|
Acne Skin Care Regimen The basic tenants of skin care for acne patient is to keep the skin clean, prevent the follicles from being occluded, control surface oil and bacteria, and minimize inflammation. The minimum skin care regimen can be accomplished with over-the-counter products in some cases, but does require prescription products from a dermatologist or primary physician in many cases as well.
Acne skin care must start with a cleanser. The best agents tend to have 2% or more salicylic acid or 3-10% benzoyl peroxide. A suitable agent for acne prevention may also have glycolic acid in concentrations of 2-12% and be in combination with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Cleansers must be used 2-3 times daily to be optimally effective.
Astringents/Toners may also be used in patients with acne and oily skin. These agents are used after a cleanser and a more thorough cleansing agent. While they may be regularly used once or twice a day, care must be excised not to overuse astringents as they may remove an extra degree of skin surface oil and cause dryness.
For those with body acne on the chest and back, body washes in the shower are an effective way to help prevent further acne development. As stated above, ingredients such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are excellent for body acne as well as facial acne.
After application of these medicated cleansers, further care may be obtained through the use of prescription retinoids, topical/oral antibiotics, or other topical agents such as sodium sulfacetamide and azeleic acid. Back to Patient Education Center
Post-Biopsy Wound Care Regimen Shave biopsies:
A shave biopsy is one where a horizontal blade or razor is used to "shave" the specimen from the skin. Most commonly, these biopsies are superficial and resemble a deeper abrasion or erosion. They often have the look and feel of a deeper "rug burn".
While a small whitish or slightly dark scar is fully expected, the appearance of the scar can be minimalized with proper care of the wound. Place antibiotic ointment and a bandage three times a day for the first week or until the level of the wound is flush with the surrounding skin. Then, ointment may be applied 2-3 times a day for another 5-7 days without a bandage. The wound will begin to have a crust, and it is very important to allow the crust to remain on the wound as long as possible without trying to pick it off. Picking off the crust too early will result in a higher incidence of scarring where it might otherwise be avoided.
Showering and washing the area may be done 24-36 hours after the procedure. Use clean, warm, soapy water gently over the wound. Do not use hydrogen peroxide on the wound. Any signs of excess pain, redness, smell, drainage, pus, fever, chills, or swelling around the site should be interpreted as a possible infection - alert your dermatologist immediately should these signs occur.
Punch / Incisional biopsies:
A punch biopsy is done where a piece of tissue is cored-out with a biopsy instrument and the resulting wound is closed with a suture. The resulting wound is usually a small line less than half of a centimeter.
While a small whitish or slightly dark scar is fully expected, the appearance of the scar can be minimalized with proper care of the wound. These biopsies require less care than shave biopsies since the suture keeps the wound closed. Place antibiotic ointment on the wound for 2-3 days with a bandage. After 2-3 days, no ointment or bandage is needed. Showering and washing the area may be done 24-36 hours after the procedure. Use clean, warm, soapy water gently over the wound. Do not use hydrogen peroxide on the wound. Any signs of excess pain, redness, smell, drainage, pus, fever, chills, or swelling around the site should be interpreted as a possible infection - alert your dermatologist immediately should these signs occur.
The suture(s) should be removed in 4-7 days if the biopsy is done on the face, and in 7-14 days if done on the body. No wound care is needed after the suture(s) removal.
Back to Patient Education Center
Post-Laser / Post-Chemical Peel Regimen While many of the most commonly used laser treatments and chemical peels do not often result in scarring, a good post-operative regimen may ensure optimal results from your procedure and minimalize side effects.
| 
