Will I Ever Outgrow My Acne?

Are pimples, skin spots, and acne scars just the stuff of teen life? If you think so, think again. Many people continue to struggle with acne well into adulthood, or it may go away, only to return later, which means you might be struggling with acne and signs of aging simultaneously.

Adult acne is incredibly unpredictable, and the problem — especially in women – rose significantly during the pandemic.

Dr. Sharon Gertzman and the team at Serenity Medical Spa care for adults who frequently deal with acne. Dr. Gertzman offers a range of excellent skin care products that can help get it under control and advises you on lifestyle practices to help minimize it. She also provides a treatment for minimizing acne scars.

The many causes of adult acne

There are several reasons that adults either don’t outgrow acne or it rears its head again:

• Hormonal fluctuations that occur during pregnancy, menstruation, and other times
• Prolonged periods of high stress
• Using the wrong skin care products — for example, ones that aren’t noncomedogenic
• A family history of acne
• An underlying medical condition, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOD)
• A side effect of a prescription medication

When you visit Serenity Medical Spa to be evaluated for adult acne, Dr. Gertzman discusses your family history, your personal medical history and lifestyle practices, and the skincare regimen you use. She also talks about what medications you may be using, your overall health, whether you’re under significant stress for some reason, and if you’ve gone through a major hormonal shift, like having a baby or menopause.

Effective treatments for adult acne

Dr. Gertzman offers innovative treatments to prevent and treat your adult acne. Intense pulsed light (IPL) treatment is noninvasive and treats pimples and other skin issues, and using the right skincare line can go a long way in treating your acne and preventing future breakouts.

At Serenity Medical Spa, we offer the incomparable ZO Skin Health product line, which features cleansers, toners, moisturizers, and other products specifically designed for all acne-prone skin, exfoliating products, and more. ZO Skin Health also produces an acne control product, a clay sulfur mask, and a concealer and corrector that treats and hides acne.

Serenity is your one-stop-shop for these products, which were developed by world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi.

Dr. Gertzman can also work magic on painful cystic acne and blemishes by removing them instantly using a corticosteroid injection. It zaps inflammation, healing is quick, and your pimple becomes a distant memory. 

CoolPeelⓇ is a CO2 treatment that, unlike many others, offers you the benefit of no post-treatment downtime, and it treats both blemishes and scarring. 

If you’re looking for noninvasive treatments to help smooth and minimize old acne scars, Dr. Gertzman offers many, including PicoSureⓇ laser treatment, profractional laser resurfacing, laser dermal remodeling, and VivaceⓇ therapy, which combines the powerful benefits of both microneedling and radiofrequency (RF) treatments. 

Along with adult acne treatments that deliver impressive results, Dr. Gertzman also talks to you about what you can do to discourage acne flairs. For example, using gentle skin products, adopting stress-taming techniques like mindfulness practice, and leaving your skin alone (no picking!) can all help to make your skin the best it can be.

If you’re wondering whether you can ever say goodbye to your acne, call our Pennington office at 609-891-3188 to schedule an appointment to look and feel your best, or book one online.