Finding the right treatment for acne can be a slow process
Finding the right treatment for acne can be a slow process.
Common treatments for acne include topical or oral antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide and retinoids.
But there is no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to acne, says Associate Professor Anne Howard, head of dermatology at Western Hospital Footscray.
“People expect things to get better in a week these days and that’s just not going to happen with acne,” she says.
“You’ve got to leave things for a good two to three months – [for] each treatment.”
Acne treatments often have side effects, including irritating the skin. Patients may need to apply topical treatments for an hour and then wash them off at first or only use them every second day.
“It’s going to be a gradual thing,” says Associate Professor Howard. “I tell them that they’ve got to persist.”
In this video, Associate Professor Howard addresses these topics:
- What is the pathophysiology of acne?
- What features to look for in the history?
- Assessing the severity
- What is the GP management of mild to moderate acne?
- How quickly do you expect improvement?
- When is a referral appropriate for acne?
