Acne can feel like an endless battle, but with the right knowledge and support, you can take back control of your skin. Whether you consistently fight blackheads, hormonal flare-ups, or breakouts that just won’t quit returning, Total Skin Dermatology & Aesthetics is here to help.
Understanding acne is your first step toward conquering it, and our team specializes in helping patients navigate the overwhelming world of acne solutions with clarity and confidence.
In this comprehensive guide, we break down everything from the root causes of breakouts to the latest, most effective treatments available at Total Skin. If you’ve been searching for reliable acne treatment near Moorhead, MN, consider this your roadmap to clearer, healthier skin.
Understanding Acne: What is it and why does it happen?
Though people usually think of acne as a problem reserved for those in their adolescence, adults can experience breakouts as well. Around 25% of adult women in their 40s report dealing with acne, and about 12% of men in their 40s say the same.
Before we can explain options for acne treatment near Moorhead, it’s important to get to the root cause of acne: the skin. Our skin has millions of tiny, nearly microscopic holes called pores. When our pores become blocked by oil, bacteria, dead skin cells, or dirt, blemishes or pimples can form.
When these blemishes occur repeatedly, especially when multiple forms occur at once, you may have acne. Though acne doesn’t pose a serious risk to our overall health, the blemishes can be painful and diminish our self-confidence.
Common Causes of Acne
There are some common triggers for acne breakouts, which include:
- High humidity and heavy sweating
- Excessively touching or rubbing the skin
- Greasy or oily cosmetics and hair products
- Hormonal changes—like those related to menstrual periods, pregnancy, birth control pills, or stress
- Certain medications, like steroids
Even if we do our best to avoid triggers, acne breakouts can still happen. Studies have shown that even our genetics can play a role in acne breakouts and their severity.
If you regularly deal with acne, determining what type of acne you’re suffering from helps us determine what acne treatment near Moorhead might work best for you.
Types of Acne: Identifying Your Skin’s Needs
Most common acne falls into a few categories: blackheads and whiteheads, pimples, and cystic acne.
Blackheads and whiteheads form when a pore becomes clogged with oil and dead skin cells. When this clogged pore opens at the surface of the skin, it is known as a blackhead. Conversely, when the clogged pore stays closed, it’s called a whitehead.
Pimples are inflammatory acne that can manifest as papules and pustules. Papules appear as small, red bumps on the skin when excess oil in a pore mixes with surface bacteria. Pustules form the same way that papules do, only they have that classic white center that we associate with pimples.
Finally, there’s cystic acne. This form of acne is a deeper, often more painful breakout. Cystic acne usually requires more intensive treatments and is at high risk of scarring or hyperpigmentation.
Experts recommend you don’t squeeze or try to pop either of these forms of acne. This can further irritate your skin and can even lead to permanent acne scarring.
What about scarring or pigmentation?
Even after a breakout clears, it can leave behind visible reminders of past acne. Acne scarring and hyperpigmentation that acne leaves behind don’t affect our health, but they can affect how comfortable we feel in our skin.
Acne scarring, a common complication of acne, results in visible marks and indents that stay on the skin even after the acne breakout has cleared up. Treatments for acne scarring vary depending on the type of scar it is. A VISIA Skin Analysis at Total Skin helps us determine what kind of acne scarring you have and helps find a treatment that aligns with your needs.
Hyperpigmentation after acne is when dark spots form on the skin due to the inflammation caused by the breakout. Thankfully, hyperpigmentation is highly treatable, and we have many effective methods at Total Skin to even out your skin tone.
Acne Treatments Explained
When you visit Total Skin Dermatology and Aesthetics for an acne treatment near Moorhead, our team will work with you to build a custom plan to improve your skin tone, eliminate your symptoms, and provide lasting relief.
The treatment process at Total Skin starts with a curated consultation so we can pinpoint possible causes of your acne, as well as the type of acne you most often develop. Based on this consultation, we can provide a targeted acne treatment to improve the condition of your skin, as well as its overall health.
Everyone’s skin is unique, so each case of acne requires a tailored and personalized approach. Because of this, there is no “one best” treatment for acne. However, we can recommend our top acne treatments at Total Skin to help you manage acne concerns.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are a well-tolerated, versatile acne treatment near Moorhead that have been shown to effectively treat mild-to-moderate acne breakouts. Peels work by breaking down dead and damaged skin cells stuck on the surface of the skin.
This reveals the new, refreshed skin underneath, and it also reduces particulates that can get trapped in pores and cause acne breakouts. Peels effectively reduce mild acne scarring and pigmentation issues that may flare up after a breakout by helping encourage our skin to shed the damaged skin.
Our team at Total Skin can recommend a chemical peel type and depth based on your acne severity and other skincare needs.
Facials
Facials not only relax the skin and mind, but they also actively target and reduce acne symptoms.
Our TS Facial is a medical-grade facial mask that deeply cleanses pores, calms inflammation, and supports overall skin health. A Hydrafacial also combines deep cleansing, exfoliation, and hydration to help unclog pores and remove dead skin cells.
Our team at Total Skin can recommend a facial that best aligns with your needs, depending on the type of acne you are struggling with. To learn more about facials, check out our blog on the best facials for every season.
Blue Light Acne Therapy
Blue light acne therapy is a great option for patients who have tried other treatments but didn’t see improvements in their breakouts. It’s an effective, non-invasive solution for managing current acne flare-ups and preventing future ones.
Blue light acne therapy works by directly targeting the bacteria responsible for certain acne breakouts. The blue light penetrates into the skin and kills the bacteria without damaging the surrounding skin tissue.
Studies also show that blue light reduces inflammation linked to acne breakouts. Working blue light therapy into your skin care routine can keep acne-causing bacteria at bay, providing a long-term, non-invasive, and drug-free solution for persistent acne.
Broadband Light
Broadband light therapy (BBL) uses intense light pulses to reduce blemishes, treat discoloration, and stimulate new, healthier, skin cell growth. BBL helps tackle acne breakouts in 3 ways by using different filtered wavelengths of light.
First, it uses a similar blue light to target acne-producing bacteria on the surface of the skin. Second, a filtered red light helps reduce the appearance of deeper acne lesions and calms inflammation. The final filtered light helps to target the sebaceous glands, which are responsible for the overproduction of oil on the skin.
Microneedling & RF Microneedling
Though microneedling and RF microneedling do not treat current acne breakouts directly, they do address acne scars. Both treatments create controlled micro-injuries in the skin to stimulate new collagen production.
This extra collagen production reduces the appearance of acne scars and evens out the skin’s texture. RF microneedling takes the benefits of microneedling a step further by adding radiofrequency energy to target and treat even deeper scarring.
We do not recommend microneedling or RF microneedling for those who have active acne breakouts. It’s best to wait for the area to clear and before using these treatments to help with scars or pigmentation issues left behind.
Prescription Accutane & Medical Grade Skincare Products
In severe cases of acne, our team at Total Skin can prescribe Accutane if other treatments or medications have not worked. If Accutane doesn’t align with your needs, we also have several powerful medical-grade skincare products that our team can recommend.
From the carefully formulated ZOo Skin Health line of products to the industry leader in skincare, SkinMedica, Total Skin pairs you with products that help you reclaim your skin and your confidence.
Break Free From Breakouts
Acne shouldn’t define you, and finding the right treatment can transform how you feel in your own skin. Whether you’re exploring treatment options or you feel ready for a customized plan, Total Skin Dermatology & Aesthetics can guide you every step of the way.
If you’re looking for a personalized acne treatment near Moorhead, MN, the best time to take the first step is now. Request an appointment and take your first step towards the confident, radiant skin you deserve.
