Causes and treatment for Acne
Acne
- Acne
- Acne Scars
- Benign Growths
- Red Birthmarks
- Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
- Melasma
- Melanoma
- Moles (Nevi)
- Pre-cancers (Actinic Keratoses)
- Rosacea
- Acne Scarring
- Skin Cancer
- Brown Spots & Freckles
- Total Body Photography
- Veins
- Wart Removal
- Wrinkles
- Cherry Angiomas
- Enlarged Pores
- Redness of Neck or Chest
Do you live in Nashville and struggle with acne? You’re not alone. Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting over 50 million Americans each year. While it often starts in adolescence, many adults – especially women in their 30s, 40s, and beyond – continue to experience breakouts.
At Curcio Dermatology in Nashville, we offer advanced, personalised acne treatment plans for every skin type and severity, including back acne treatment near you. Whether you’re dealing with blackheads, painful cysts, or acne scars, our board-certified dermatologists can help restore confidence and skin health.
Causes of Acne
Acne develops when pores become clogged with excess oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. Three main factors drive this process:
| Primary Cause | Description |
|---|---|
| Blocked pores | Excess oil causes skin cells to clump together and clog the hair follicle. |
| Bacterial overgrowth | Cutibacterium acnes (formerly Propionibacterium acnes) multiplies within blocked pores, triggering inflammation. |
| Inflammation | Leads to red bumps (papules), pus-filled pimples (pustules), or deep nodules and cysts. |
Certain triggers – such as hormones, stress, heavy creams or makeup, diet, and genetics – can worsen acne. Avoid squeezing or picking at lesions to reduce your risk of scarring.
Did you know? Acne isn’t limited to the face. Body and back acne treatments near Nashville are increasingly popular for patients with stubborn breakouts on the chest, shoulders, or upper arms.
For more background on acne, visit the American Acne and Rosacea Society.
Expert acne treatment in Nashville
Acne treatments include topical over the counter and prescription products, oral prescriptions, chemical peels, microdermabrasion, laser and light treatments. Seek professional dermatological treatment early as it may avoid or minimize unwanted complications such as scarring.
Topical Acne Treatment: There are many topical products, individually or in combination, that can be applied to the skin to help kill the bacteria or reduce the oil. These include:
- Retinoid (a Vitamin A derivative, such as Retin-A)
- Benzoyl Peroxide
- Topical Antibiotic
- Salicylic Acid
- Glycolic Acid
Systemic Acne Treatment: Medicine that is taken by mouth may be necessary when you have red, swollen bumps or nodules, pus bumps or acne cysts.
- Oral Antibiotics
- Hormonal Therapy
- Isotretinoin (Systemic retinoid for the most severe acne cases)
TheraClear™ Acne System: The TheraClear™ Acne System is a state-of- the-art acne treatment that addresses multiple causes of acne in 5-6 quick treatments, every one to two weeks. The TheraClear™ Acne System combines light and vacuum for fast and visible reduction in acne and associated redness. Specific indications include comedonal acne (whiteheads & blackheads) and mild to moderate inflammatory acne (red bumps and pus bumps). Safe on all skin types.
Click here for more information on TheraClear™ Acne System
Procedures that treat acne: There are procedures to treat your acne during an office visit. These procedures help when the acne does not respond to medicine or in addition to traditional medical therapies and can minimize the chance that the acne will leave dark spots in the skin or scarring.
- Chemical Peels: (such as 20-30% salicylic acid) Decrease blackheads, papules and inflammation
- DermaSweep®: Device that offers particle-free microdermabrasion combined with a chemical peel infusion which helps to unblock the pores and treat the inflammation and blackheads
- Laser Treatment: The Excel V™ Laser can reduce redness and inflammation and treat the dark spots. The Laser Genesis™ can reduce the redness and improve the acne scarring that appears when the acne clears. The Fractora™ fractional ablative resurfacing laser is the most effective in reducing significant acne scarring and pigment irregularities.
- Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): Light is used to reduce the P. acnes bacteria
- Intralesional Steroid injections: Reduce the inflammation of large cyst
- Facials & Extractions: Pore cleansing and exfoliation
Click here for more information on treating acne scarring.
Dr. Curcio specializes in Cosmetic and Laser Surgery. With her extensive experience, she can personalize an acne treatment regimen to help you attain the best possible result.
