Introduction To Professional Acne Treatments

Whether you visit your primary care provider or a dermatologist, the basic aims in treating your acne are usually the following:

 

Discuss your goals with your healthcare provider. Get a feel for what to expect from your treatment, how long it will take, and what to do if it doesn't work out so well. In other words, try to get an idea about a best-case/worst-case scenario. Seeing a dermatologist or other skin-care specialist can be part of that plan.

 

Visiting your primary care provider (PCP) is a logical first step because, nowadays, more and more healthcare providers are learning about the treatment of diseases of the skin, including acne. They have more tools at their disposal to treat your acne than you do because they're often able to write prescriptions, if necessary, for medications. Plus, even if they aren't able to help you manage your acne, many insurance policies require that your PCP provide a referral for specialists, including dermatologists.

 

Your PCP may be a(n):

 

 Your PCP may also be a healthcare specialist who isn't a doctor:

 

Some PAs and NPs are specifically trained in dermatology, and some even specialize in areas such as acne. In fact, some PAs and NPs may actually have more training in dermatology than pediatricians, internists, and family practitioners. An advantage to seeing a physician assistant or nurse practitioner is that it may also decrease the waiting time necessary for an appointment with a busy physician.

 

But the next question is whether or not your PCP is able to manage your acne. You should always find out about the experience your PCP has had in treating acne. The best way to find out is by simply asking him.

 

If you and your primary care provider decide to tackle your acne together, she'll likely give you one or two topical medications to apply to your skin. She may also give you certain oral antibiotics that are effective in treating acne.

 

Be patient and give the medications a chance to work. Topical medications can take weeks to months to show what they can do. Keep in mind that medications should be used as directed or they can't work nearly as well. Make a habit of taking or applying your acne medicines like you make a habit of brushing your teeth.

 

It's not unusual for acne to last for many years, so ongoing treatment may be necessary.

 

It may come to pass that despite the best efforts of your PCP, your expectations for improvement in your acne haven't been met. You've been through the usual stuff — pills, creams, and lotions that have been prescribed for you and you're not getting any better, or not better enough to suit you. In this case, seeing a dermatologist, the expert in the management of this difficult and pesky disorder, is an option to consider. Just about every case of acne can be cleared up, but sometimes it takes a dermatologist's help.

 

If your health plan requires that referrals to specialists be authorized or approved by your PCP, who is often your best source, then you need to ask for the referral. However, if your health plan allows you to make appointments without a referral from your PCP, your PCP is still an excellent source for helping you to identify a qualified professional in your community.

 

You can enter into a specialist's care via a referral in a number of different ways, but in most cases, your specialized care typically falls into two categories: