Treatment Options For Women With Cystic Acne
By Greta McLaren | Published on November 28, 2011 | 0 Comments
Hormones play a much larger role in the development of acne than most people realize, and the fluctuation of hormones that many people experience as they age can help explain why some women will suddenly develop cystic acne for the first time later on in life. Thankfully, Dr. Greta McLaren of Skin Secrets Medical in Greenwood Village, says acne treatments have been developed to combat these hormonal changes.
Dr. McLaren says it is not unheard of for women who have never suffered from acne before to begin developing symptoms in their 30s and 40s. These changes in the skin can generally be attributed to hormonal fluctuations, whether a woman is in perimenopause or if her periods have become irregular.
So how can you treat cystic acne that’s caused by hormonal fluctuations? In Greenwood Village, acne treatments need to treat the inflammation at the source if they are going to have any chance of working. Hormonal acne is a deeper form of cystic acne, and Dr. McLaren says that topical medications by themselves usually do not work in these situations.
At her practice in Greenwood Village, new acne treatments are being offered to get to the root of cystic acne. Dr. McLaren generally recommends antibiotics to patients in these cases, one of which is known as doxycycline. In addition to antibiotics, she recommends that patients try certain copper and zinc vitamins. Patients with serious acne always have the option to request prescription Accutane, however this is a medication that comes with a lot of side effects that many women would like to avoid.
Another option for women in Greenwood Village who need acne treatments is known as photodynamic therapy or PDT. Photodynamic therapy is a treatment in which a chemical is activated on the patient’s skin with a laser device. This device then works to shrink the oil glands on the patient’s face. Cystic acne, in particular, is caused by an overproduction of oil, which makes photodynamic therapy an excellent solution for women battling this condition.
Dr. McLaren explains that fluctuations in hormones can cause some women to produce more oil, and this overproduction of oil is what leads to the inflammation and bacteria and eventually causes the cystic acne they are dealing with. If a physician can decrease the oil production through the use of photodynamic therapy, then it is possible for a woman to get significantly clearer skin in very little time and without having to take any prescription medications.
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
Phone: 303-770-SKIN
*Disclaimer: The information on this website is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.