Comprehensive Acne & Red Spot Treatments for All Ages
Acne, scarring, and red spots affect both your skin and self-confidence. At Saratoga Dermatology, our board-certified dermatologists provide expert care for patients of all ages, effectively treating both active breakouts and lasting skin damage. We understand that each patient’s skin concerns are unique, which is why we create personalized treatment plans for optimal results.
Expert Dermatology Care in Saratoga Springs
As the most common skin condition in the United States, acne affects millions – from teenagers to adults in their 40s. While prevalent, we know that statistics offer little comfort when dealing with persistent breakouts or scarring. Left untreated, acne can lead to permanent scarring and continued self-esteem issues.
Our board-certified dermatologists take a collaborative approach, working closely with each patient to develop customized treatment plans. We carefully assess your specific type of acne, scarring patterns, and skin characteristics to create the most effective solution for your needs. We can adjust treatments to ensure optimal results.
Understanding Your Skin
While acne develops when hormone fluctuations increase oil production, red spots can stem from various causes, including post-inflammatory marks, rosacea, or other skin conditions. Our experienced dermatologists, Dr. Jean Buhac and Dr. Jennifer Smith, will properly diagnose your specific condition to ensure the most effective treatment approach. We take time to understand your skin’s unique needs and any potential triggers that may be contributing to your concerns.
Acne & Red Spot Treatments
Our dermatologists, Dr. Jean Buhac and Dr. Jennifer Smith, use their experience and expertise to create treatment plans based on examining a patient’s skin. Dermatologists grade acne on a scale of 1 to 4, based on its severity. Some individuals can see improvement with over-the-counter anti-acne products. For many people, though, a dermatologist can more effectively control moderate to severe acne.
We offer a variety of acne scar and red spot treatments for our patients from Albany, Schenectady, and other nearby communities, including:
- Topical treatments: Prescription creams and gels applied to the skin can help kill bacteria or reduce oil produced by glands. These medications include prescriptions marketed under brand names such as Retin-A, Tazorac®, and Differin®. They also reduce inflammation and help prevent scarring.
- Systemic treatments: Oral medications that work throughout the body may be prescribed for patients with red, swollen acne, such as cysts and nodules. The treatment plan may include a combination of antibiotics and isotretinoin, a medication that effectively treats severe acne.
- Laser procedures: Patients who want to avoid oral medications can benefit from a series of noninvasive laser treatments which shrink oil glands and kill bacteria. We often combine 2 lasers—the Vbeam and Smoothbeam—during a single appointment to treat both active acne and acne scarring. Our dermatologists recommend 4 to 5 treatments scheduled every 3 to 4 weeks to produce optimal results.
- Chemical peels: Superficial peels penetrate the skin’s surface layer, helping reduce skin oil secretions and inflammation. Peels can supplement other acne treatments or be used alone for mild cases.
The side effects of acne treatments vary, depending on the procedure used. Our dermatologists thoroughly explain the procedures and side effects during your consultation and will recommend the treatment that’s best suited for your particular case.
Acne Scar Treatments
Acne scarring is fairly common, especially for individuals who didn’t treat acne as adolescents or young adults. It can be an annoying or embarrassing condition, but there are ways to reduce the appearance of acne scars. The first step in treating scars is scheduling a consultation with one of our dermatologists, who will assess the type of scarring and determine the best treatment for you. There are 4 types of acne scars:
- Ice pick: Deep, but small pits
- Boxcar: Scars with sharp angles that can be shallow or deep
- Rolling: These create a wavy look and tend to be wide and shallow
- Hypertrophic Scar: A raised, thickened area of skin
The best treatments depend on the type of scars you have. The treatment options include:
- Laser skin resurfacing: Fractional carbon dioxide (CO2) lasers can smooth acne scars without surgery and can be used on all skin types and colors without side effects. We use the CO2RE laser to improve the skin’s tone and texture without the downtime of more aggressive ablative laser treatments.
- Microdermabrasion: For mild acne scars, microdermabrasion offers a versatile treatment that can be used on all skin types and colors. It’s generally not effective for deeper scarring.
- Chemical peels: Moderate and deep peels penetrate the deeper layers of the skin using high concentrations of acids. Deep peels are very effective but should only be performed by a highly-trained and experienced dermatologist. The side effects of deep peels include swelling, crusting, and redness that can last for several weeks or months.
- Fillers: The same dermal fillers used to reduce wrinkles can be used to temporarily smooth mild acne scars.
Take the First Step
Don’t let skin concerns affect your confidence any longer. Contact us at (518) 581-2860 to schedule your consultation and discover how our personalized treatment plans can help you achieve the clear, healthy skin you deserve.
