advice specific to your acne. However, there are things you can do at home to reduce the frequency of your breakouts. Some tips to help prevent acne at home include:

• Washing your face every day, avoiding leaving makeup on the skin
• Using non-comedogenic products to avoid blocking the pores
• Avoiding picking at the skin, which can irritate it, make pimples worse, and lead to scarring
• Cleaning your makeup brushes to avoid putting bacteria on your face
• Avoiding over-exfoliation, which can cause additional oil production
• Getting enough rest, drinking water, and eating well to help the skin stay healthy

Lifestyle and Skincare Habits to Support Clearer Skin

Healthy lifestyle choices can make a real difference in acne management. Our providers often remind patients that skincare isn’t just about what you apply – it’s about daily habits, stress management, and consistency. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants, staying hydrated, and avoiding high-glycemic foods (like refined sugar and processed snacks) can reduce acne severity.

When building a skincare routine, stick to gentle cleansers, lightweight moisturizers, and broad-spectrum SPF. Avoid over-cleansing or using too many active ingredients at once—this can damage your skin barrier and worsen inflammation. For patients with oily skin, oil-free hydrators and niacinamide-based products help regulate sebum production.

Your dermatologist or dermatology provider may also suggest periodic follow-ups to monitor progress and adjust treatments. Consistency is key to keeping your skin balanced long-term.

Dermatologist Acne Treatment Options

You don’t have to live with acne. You can try many different treatment options to improve the appearance of acne on the face and body. Here are several that you can discuss with a dermatology provider.

Topical Acne Treatments

Topical acne treatments range from retinoids to antibiotics you can apply to the skin as a cream or serum. Topical treatments work well because they directly target the affected. However, topical treatments can be intense, leading to dryness and flaking, so finding the right option may take some time. Work with an acne dermatologist or dermatology provider to determine the best topical prescription for your needs.

Oral Medications for Acne

Oral medications help defeat acne from the inside out. They are prescribed for moderate to severe acne or when topical treatments haven’t been effective. Oral medications include antibiotics, spironolactone, or oral contraceptives (for select patients). Isotretinoin is also one of these treatments. While sometimes called a “last-resort treatment,” it will help get rid of severe acne and potentially prevent new scarring.

Laser and Light Therapies for Acne

Laser and light therapies for acne are a good choice because they are designed to kill the bacteria responsible for acne breakouts. For example, photodynamic therapy is a non-invasive blue-light therapy that kills C. acnes and shrinks the skin’s oil-producing glands.

Another option is AviClear®, an FDA-approved energy device that treats acne by suppressing the sebaceous gland. The skin then naturally produces less oil, which helps reduce acne and treat active breakouts. Finally, red light therapy reduces inflammation and promotes healing through improved collagen production.

Facials and Chemical Peels for Acne

Facials can be another great way to control acne when you want to use an external option rather than oral medication. They can treat current breakouts and prevent future recurrences. Medical acne facials are performed by estheticians at dermatology offices or medical spas. In addition to facials, estheticians offer cosmetic acne services like chemical peels, microdermabrasion, or extractions.

Acne Scar Removal

Scarring is common alongside severe forms of acne like cystic and nodular. Some treatments can simultaneously help remove scars and treat existing acne outbreaks. One of these procedures is Isolaz® laser therapy, which can be performed in a dermatology office.

Isolaz® uses gentle suction to clean the pores. It also has a light that kills acne-causing bacteria and helps improve acne in only a few weeks. This is a painless procedure with results visible within 48 hours.

When to See a Dermatologist for Acne Treatment

If you’ve tried drugstore cleansers or spot treatments without improvement, or if your acne is leaving scars, it’s time to see a professional. A dermatologist or dermatology provider can identify the exact cause of your acne and tailor treatments to your skin’s needs.

Persistent cystic acne, hormonal flare-ups, or breakouts that worsen with stress all require medical attention. In some cases, combining oral and topical treatments or advanced procedures like light therapy or laser resurfacing offers the best long-term results.

Searching for “acne treatment near me”? Schweiger Dermatology Group has convenient locations throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Our dermatology providers are experienced in treating every acne type with customized, effective solutions.

---

Acne Specialists at Schweiger Dermatology Group

At Schweiger Dermatology Group, our acne specialists know how to control any type of acne. When you work with one of our acne specialists, you’ll receive a thorough skin evaluation and treatment plan to help resolve your breakouts once and for all. From laser therapy and light therapies to oral medication like Isotretinoin, there are options to help you get the clear skin you desire. To schedule an appointment, book online or call 844-DERM-DOC.

---