Acne is a common skin disorder that creates inflammation, pimples, and cysts commonly found on the face, neck, back, and shoulders.

Your body naturally keeps the skin moist by producing oil through the oil glands in your hair follicles. However, when your hair follicles get clogged with excess oil and dead skin cells, bacteria start to grow, and this causes pimples and blemishes to appear.

Although acne is most common among teenagers going through puberty, it can appear in people of ages, genders, and ethnicities. The most common types of pimples are:

• Whiteheads: white-colored pimples under the skin’s surface
• Blackheads: black-colored pimples on the skin surface
• Papules: tender, small, pink bumps
• Pustules: pimples with pus on the top and red on the bottom of the lesion
• Nodules: hard, large, painful pimples that arise deep in the skin
• Cysts: pus-filled, deep, painful pimples that often result in scars

Treatments

Oral Medication
Your dermatologist may prescribe an oral (taken by mouth) medication to help reduce acne and control the symptoms.

Prescription Cream or Gel
Your dermatologist may prescribe a cream or gel that you will apply to the affected area to help reduce breakouts or minimize scarring.

Dermabrasion
This procedure involves an electrical machine that abrades (scraps away) the top layer of your skin. As your skin heals from the procedure, the surface appears smoother and fresher.

Chemical Peels
In this procedure, your dermatologist removes the top layer of your skin with a chemical application. Your skin will regenerate, often improving in appearance.

Collagen Injections
Collagen injections are derived from purified bovine (cow) collagen and are inserted beneath your skin to replace your body's natural collagen.

Laser Resurfacing
This technique uses high-energy light to burn away damaged skin.

Phototherapy
During this technique, your dermatologist uses a blue light source to decrease the number of acne-causing bacteria. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, blue-light therapy is the best-known light therapy for acne treatment.

Pulsed Light and Heat Energy (LHE) Therapy 
Experts believe this treatment works by destroying acne-causing bacteria and by shrinking the oil-producing glands in your skin.

Punch Grafts
Used to treat deep acne scars, this technique uses small skin grafts (healthy skin from another area of the body) to cover damaged, scarred skin.

Autologous Fat Transfer
This process takes fat from another part of your body and injects it into your skin. This method is used to correct deep contour defects caused by scarring from nodulocystic acne, a severe form of inflammatory acne.

Tests

Physical Exam
Through a medical examination of your skin, we can accurately diagnose and determine the best way to treat your acne. Acne may be an indicator of another skin condition, so it’s important to see a medical professional to ensure an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Why Choose UHealth?

World-class leaders in skin care treatment. University of Miami Health System is recognized throughout South Florida and the world as a leader in caring for conditions and disorders of the skin. Backed by one of the nation’s top universities, our team uses the latest technologies and research-driven expertise to provide superior, personalized treatments for dermatologic conditions.

Compassionate care in an academic medical center. You benefit from the state-of-the-art technology and latest medical advancements developed by our researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. You will receive the most accurate diagnosis and a detailed plan to keep your skin healthy.