Acne is among the most common skin diseases. And while the condition is often associated with teenage years, you are likely to suffer from mild acne at least one in your adult life.
Luckily, you can treat acne with over the counter medication. Any gel or cream that contains benzoyl peroxide can clear acne within four to six weeks of consistent use.
However, sometimes treating acne at home without help from a dermatologist does not work. You need to book an appointment with a certified dermatologist in the following situations.
1. Over-the-counter Treatments are Ineffective
The first thought that comes to mind when you notice a pimple or breakout on your face is that it will go away with time. The next course of action for most people is to buy a cream or gel to clear the breakout. As indicated earlier, this works for acne as well.
Since the condition is common, many gels, cleansers and creams have been introduced into the market. Make sure that you are using the right products for acne. You may buy the wrong treatment at the chemist if you do not seek advice from a medical practitioner.
In case you try the right medication and the acne persists or gets worse, you need to seek help from clinics like The London Dermatology Centre which specialise in severe acne cases.
2. You are suffering from Cystic Acne
The common type of acne clears with their right over-the-counter medication. However, cystic acne is hard to treat without the help of a dermatologist. The condition is characterised by inflamed and painful bumps that may appear on several parts of the body.
The bumps may spread from your face to your arms, chest or back. Cystic acne may persist for several weeks even with the recommended acne treatment. The major reason why you need to see a dermatologist for cystic acne is that it may lead to ugly facial scars. Your dermatologist will recommend the right antibiotic or prescribe other medication to relieve the pain and inflammation.
3. You Have another Condition that May Cause Acne
If you have not suffered from any severe skin breakout before, you may not know the real cause of your acne. The main causes are hormonal changes, dietary changes and stress. However, some conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome can cause acne.
If you rule out common causes of acne and suspect that you are suffering from an underlying condition, contact a dermatologist immediately. Your suspicion could be right or wrong, but a professional dermatologist can diagnose any underlying issue.
The acne will not clear with over-the-counter medication if you have another problem. You might also be suffering from another skin condition with similar symptoms to acne.
4. The Condition Affects Your Self-Esteem
Some people continue with their normal lives even with a skin breakout. However, inflamed and painful bumps on your face may damage your self-esteem severely.
The effect is worse if the pimples spread to other parts of the body or persist for a long time. If you cannot leave your house or attend social events as usual, you need to make a trip to a dermatologist’s office.
Although acne is common and has several treatments, it can affect your confidence, especially if you are experiencing it for the first time. Do not wait for the breakout to clear while you lock yourself indoors. Get immediate help from a dermatologist near you before the skin condition leads to depression.
5. The Acne is a Side Effect of Medication
Did you start experiencing acne after taking medication? If medication is the underlying cause, the condition will persist as long as you are under medication.
Prescriptions for depression and anxiety often lead to an acne breakout. Seeing a doctor or dermatologist is recommended especially when the acne is severe. If you are treating a chronic condition, the doctor may prescribe a different drug for the underlying condition.
The dermatologist can prescribe medication with minimal or no reaction to your current medication.
You can treat mild acne at home within a few days with the right products. However, if the condition persists after medication, you need a different prescription from a dermatologist. Book an appointment too if the condition affects your esteem severely or makes you uncomfortable in any other way.
Thanks for pointing out that finding out there must be an underlying reason that must be checked by a dermatologist if the common reasons are ruled out. I guess I need to see one tomorrow since I noticed that I still grew new ones after eating healthily for a month and practicing proper hygiene. It all started when I reached my 20s which I don\’t understand why.
After I had my baby, I have been having a hard time with adult acne. As I was reading your article, you state that the leading cause of a breakout is due to hormonal changes. Since having my baby recently, this makes a lot of sense. Maybe it is time I need to reach out to a Dermatologist to see if they can help me control it.
It\’s good to know more about seeing a dermatologist. I like how you said that it\’s smart to see a professional if the creams and gels from the store don\’t help your acne. My son is still seeing acne after all those things, so I think we\’ll find a doctor to take him to.
Whenever I have acne I always consult it over a professional. With this, I know what to do and what to apply in order to remove it for good.