Topical Treatments for Acne in Thornton
There are a number of ways to effectively treat acne topically. As mentioned previously, acne is caused by an overproduction of oily sebum together with excess dead skin cells clogging your pores. All of this is made worse when the P. acnes bacteria are trapped within the pores leading to additional infection and inflammation. To effectively treat acne, topical treatments must target several causal factors.
One of the most popular, widely used, and effective chemicals used to treat acne topically is benzoyl peroxide. Benzoyl peroxide clears your skin by killing the bacteria that inflame acne, reducing general inflammation, as well as unclogging pores.
Benzoyl peroxide has antibacterial properties that target P. acnes bacteria leading to bacterial death. The peroxide portion of the molecule slowly releases localized pure oxygen (O2) which is a strong oxidizing agent. While on the skin the pure oxygen creates an environment that is toxic to these bacteria, effectively killing them.
Acne is often accompanied by redness and swelling due to inflammation. This inflammation is caused when the immune system responds to an overabundance of bacteria in the pores. This response stimulates the production of a type of white blood cells. These cells, and their by-products, are what cause the swelling, warmth, and redness you see on the surface of your skin. Benzoyl peroxide penetrates the skin and blocks the production of some of these inflammatory cells thereby calming the immune response that causes redness and swelling.
To unclog pores, benzoyl peroxide causes exfoliation (removal of dead skin cells) and keratolysis (breaking down keratin to help dissolve dead skin for cellular removal). This helps remove excess oil, dead skin cells, and other debris that can accumulate and block the pores. These actions unclog pores and prevent new acne breakouts while allowing existing blemishes to heal faster.
Another widely used and effective means of treating acne are chemical peels. Chemical peels are targeted exfoliating solutions. The chemicals used in these peels generally fall into a class of compounds called hydroxy acids. Hydroxy acids are derived from various natural sources, such as sugarcane, fruit, and willow bark. They include alpha, beta, and poly hydroxy acids (AHAs, BHAs and PHAs). AHAs and BHAs will be our focus for acne treatments. They help exfoliate the skin to unclog pores, decrease oil production, and reduce inflammation. These acids are used in various concentrations, from very mild in products that you might use at home every day, to much stronger professional-use strengths that can cause significant skin peeling.
Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid derived from willow bark that penetrates the skin and helps to exfoliate dead skin cells. It has anti-inflammatory properties and helps to unclog pores by dissolving the debris and sebum that can contribute to acne. Salicylic acid peels are particularly beneficial for individuals with oily, and acne-prone skin and non-inflammatory acne.
Glycolic acid is an alpha-hydroxy acid derived from sugarcane. It exfoliates the skin by lysing the bonds between dead skin cells, helping to unclog pores and reduce acne breakouts. Glycolic acid also stimulates collagen production, improving the overall texture and appearance of the skin.
Lactic acid is another AHA that helps to exfoliate the skin and promote cell turnover. It is milder than glycolic acid and is suitable for individuals with sensitive skin. Lactic acid is also hydrating which can be very beneficial as many acne treatments can dry out your skin. Lactic acid peels will help to reduce acne breakouts, fade acne scars, and improve skin tone and texture.
Mandelic acid is an AHA derived from bitter almonds. It has antibacterial properties and helps to kill acne-causing bacteria on the skin. Mandelic acid also exfoliates the skin by breaking the bonds that hold dead skin cells to the surface of the skin. Mandelic acid is a large molecule, which means it penetrates the skin more slowly than other AHAs. This is beneficial for sensitive skin as it is usually well tolerated. Mandelic acid has been shown to be as effective as salicylic acid with far fewer instances of irritation or sensitivity, making it ideal for acne-prone skin of all types.
Azelaic acid is part of a group of naturally occurring acids called dicarboxylic acids that are typically derived from grains like wheat and barley. Its mechanisms of action in acne treatment are two-fold: It will reduce the causes of acne like bacteria and inflammation, and it is also a potent tyrosinase inhibitor. This molecule reduces pigment production and decreases the likelihood of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation that acne can leave behind. These are the red or purple marks on your skin where a breakout has healed. Azelaic acid targets the source of this hyperpigmentation in order to decrease the formation of dark spots and has an overall calming effect on your skin.
Another popular topical treatment is niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3. While not necessarily an effective acne treatment on its own, niacinamide has many benefits when used in combination with other topical acne treatments. Niacinamide reduces a number of inflammatory cytokines, thus calming the skin and reducing inflammation. It also provides strength and support to your skin’s barrier, the protective layer of your skin. When your barrier is compromised oil production can go overboard and inflammation ramps up as well. By supporting the skin barrier, niacinamide helps keep excess oil production under control and inflammation to a minimum. Niacinamide also helps treat and prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation by decreasing the amount of melanin (pigment) that is deposited in new cells that are being made as acne lesions are healing.
Zinc oxide is an essential compound that aids the body’s immune system by helping to fight germs and heal wounds, making it a good pick for acne lesions. Zinc has both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and can also help regulate sebum production. This is one of the reasons that we love mineral sunscreens that contain zinc for acne-prone skin.
Mastering the mechanisms of topical acne treatments are complex lessons in both chemistry and biology. At Amplify Aesthetics we treat acne in Thornton by making certain our aestheticians understand each treatment at the molecular level to to be able to accurately design a customized treatment plan for you. There is no “one size fits all” in acne treatments. Each person with acne prone skin is different, so schedule a consultation now in our Thornton facility to have our acne experts look at your skin and recommend a treatment plan just right for you.