A Dermatologist’s Guide to Quick Acne Relief

How do I cure acne quickly, Accutane, lasers, facials, or skin care products? This is a question I get often…and the truth is, there’s no quick cure for acne.

As a board-certified dermatologist, located in Newport Beach, CA I see all types of acne. Simple little blackheads that start on the nose, micro pimples with an oily scalp, deep jawline cyst that are tender to the touch. These are just some examples of how acne presents itself on human skin and each skin story is unique. If you struggle with acne, don’t worry. Even though there isn’t a quick cure for acne, through my experience and expertise, I will help guide you through proven acne remedies to reach the long term goal of clear, radiant and pimple-free skin.

Understanding Acne

Acne’s complexity lies in its multifactorial nature – follicular plugging, increased oil production, bacterial overgrowth, and inflammatory responses.

Follicular Plugging: due to abnormal skin shedding and sloughing
Increased Oil Production: due to hormonal stimulation of the oil gland
Bacterial Overgrowth: due to lack of oxygen in the follicle
A variable inflammatory response: that leads to red, tender lesions

The key to a clear complexion is understanding the causes of acne and tailoring treatments to your acne type, whether full face and cystic, sebaceous and oily, or irritated and over-treated.

I am here to give you a few quick tricks on how to get clear skin fast.

Quick Fixes

Number one if you’re making acne scars with indentations in your face, you need to see a board-certified dermatologist to start prescription oral acne medication. Scarring acne is permanent and even though you will outgrow your active acne, you will never outgrow your permanent scars. I can’t stress enough how important it is to see a professional before you start scarring.

Medicated Facial Wash & Scalp Care: If you breakout with pustules and blackheads and an event looms, a quick fix is to start with a medicated facial wash containing benzoyl peroxide. Don’t forget your scalp too – it’s often-overlooked and directly connected to facial skin. If you balance the oil on your scalp with a dandruff shampoo, this will improve your facial skin.
Mild Medical-Grade Facial: Opt for a mild medical-grade acne facial from a licensed medical aesthetician. Medical aestheticians typically work alongside a doctor. Their expertise in addressing skin pathologies, like acne, ensures a gentle yet effective approach. The reason I say mild facial is because you wouldn’t want to use a harsh acid or chemical peel, or aggressive extractions if you want to get clear fast. You want to avoid any treatments that could be irritating to the skin. Gentle extractions, cleansing and removing excessive oils without adding irritants or harsh chemicals is key.

So the first thing I would do, if you have the resources, is get a medical-grade facial from an experienced licensed medical aesthetician.

If you have an all-of-a-sudden big, monster pimple before a big event…you can get a medical extraction and receive a low-dose cortisone injection to calm down a big overnight pimple quickly. I call it the ‘wedding-day pimple cure’.

Long-Term Solutions

Low-Dose Accutane Protocol: Embrace the power of low-dose Accutane. Although not a quick fix, its efficacy in treating all acne types makes it a long-term favorite. I am a true believer of a low-dose Accutane protocol. Accutane is a very safe drug when taken at low doses and it is extremely effective. I have used it on my patients for over 15 years and find that it is close to a miracle drug for all types of acne. Accutane‘s peak effect takes about 8 to 12 weeks, therefore it is best as a long-term solution. Low dose Accutane is probably one of my favorite acne therapies overall. Oral antibiotics, spironolactone, and oral contraceptives can be effective but they don’t clear your skin as completely as low-dose accutane in my experience.

Acne Laser Treatments

Cautions:

Marketing Hype: Be cautious of one-shot promise acne laser treatments. This is marketing hype, and doesn’t fit in the model of the pathophysiology and mechanisms of real acne. There is no laser CURE for acne. Lasers can improve acne but not cure the disorder.
Choose Wisely: Not all lasers are created equal. Seek professional advice from a licensed dermatologist or experienced practitioner familiar with acne pathology and skin color analysis.
Avoid Aggravating your acne and causing flares: Aggressive laser treatments can worsen acne sometimes. We do not recommend any aggressive or ablative laser treatments on patients with active inflammatory acne. Prioritize a professional examination to determine if laser therapy is right for your skin before you jump into a procedure.

Following Trends – avoid FOMO:

People get “procedure happy” because they see something trending on social media but the medical facts reveal acne is an inflammatory disorder that requires a comprehensive approach. Watching a video shared by someone else and hoping you get the same results is not the smartest decision. Doing a popular procedure or laser may not be the right choice for your skin type or acne type.

“Light” Lasers:

While no single laser procedure can cure acne, certain lighter, non aggressive, lasers, like LED light therapy and non-ablative lasers, can accelerate the healing process and reduce inflammation by increasing blood flow.

LED Therapy: LED light therapy (red wavelength) can decrease inflammation and is research proven to improve the appearance of papules and decrease the number of inflammatory papules after five treatments. We offer medical-grade Red Light Therapy at ZENA Medical. There are some effective at-home LED masks you could try. But be aware, at-home masks are not as effective and take longer to work.
Spectra Hollywood Peel: The other “light” laser that can improve inflammatory acne is a skin-toning device like the Lutronic Hollywood Spectra Peel. The Hollywood Spectra Peel is a 1064 nd-YAG laser that applies low-level, light heat to the epidermis. It superficially increases blood flow to whisk away inflammation in the skin. One can see a clinical benefit with just one or two treatments.

Remember lasers can sometimes trigger acne flares, or for example, certain lasers can make certain acne (rosacea acne) worse. My recommendation is before you embark on laser therapy that you’re examined by a licensed professional, preferably a board-certified dermatologist, that is familiar with acne pathology to ensure that you benefit from the laser, not harm yourself.

Crafting Your Acne Solution

Acne therapy is complicated because acne is a complicated disease. After treating acne for over 15 years, my proven acne remedies that treat acne quickly are:

Start Slow: Introduce one product at a time to avoid skin inflammation, irritation or allergic reaction. Begin with a cleanser that contains benzoyl peroxide and a medicated dandruff shampoo for a balanced foundation.
Professional Guidance: Facials, lasers, and other treatments, should be administered by experienced licensed professionals. Your journey to clear skin requires expertise and a personalized approach.
Combination Therapy: Understand that acne may demand both topical and oral prescription medications. A multifaceted approach is the key to long-term success.

In the pursuit of rapid acne relief, remember – it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Your skin deserves careful consideration and professional guidance. Acne is one of our favorite skin diseases to treat. The results are almost always life changing. We are here to help.