When You Should See a Doctor About Acne

Acne is the most prevalent skin condition in the U.S., impacting approximately 85% of teens and young adults. There are many people who struggle with acne into adulthood as well. Unfortunately, in its moderate and severe forms, acne can cause lasting damage to the skin. What’s more, many people with acne feel insecure about their skin, leading to a damaging loss of self-confidence. 

While not all people with acne need to see a doctor, many people can benefit from professional acne treatment. You may want to consider seeing a doctor for acne if:

Your Acne Is Severe, Highly Inflamed, or Cystic

If you’re experiencing moderate to severe acne that’s highly inflamed, heading to the doctor is a wise choice. Over-the-counter medications aren’t strong enough to improve acne to this degree. By purchasing OTC treatments in this stage, you’ll likely be expending money on products that won’t provide results. 

Severe, inflamed, and cystic acne occur deep within the skin. This means that they can cause lasting scarring. So, if you have this type of acne, heading to a skin specialist promptly will help you avoid long-term damage to the skin. 

OTC Acne Treatments Aren’t Providing Results

For some people with acne, OTC acne treatments are sufficient to clear up their skin. For others, OTC treatments don’t provide improvement to the skin or stop working after a certain period of time. 

OTC products generally contain either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. The ingredients kill acne-causing bacteria and dry up blemishes for clearer skin. However, in more complicated and/or severe cases of acne, OTC formulations of these ingredients aren’t enough to provide results. Professional guidance can be helpful in these cases, as your doctor can suggest and write prescriptions for medications and treatments that are more likely to stop your breakouts. 

Your Acne is Negatively Impacting Your Mental Health

Acne can be very distressing, even holding people back from social events and opportunities. If you’re feeling depressed about your skin or your skin has caused your confidence to plummet, professional acne treatment is a worthwhile investment. 

The team at St. Louis Skin Solutions offers a holistic approach to acne care so that patients can achieve clear skin in the long term. Contact us today to reserve an appointment.