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HostTPHook: Hello and welcome! TEEN PEOPLE Online is happy to bring you Dr. Drew Pinsky and Dr. Patricia Farris. Dr. Drew and Dr. Farris are here to answer all your questions on acne. Welcome, Doctors!
Dr. Farris: We are here today, excited about this issue. Acne troubles lots of teenagers. We are both here to help.
Question: How can I get rid of acne effectively and quickly?
Dr. Farris: What a great question. It depends on the severity of the acne. It is reasonable to try the over-the-counter medications, but you should see a dermatologist if over-the-counter medications aren't working for you.
Dr. Drew: There's nothing that someone can do on their own if over-the-counter medications aren't working for you. Toothpaste, hemorrhoid creams and things like that don't work.
Dr. Farris: Sometimes people keep trying the same thing that isn't working, and that just keeps burning the skin. It doesn't help things go away. See a dermatologist if things aren't going away.
Question: Do hormones control how much acne you may/may not get?
Dr. Farris: Hormones control the oil glands and the amount of sebum that's produced by the oil glands, so that is the most important thing that occurs in the formation of acne. It's all hormonally controlled, so that's why people get it at adolescence when those hormones kick in. That's one of the reasons that we use certain forms of birth control pills, because certain kinds reduce the androgen hormone. Ortho Tri-Cyclen is the only one approved for the treatment of acne.
Question: Is too much sun also bad for my skin?
Dr. Drew: Yes.
Dr. Farris: In the long run, it makes acne worse. If you want skin cancer and wrinkles, go lay in the sun.
Question: Hi. Dr. Drew, I love your shows. Well, I'm 13 and I took Accutane for a year. I got off it, and now I've been taking it for 6 months. Are there any long-term effects?
Dr. Farris: Taking Accutane is a safe course.
Dr. Drew: Accutane is a safe drug with a long track record. Women need to be careful, especially those of childbearing age. It could have a negative impact on pregnancy.
Question: Does tetracycline react badly with pot?
Dr. Drew: Not specifically, no. It is certainly not advantageous to one's health, though!
Question: What's the absolute quickest way to get rid of a pimple? Is there a quick fix?
Dr. Farris: There is not a quick fix without seeing a dermatologist. They have a few tricks up their sleeve. Sometimes people come in and have a big event that they need to go to, and that's what I call an acne emergency -- if they have homecoming weekend or something, we can inject a diluted cortisone solution. That helps the cyst to resolve more quickly.
Dr. Drew: That's the quickest thing you can do. Anything else can leave you with scarring and infection, God knows what else.
Question: What is the best way to have a clear complexion?
Dr. Farris: Have good hygiene and skin care. Preventative skin care is important. Chocolate and french fries don't cause pimples, but a good diet is important. Washing your face with a gentle soap twice a day is important. Don't overscrub. Overscrubbing makes acne worse. If you're acne prone and shopping for cosmetics, look for things that are noncomedogenic or oil-free.
Question: Will a deep cleansing mask help with my oily/acne-prone complexion?
Dr. Farris: It depends on what type of mask it is. There are a lot of masks that have things like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, and those are ingredients that are good for removing surface oils.
Question: What's a better treatment -- Accutane or a topical lotion like Cleocin?
Dr. Drew: It depends what you need.
Dr. Farris: A topical lotion is for less severe acne. Accutane is for more severe forms of acne or recalcitrant acne -- acne that doesn't respond to other types of treatment. Accutane is not for every acne sufferer.
Question: Do products with dyes or fragrances affect acne-prone skin?
Dr. Drew: I suppose if it is an irritant or allergen.
Dr. Farris: They are not what we call an acnegenic, they are not substances that cause acne. It may if you are allergic to that product.
Question: I break out on my back a lot -- should I treat those breakouts differently than those I get on my face?
Dr. Drew: Great question.
Dr. Farris: Back acne is the most difficult kind to clear up. It needs to be treated more aggressively than other types of acne. People should really see a dermatologist to get that cleared up. A lot of times, you have to take systemic antibiotics like tetracycline to clear up back acne. Sometimes Accutane is also required to clear that up.
HostTPHook: Dr. Drew and Dr. Farris, thanks so much for joining us tonight!
Dr. Drew: Our pleasure.
Dr. Farris: Thank you!
Dr. Drew: Watch for www.drdrew.com -- it will be up soon and is very extensive.
Dr. Farris: Also, check out the American Academy of Dermatology’s website at www.aad.com.
HostTPHook: And you can get advice on love, health, relationships, fitness and nutrition at TEEN PEOPLE Online -- AOL Keyword: TEEN PEOPLE. Good night!
