Suncoast Skin Solutions provides personalized care for occasional breakouts, persistent adult acne, teen acne, hormonal acne, and severe cystic acne. Our dermatologists diagnose the type and severity of your acne and develop a treatment plan that may include prescription medication, medical-grade skincare, in-office treatments, or Accutane when appropriate.
Acne is common, but it does not always improve with over-the-counter products alone. An acne specialist can help identify the factors contributing to your breakouts and recommend treatment options designed to clear active acne, reduce inflammation, and help lower the risk of long-term scarring.
What is Acne?
Acne is one of the most common skin conditions treated by dermatologists. It develops when pores become clogged with oil and dead skin cells, which can lead to inflammation and breakouts on the face, chest, back, shoulders, and neck.
Acne is generally categorized into four different types:
- Papules: These blemishes are small, red, raised bumps that are a result of inflamed pores or infected hair follicles.
- Pustules: These are characterized by small red bumps that have little white tips to them, filled with pus.
- Nodules: These acne spots are often large, red, painful lumps underneath the skin’s surface.
- Cysts: Cysts are the most severe form of acne, characterized by painful, large lumps underneath the skin containing pus.
Cystic Acne Treatment for Deep, Painful Breakouts
Cystic acne is a severe form of inflammatory acne that causes large, painful breakouts deep beneath the skin. Because these blemishes are deeper than surface-level pimples, they can take longer to heal and may leave scars if not treated appropriately.
Over-the-counter cleansers and spot treatments may not be enough for cystic acne. One of our dermatologists can recommend a personalized cystic acne treatment plan based on the severity of your breakouts, your skin type, your medical history, and the treatments you have already tried.
Treatment options may include prescription topical medication, oral medication, medical-grade skincare, or corticosteroid injections for individual painful cysts or nodules. For severe or treatment-resistant cystic acne, Accutane may also be considered. If you have painful, recurring breakouts or acne that is beginning to scar, schedule an appointment with an acne doctor near you.
Hormonal Acne Dermatological Care
Hormonal acne may cause recurring breakouts along the chin, jawline, lower cheeks, neck, chest, or back. Many people notice that their acne gets worse around menstrual cycles or other hormonal changes, although acne patterns can vary from person to person.
A hormonal acne dermatologist can evaluate your skin, health history, medications, and acne pattern to recommend an appropriate treatment plan. Depending on your needs, treatment may include topical prescriptions, oral medication, medical-grade skincare, or other dermatologist-recommended options.
Teen Acne Treatment
Teen acne is common during puberty, when hormonal changes can increase oil production and contribute to clogged pores. While some teens have occasional breakouts, persistent or inflammatory acne may require medical care when it becomes painful, affects confidence, or begins to leave dark marks or scars.
Early treatment may help control active acne and reduce the risk of future scarring. Our dermatology team can recommend age-appropriate acne care for teens, including prescription topical treatment, oral medication when needed, and practical skincare guidance.
Learn More About General and Pediatric Dermatology
What Causes Acne?
Acne develops when pores become clogged with excess oil and dead skin cells. Inflammation and acne-related bacteria can also contribute to red, swollen, or painful blemishes. Hormonal changes, genetics, certain medications, and other individual factors may influence acne severity. Diet and skincare habits may also affect some people differently. Because acne can have multiple contributing factors, treatment should be tailored to your skin and the type of acne you have.
Acne Treatment Options
An acne dermatologist can recommend treatment based on whether your acne is mild, moderate, severe, inflammatory, cystic, hormonal, or leaving scars. Your care plan may include one or more of the following options.
Topical and Oral Prescription Medication
Prescription acne treatment may include topical creams, gels, or lotions designed to help unclog pores, reduce inflammation, and control acne-causing bacteria. For more widespread or persistent acne, your dermatologist may also recommend oral medication.
Your provider will recommend medications based on the severity of your acne, your skin type, your age, your medical history, and your treatment goals.
Accutane for Severe or Treatment-Resistant Acne
For patients with severe cystic acne, painful nodules, scarring acne, or acne that has not improved with other treatments, Accutane may be an option. Accutane is a prescription medication used for severe acne and requires careful evaluation and monitoring by a dermatologist.
Schedule a consultation with Suncoast Skin Solutions, and one of our dermatologists can assess your acne, review your health history, and determine whether Accutane is an appropriate treatment option for you.
Corticosteroid Injections for Individual Cysts
For selected painful cysts or nodules, a dermatologist may recommend a corticosteroid injection to reduce inflammation and discomfort. This targeted in-office treatment can be useful for individual large breakouts but is not a substitute for a comprehensive acne treatment plan when acne is recurring or widespread.
Medical-Grade Skincare Products
Medical-grade skincare can support your prescription and in-office treatment plan. Your dermatologist may recommend products that help manage excess oil, clogged pores, inflammation, irritation, or acne-prone skin.
In-Office Acne Treatments
Some patients may benefit from in-office treatments that complement prescription acne care. Depending on your needs and skin concerns, your provider may discuss:
Your dermatologist can explain whether these options are appropriate for active acne, acne-related discoloration, skin texture concerns, or another treatment goal.
When to See a Specialist for Acne Scars
Cystic and severe acne can sometimes leave scars or lasting changes in skin texture. If you are looking for the best dermatologist for acne scars, Suncoast Skin Solutions can evaluate your concerns and help direct you to the appropriate scar-focused care options.
See our Scar Revision services or learn more about hypertrophic acne scars, subcision for acne scars, and Sculptra for acne scar reduction. These resources provide more detailed information about scar-specific treatment options.
How Much Does Medical Acne Treatment Cost?
The cost of medical acne treatment varies based on your diagnosis, the type and severity of acne, the treatments recommended, the number of visits or procedures needed, and your insurance coverage. During your consultation, our team can evaluate your acne, discuss your recommended treatment plan, and provide more specific cost information.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions
Regular acne may include surface blemishes such as papules and pustules. Cystic acne is more severe and causes deep, painful, inflammatory lumps beneath the skin.
Consider seeing a dermatologist if over-the-counter products have not improved your acne, if you have deep or painful cysts or nodules, if your acne is leaving dark marks or scars, or if breakouts are affecting your comfort or confidence.
While Accutane may be an option for some people with severe, cystic, scarring, or treatment-resistant acne, it is not right for everyone. Your dermatologist will evaluate your health history, current medications, acne severity, and treatment goals before determining whether this course of action is appropriate.
Yes, hormonal acne can sometimes be treated with non-hormonal topical or oral medications. Some patients may also be candidates for other hormonal treatment options. An acne doctor can discuss options based on your skin, medical history, and personal preferences.
Treating active acne early may help reduce inflammation and lower the likelihood of new scars, especially for people with cystic or nodular acne. While no treatment can guarantee that acne will not leave scars, controlling breakouts is an important part of scar prevention.
Schedule an Acne Consultation at a Nearby Florida Office
You do not have to continue trying product after product without results. Whether you are dealing with persistent breakouts, painful cystic acne, hormonal acne, teen acne, or acne that has not improved with over-the-counter care, we can help.
Schedule an appointment with an acne doctor near you to discuss personalized acne treatment options at a Suncoast Skin Solutions location in Florida.