It is common to get acne, but there are times where acne can become severe. If you are having this problem, you have many options to clear up your skin. The first thing you should do is see a dermatologist. Below is information on how this doctor can help you.

Use Antibiotic and Cream

The dermatologist will inspect your skin closely to see what kind of acne you have. There are some cases where acne can turn into an infection. You may have nodules and cysts on your skin, which can become very painful. The acne can then spread down your neck and get even worse. 

If the dermatologist finds you have any infection, they will prescribe you an antibiotic. They may wait at this point for the infection to clear up or go ahead and continue with treatment. An antibiotic also helps to reduce swelling and redness. 

The dermatologist will prescribe a cream for you to put on your skin. In most cases, this is put on in the morning after you wash your face and at night before you go to bed after you wash your face. If the antibiotic and cream do not work, the dermatologist will move on to other types of treatment.

There is a medication known as isotretinoin that can treat severe acne. This medication kills bacteria, removes excess oil, and takes care of swelling and redness. This is a very strong medication, however, and you must follow some rules the dermatologist can go over with you. You generally only have to take the medication one time for its effect. 

Remove Acne

If you have large nodules and/or cysts on your face, the dermatologist can remove these for you. They may inject the area with a corticosteroid, which will reduce pain and slowly reduce the size of the nodules or cyst. 

The dermatologist may choose to do an incision and then drain the acne. They will use this if you have a much larger acne nodule cyst that medication is not working on. They have special tools they use to do this.

Prevent Acne

Once your acne clears up there are many things you can do to prevent it from coming back. The dermatologist may put you on a maintenance cream to add to your beauty routine. It is also important that you wash your face in the morning and at night. Use mild soap on your skin, and then use a moisturizer when you are finished. 

If you have excess oil on your face, the dermatologist may suggest you use a toner to remove this oil. This is important as too much oil can lead to acne. 

The dermatologist can go over this information with you in much more detail.

For more information, visit a site like https://eastcarolinadermatology.com.