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Acne

A Private Pediatric Practice located in Sacramento and Folsom, CA
Acne

Acne services offered in Sacramento and Folsom, CA


Acne is the most common skin condition and is especially common among teens. More than 85% of teens have the blocked skin follicles that cause buildup in the pores. The experienced team at Pediatric Medical Associates, with offices in Sacramento and Folsom, California, offers treatment for all forms of acne, including pimples, pustules, whiteheads, and blackheads. Call today if your teen needs acne care, or use this website to book a visit online.

What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition characterized by pimples, whiteheads, and other lesions. It can appear in numerous places but is often most common on the face, upper chest, and back. 

The skin condition usually has a genetic link; if you had it in your teen years, your child will also likely develop it. People with a large number of oil glands are also more prone to acne. These oil glands help skin feel soft and supple, but when the oil is overproduced, it becomes trapped in the pores. Combine this oil with bacteria and dead skin, and acne lesions occur.

Hormones can also drive acne outbreaks, which is why teens are so susceptible. 

Don’t just let acne run its course. Acne can have a significant impact on a teen’s self-esteem and can lead to scarring. This can cause your child to feel self-conscious at school and in social situations. 

What are the signs of acne?

Breaking out with a pimple or two on occasion is not full-blown acne. Acne consists of breakouts of one or more of these types of lesions: 

  • Pimples: small bumps that sometimes contain pus
  • Whiteheads: tiny flesh-colored or white bumps
  • Blackheads: bumps on the skin that are dark in color and made up of oil and cells
  • Nodules or cysts: pockets underneath the skin containing fluid or semisolid substances

Acne can develop in areas where hair follicles are inflamed, too.

How do you treat acne?

The team at Pediatric Medical Associates individualizes acne care for each patient. Care depends on the severity of the acne and its location. 

Your teen’s plan may include simple benzoyl peroxide topical treatments that target the bacterial agent that causes severe acne. Antibiotics may be prescribed when an acne flare is particularly inflamed. 

The team also offers tretinoin, a topical form of vitamin A that can reduce the appearance of acne. Isotretinoin, sold as Accutane®, is an oral medication for severe acne. The medication dries out overactive oil glands. 

Get the help your teen needs for acne. Call Pediatric Medical Associates today or use this website to schedule a consultation online.