Antibiotics and Acne - More Harm than Good?

At Skintherapy Skincare and Acne Clinic of Salt Lake City, we fight acne with an individualized program of product use, lifestyle changes and safe extractions. It is usually a 12 week process to get clear and then continued product use keeps your skin clear. We see continued success with this process and often times we help people who have tried many other techniques without ever seeing clear skin. One of the most common and failed treatments for acne we see in our clinic is prescription antibiotics. In our experience, it is extremely clear that antibiotics do more harm than good when treating acne. Please read on to learn more about the dangers of antibiotics

A quick background on acne and antibiotics: Antibiotics have become an extremely popular treatment for acne. Dermatologist and doctors have been prescribing antibiotics for decades and about 90% of my clients have been prescribed antibiotics as an acne treatment at one point or another. Some of the most popular are erythromycin, tetracycline clindamycin, and doxycycline.

What is the original logic behind prescribing antibiotics for acne?
The whole idea behind antibiotics is that they fight bacteria, so if bacteria is your problem (strep throat, a bacterial flu, etc.) an antibiotic will work to kill that bacteria in your body and ultimately make you feel better. The thought behind using antibiotics to fight off acne is based on the assumption that acne is just caused by bacteria. 

So why aren't the antibiotics working to control breakouts?
Many of my clients who have used antibiotics in the past saw little to no results at all. In some cases folks had seen a change at first, but their acne came back over time. The problem with this entire idea is that acne isn't only caused by bacteria, it is a problem in the pores of your skin. If you are acne prone, your pores are over producing and shedding skin cells at an extremely quick pace. Your body cannot keep up with this excessive shedding and your dead skin cells are mixing with your natural oils to cause growth in bacteria. Your pore becomes the ultimate breading grounds for micro-comeodones. These are the beginning of zits.

If antibiotics are not treating your acne, what are they doing to your body?
The worst part about prescribing these antibiotics for acne is not that they actually don't work in clearing your skin, but that they can cause harm to your body. Some side effects of taking antibiotics include, stomach and intestinal problems, continuous vaginal yeast infections in women, permanently stained teeth, nausea and diarrhea. We are also seeing new, serious bacterial infections that are resistant to antibiotics. Staph infection and MRSA are becoming more common and harder to treat because of over prescribing antibiotics.

Ultimately, you do not need antibiotics to clear your skin. We see results with every one of our clients and we highly suggest staying away from antibiotics. We would love to
help you clear your skin in a safe and healthy manner. Please visit our website to schedule a consultation UtahAcneClinic.com.

Coconut Oil - Don’t Let The Hype Fool You-Pore Clogging Products: A Series

Coconut oil has exploded in the beauty market this year and while you probably have some friends that swear by the stuff for moisture, smell, etc. - it is a no no for acne sufferers.

With the popularity of coconut oil, many people have preached that this creamy oil can clear acne among all it’s other uses. Unfortunately this claim is not true. The thought behind coconut oil and clearing acne is that coconut oil contains acids with antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial properties that help kill yeast and parasites. This boosts your immune system to fight infections. In theory, this fight against infections would also fight against acne breakouts. 

We know, it would be such a simple fix if coconut oil did help acne sufferers, but this theory is flawed because of the molecule in coconut oil. It is a very small molecule and it will CLOG your pores. Simple as that -  PLEASE BE AWARE - coconut oil is going to clog your pores, it is highly comedogenic. We have seen clients who have used the oil before coming into the clinic with increased breakouts where they slathered straight coconut oil or products containing the oil on their skin.

You need to stay away from any form of this stuff if you are acne prone! This includes shampoos, lotions, makeup products, etc.  Do not use coconut masks for your hair and stay away from “off the shelf” products that contain the oil.

We suggest you consult our list of pore clogging ingredients before buying any type of beauty product from the store and never let the hype of coconut oil touch your skin.

Below, we have listed some popular hair products that contain coconut oil. Please notice that coconut oil is in all types of hair products- including masques, mists, leave in conditioners, etc. As an acne sufferer you are required to check all ingredients in all of your products, even if they are the same brand.

Pureology Precious Oil Softening Hair Masque

The Pureology Precious Oil Softening Hair Masque is not safe for acne prone skin because the masque uses coconut oil to repair fading hair color and generally dry hair. This product is a great example of changes in product ingredients throughout the same brand. Pureology does have  acne safe shampoo and conditioner that many acne sufferers use daily. If you would have just assumed that this hair masque was safe because it was made by Pureology, you would have encountered breakouts within a few uses.  Always check the ingredients, even on products you have used before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
John Masters Organics Citrus & Neroli Detangler
Coconut oil is one of 17 organic ingredients in this leave-in conditioner that detangles, hydrates, and strengthens hair. But will not be a friend to anyone who suffers from acne.

Carol's Daughter Monoi Oil Sacred Strengthening Serum

The headlining “up and coming” new oil called  monoi oil, comes from an exotic mixture of Coconut oil and flowers. Not a hair oil I would recommend if you’re acne prone.

Kiehl's Amino Acid Conditioner

Kiehl’s is a well known brand that works wonders on most skin and hair, but this conditioner will not work to keep acne sufferers safe from breakouts. This hydrating and lightweight conditioner contains coconut oil and will cause breakouts around the scalp.

Aveda’s Sun Care Soins Soleil

This water resistant spray contains coconut oil, palm oil and shea butter. Again, not safe for acne prone skin even though it’s a hair care product.

If you want to clear your acne, you need to use the correct products for your skin as well as your hair. SkintherapySkincare and Acne Clinic of Salt Lake City can put you on the right path towards clear skin find us at UtahAcneClinic.com and on Instagram at Skintherapyacneclinic.

Back and Body Acne Treatments

Before



After

How to Get Rid of Body Acne

Out of all the types of acne, body acne can cause acne sufferers the most heartbreak and embarrassment. It is not uncommon for people with breakouts on their backs and chests to shy away from public outings. If you have suffered from body acne, you've probably thought twice about wearing a strapless dress to a school dance or going shirtless at the pool. You probably constantly fear that people will notice your acne.

It really doesn't seem fair does it? As if suffering from acne on your face isn't enough, you also have breakouts on your back and chest? Skintherapy Skincare and Acne Clinic understands and  we want to help you clear your body acne! We want you to be happy and confident in your own skin and we have the knowledge on body acne, as well as a successful technique in clearing breakouts to promise real results. Please read below to see a little bit about how we help clear client’s skin when they are suffering from body acne.

What is the first step in clearing your skin?

Like all acne, understanding the type of acne that you have on your body is the key to treating it. This is why it is just as important to work with an Acne Specialist while treating your body acne as it is when treating the acne on your face.

Once we understand the type of acne you are suffering from, we start a program of the right amount of exfoliation and topical antibacterial action to begin the process of preventing the formation of micro acne lesions.

If you have red body acne that is painful and pustular, we will start you on a program of less aggressive exfoliation and more aggressive antibacterial work.

If your body acne is more timid with a non-inflamed, bumpy texture and lots of build up and blackheads - you need to be on a program of high exfoliation and less antibacterial work. Different variations of our scrubs, benzoyl peroxide creams, mandelic serums and other alpha-hydroxy acids are going to kick your body acne to the curb. You just need to make sure to use them in the right way, every morning and evening.

Some extra tips and habits to help clear body acne.

1.     Make sure you are washing your shirts and sheets in acne safe detergent like Cheer -Free, Arm and Hammer Free. Detergents that are fragrance free are best.

2.     Wear breathable fabrics. You want airflow to your problem areas and as little sweat as possible. (This is especially important while you are sleeping.)

3.     Stay away from whey or soy protein. We often see inflamed body acne in relation to frequent use of whey or soy protein shakes and/or steroid use in body builders or athletes. These products act like hormones in the body and if taken in excess can trigger acne flare-ups.

Should you be coming in for professional treatment when fighting your body acne?

Absolutely! We usually see the best results in our clients after three months of consecutive professional treatment and consistent use of our topical products. Extractions will absolutely help clear your body acne!

Remember, body acne can be successfully cleared by taking the correct steps and using the right products on your chest or back acne. Come see us at Skintherapy Skincare and Acne Clinic in Salt Lake City, Utah.

How to Cure Acne

 

You’ve dreamed of having clear skin but are still suffering from acne. You may have been a teenager when you got your first pimple and it may very well have followed you into adulthood.  You have probably tried products and programs which promised a cure to your acne but that promise never happened. You may have gone as far as taking some crazy prescription drugs such as Accutane, but those pesky pimples came back. Let me tell you why.  Acne can never be cured, but rather managed.  Think of diabetes as an example for comparable treatment patterns as acne. With the correct lifestyle choices, skincare and treatments, your skin can maintain a clear complexion, just as blood sugar can be maintained with the correct treatments and dietary habits. Although acne cannot be cured, an acne specialist can help you achieve clear skin by helping you control the acne with a personalized treatment plan.

Is there an Acne Cure?

Acne stems from genetic traits therefore it cannot be completely cured. If you are prone to acne, it usually runs in your family and unfortunately you can’ just throw out these traits.  A person without the acne trait sheds skin cells once a day in each pore, while those of us with the acne trait, shed skin cells up to seven a day. These skin cells clog our pores, ultimately causing acne and leaving us without an absolute cure.  

So if we can’t stop our skin cells from shedding, how do we maintain clear skin? This is a great question which many professionals, even dermatologists haven’t figured out.  However, an acne specialist just treats acne, and is an expert in the field of controlling acne.  An acne specialist will never offer you a cure.  Instead, they will clear out your pores and then use the correct products to keep the pores clean and your face clear.   

Here is what an acne specialist can do that’s different from a doctor, dermatologists or any other acne option available.  How do I know this? I’m an acne specialist. I’m also a previous employee of multiple doctors and dermatologist who haven’t had time in their busy schedules to really give their acne patients the attention they need. Most doctors see up to 40 patients per day so spending about five to ten minutes with each patient is the norm. But as an acne specialist we have the time to spend with our acne clients. In fact, we talk about everything that could be impacting their acne problems.  We start with a few lifestyle changes, to eliminate the use of any product or food that will intensify acne. This includes using shampoo, makeup, lotion, and laundry detergent without pore clogging ingredients. It also means staying away from milk or anything high in salt, among other things. Then, we start a routine of bi-weekly extractions and chemical peels, as well as a routine of using the correct products at home. Depending on one's progress every other week, we make subtle changes with product to ensure the safest and most successful clearing process. Eventually, pores are all cleared out and the habitual product use keeps them that way!  

For most people, the clearing process takes about 12 weeks, but every case is different and it can take various versions of the same treatment plan to get your skin clear. Using an acne specialist, who has worked with many skin types and acne types, is the best way to ensure the most successful plan for you! Without an absolute cure, the help of an acne specialist is the surest way to achieve results and treat your acne! 

To learn more about starting your successful acne treatment plan, call the Skintherapy Acne Clinic of Salt Lake City.  We are Acne Specialists we care and we can help!

 

Top Reasons for Acne Scarring

Scarring from acne is an extremely unfortunate side effect when you are acne prone.  Not many of us are fans of scars, especially on our faces, but the good news is… scarring from acne can be avoided and or minimized in some cases with these top reasons for acne scarring. 
  

1. If you have inflamed acne & are not treating it properly, your acne will most likely breakdown the pore and cause scarring. This will be indented scarring, like boxcar scars, rolling & pitted scars. It is important to treat inflamed acne with the correct product and safe extractions in order to avoid damage to your pores. The sooner the better I say, and seek out an acne specialist.

 

2. Picking, self extracting, scratching & using your own instruments to extract can cause serious damage to your skin. It is important to deal with extractions in the safest way possible to avoid indented scarring as well as pigmented red & brown scars. Do not pick at your skin and see an acne specialist for the safe & most beneficial extractions. 

3. Sun exposure can be a huge cause of scarring from acne. Acne lesions produce extra melanin when exposed to the sun as a protective response. This turns active acne and red spots brown. So, keep your sun exposure to a minimum. See # 4 for more information.  

4. Acne scars can form if you do not wear sunscreen. Individuals who suffer with acne should always wear a sunscreen. Sunscreen is used to protect skin from UV damage even during times when the weather is overcast or while driving in a vehicle.  UV damage can cause pigmented scarring, but sunscreen will help! Make sure to lather up before you head out.

5. Over exfoliation is another cause of acne scarring. Over using active ingredients like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid etc., can burn the skin and cause dark colored scarring on acne. This is not to say don't use these ingredients but rather find a professional that can help you balance the right active ingredients to control your acne while avoid burning  and scarring your skin.  

6. Chemical Peels, if done incorrectly, can cause scarring. At home chemical peeling or professional chemical peels which are not formulated for your skin color can produce dark scarring on acne. Again, this is why it's a good idea to work with an acne professional. 

Now that you have a better idea on what can cause scarring from acne, you can also identify with the importance of working with a professional to clear your acne while minimizing scars. There are a lot of aspects to clearing acne and working with an acne specialist will ensure the safest and most successful clearing process.

 If you are in Utah and suffer from acne or scarring from acne, give us a call at the Skintherapy Acne Clinic in Salt Lake City to start treating your acne today! We can ensure a safe and effective way to clear your skin and manage scarring.