I'm Embarrassed About My Chronic Acne

You probably didn’t think adults could have acne, but you’re living proof of it. It’s embarrassing when meeting new people, whether they’re in your work world or in your social sphere. 

Acne could give the impression that you have poor hygiene or don’t care about how you look, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. 

At Seacoast Dermatology, our board-certified dermatologists have years of experience in treating acne, including chronic acne. We develop an individualized treatment plan for you based on your specific needs. 

Why do I still have acne? 

Your body is producing excess oil or the oil is getting trapped under your skin, clogging your pores and mixing with bacteria to produce the inflammation of acne. If you’re a woman, your hormones and menstrual cycle also could be factors creating excess oil production. 

If you’ve been on a course of steroids or are on lithium, you may notice acne outbreaks. Although this side effect is not common, these drugs can cause acne. 

Your genes are also in play. If others in your family had adult acne, you’re likely more prone to it. Are you under a lot of stress from a major life change? Stress is also related to acne breakouts. 

What treatments can help chronic acne?

We take a thorough medical history to determine if anything in your current lifestyle is worsening your condition. We advise you on the best gentle cleansers and shampoos to use to ensure you’re not inadvertently making the acne worse. 

You may need an oral antibiotic. This drug helps calm acne’s inflammation. We may also prescribe topical benzoyl peroxide medicine you put on your skin to remove bacteria and open clogged pores. 

We can prescribe a retinoid, which clears blackheads, whiteheads, and clogged pores.

You may benefit from a chemical peel, which gently yet thoroughly exfoliates dead skin cells and removes excess oil, both of which could be clogging your pores. The new skin is smoother and softens acne scars. We also do pore extractions. 

If your acne is driven by your hormones and menstruation, we may prescribe a drug called spironolactone to help you. And three types of birth control pills are FDA-approved for acne treatment. Birth control pills can help balance the hormones that might lead to acne. 

If these treatments don’t clear your acne the way you want it to, we may prescribe isotretinoin, commonly known by the brand name Accutane. It’s a drug that targets the bacteria, clogged pores, oil, and inflammation at the same time. 

We determine whether you’re a candidate to take the drug. You shouldn’t use this drug if you’re pregnant, might get pregnant, are breastfeeding, or have certain diseases or conditions. 

If you’re a candidate for isotretinoin, you take the drug for 4-6 months. It’s effective in 85% of cases. 

If you have chronic acne, call one of our locations or book an appointment online. Our offices are in Portsmouth, Exeter, and Dover, New Hampshire.