Acne is a skin condition experienced by adolescents and adults of all ages. At Skin Therapeutics, we provide comprehensive care for this common disorder, including skin health consultations, in-office treatments, and skin care products for at-home use. If you’re in Ellicott City or the greater Baltimore area, we’re here to develop a treatment plan to help heal and prevent future acne breakouts. Book a consultation with us today – we offer both virtual and in-person appointments.

What Causes Acne?

Acne vulgaris, simply known as acne, occurs when bacteria, sebum and dead skin cells become trapped in your hair follicles, clogging them and potentially causing inflammation and irritation. It can appear on the face, neck, chest, back and elsewhere on the body.

Acne falls into two broad categories. Noninflammatory acne is characterized by whiteheads and blackheads that result due to an accumulation of oil, debris and dead skin cells within pores. Inflammatory acne develops when bacteria becomes trapped within clogged pores and causes inflamed papules and pustules to develop. People with severe inflammatory acne may also experience painful cysts or nodules.

Regardless of the type or severity of acne you have, we recommend scheduling a skin health consultation with one of our experts or a dermatologist to determine your best course of action.

Acne Treatments at Skin Therapeutics

All our treatments can be performed on the face, back or chest with the exception of microdermabrasion, which is only performed on the face.

Medical Facials

Our medical facials are results-oriented corrective treatments designed to improve your skin’s health. Completely customized to your skin’s needs, they combine powerful, active ingredients and leading-edge technology to treat existing acne and prevent future breakouts.

Your medical facial will include deep cleansing, exfoliation, extractions, a soothing mask, and medical-grade product recommendations for you to use at home to continue improving your acne. 

We choose each product and topical treatment for the facial to best meet your skin’s needs on the day of treatment. Common active ingredients include:

• Azelaic acid
• Benzoyl peroxide
• Lactic acid
• Retinoids
• Salicylic acid
• Trichloroacetic acid (TCA)

Due to its versatility, a medical facial is suitable for people of all ages and skin types.

Chemical Peels

Chemical peels fight acne by removing dead skin cells and reducing oil production. They also lighten postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) and mild atrophic (depressed) acne scars. 

Discover the tried-and-true peels we offer:

ZO 3-Step Peel

The ZO 3-Step Peel treats mild-to-moderate acne, atrophic acne scars and PIH. First, a medium-strength chemical peel solution gently but deeply exfoliates the skin. Next, a retinol cream packed with antioxidants helps soothe inflammation and removes any residual dead skin cells to clear pores and prevent future breakouts. Lastly, a hydrating cream locks in moisture and protects the skin from environmental irritants.

This peel is safe for people of all ages and skin types; however, you must not be pregnant or nursing or have taken Accutane in the past 12 months to receive this treatment.

Perfect Derma Peel

The Perfect Derma Peel works to clear pores, heal acne lesions, prevent breakouts and fade minor acne scars. It’s a medium-strength peel with a balanced blend of acids and anti-inflammatory ingredients to minimize irritation and downtime.

To maximize its effectiveness against acne, we add the Perfect Derma Clear Acne Booster to the standard peel. This booster contains benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, a retinoid and vitamin C, among other ingredients.

This peel is suitable for people of all skin types and color with moderate-to-severe acne. It should not be used if you are pregnant or nursing or have taken Accutane in the past 12 months.

Celluma LED Light Therapy

Celluma uses a combination of blue and red light at specific wavelengths to kill acne-causing bacteria, reduce inflammation and improve skin tone, clarity and texture. For this treatment, a light-emitting device is placed over the target area for approximately 30 minutes.

Anyone with noninflammatory or inflammatory acne can benefit from Celluma, regardless of the severity of their condition.

DiamondGlow Microdermabrasion

DiamondGlow Microdermabrasion is a novel procedure combining the exfoliating benefits of traditional microdermabrasion with an acne-fighting serum. As the diamond-tipped microdermabrasion tool sloughs away dead skin cells, the SkinMedica Pore Clarifying Pro-Infusion Serum with salicylic acid penetrates deeply into the skin to reduce sebum production and heal blemishes.

This treatment is suitable for people with mild-to-moderate noninflammatory or inflammatory acne; however, if you have severely inflamed or cystic acne, your skin may be irritated by the procedure. 

Skin Care Products for Acne

To enhance the effects of our in-office procedures and help you maintain clear skin at home, we’re proud to carry acne products from Alastin Skincare.

Alastin offers a professional-grade line of cruelty-, paraben-, and gluten-free noncomedogenic skin care products that target acne. These innovative serums, moisturizers and cleansers are clinically proven to heal and prevent acne of all types.

Other Treatment Options

When dealing with severe inflammatory acne, acne medications prescribed by a dermatologist are typically chosen as first-line treatment.

A dermatologist may prescribe a topical retinoid such as adapalene, tazarotene or tretinoin. These vitamin A-derived compounds are the cornerstone of topical therapy for severe acne, as they help break down existing lesions, prevent new lesions from forming and resolve inflammation.

Cystic or nodular acne is typically treated with corticosteroids; isotretinoin, an oral retinoid formerly marketed as Accutane; and oral antibiotics such as doxycycline, tetracycline, clindamycin and erythromycin.

For women whose acne is caused by changes in androgen levels, a hormone that causes an increase in sebum production, oral contraceptives can help balance these fluctuations.

Once the inflammation is under control, in-office acne treatments will be more effective at keeping blemishes at bay and healing PIH.

Before and afters

Please note that the clients pictured here may have undergone other procedures in addition to their acne treatment. Your acne treatment does not guarantee these or similar results.

What Is the Ideal Acne Treatment for You?

The best way to determine which acne treatment is right for you is to visit our office for a skin health consultation. We’ll perform a detailed evaluation of your skin, go over your skin history and discuss your goals.

If you have chronic acne, your most effective option is usually a series of monthly treatments to complement a customized at-home skin care routine. Your treatment plan will likely evolve over time as your acne lesions heal and scars fade.

Factors to consider when determining the right treatment option for you include:

• The severity and type of acne you have
• Downtime
• Number of sessions required
• Potential side effects
• Cost