Summer Acne? What Experts Say You Should Do About Them

As the temperature and humidity rise steadily in the summer, excess moisture, oil, and even sunscreen can sit on the skin and cause pores to clog — and nothing ruins a good day or an important event quite like an acne breakout.

Cutera, a leading provider of aesthetic and dermatology solutions, announces the “Missed Moments” campaign with new acne survey data as part of June’s Acne Awareness Month: nearly 80% of moderate to severe acne sufferers admit acnes holds them back from doing what they want, and 90% of acne sufferers surveyed experience daily insecurities related to their acne.

“In today’s world, chronic stress, hormonal changes, and an increasingly polluted environment can all lead to adult acne,” says Dr Derrick Phillips, Consultant Dermatologist. “Keeping adult skin clear involves focusing on internal and external factors while keeping teen skin clear involves focusing on cleansing and oil control.” But thanks to specialized energy-based devices as well as newly advanced topical treatments, experts say there are a number of ways to keep adult acne at bay.

“Although there are several ways in which we can treat acne via topical options i.e. skincare containing retinoids, salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, as well as prescriptions such as antibiotics or isotretinoin, not everyone can or wants to go down this route.” says Dr Anjali Mahto, Consultant Dermatologist & founder of Self London. For acne management, Dr Mahto says AviClear is a new treatment that she’s seen great results in her patients.

A relatively new treatment with FDA clearance in March 2022, AviClear is an energy-based laser treatment that specifically targets the sebaceous glands. Designed to reduce the activity of those oil-producing glands, Dr Mahto says it is particularly beneficial for those who would choose not to take meditation or simply cannot be on it. “AviClear is an extremely effective long-term solution for acne sufferers. It has very minimal downtime and is fast becoming the preferred treatment of acne at the clinic.”

With a new wavelength in the laser field of 1726nm, AviClear is said to revolutionary and safe to use all year round on all skin types because its colorblind property. It can also be used on all grades of acne, even on active acne, and offers an alternative to prescription skincare. For extremely severe cases, US dermatologists have found it is an alternative to Roaccutane and does not come with the side effects like inflammation, severe dryness, and psychological effects.

Acne unfortunately can affect us when both present and cleared, particularly if it has led to scarring. Sofwave, the ultra-sound based device typically used for lifting the eyebrow, submental and neck area and reducing fine lines and wrinkles, has just been FDA cleared to treat acne scars. Revitalize the skin through stimulation of the production of new collagen, Sofwave’s SUPERB™ technology is welcomed by key opinion leaders in the aesthetic medicine industry.

“Sofwave is an incredible ultrasound-based collagen and elastin stimulating treatment, which is widely known for its skin tightening effect, but that’s not the only thing it can do.” Dr Sophie Shotter, highly acclaimed medical aesthetic doctor in London and founder of Illuminate Skin Clinic, has been using Sofwave on her patients for many years. With 97% of subjects in clinical trials noticing an improvement in their acne scarring after three treatments by virtue of the collagen stimulation that the treatment provides, Dr Shotter says it is exciting to be able to treat her patients’ acne scars without the need for an ablative treatment, which often requires quite a lot of downtime. “With Sofwave there is no downtime, which means my patients can carry on with their daily routine after seeing me in clinic.”

For acne scarring, SkinPen Precision is another good choice. Using remodelling (microneedling) technology, SkinPen is a medical device that creates temporary microscopic channels in the skin in order to activate your body’s natural skin-healing power.

“Acne scarring often significantly affects patients’ quality of life,” says Dr Ana Mansouri, and says medical microneedling using the SkinPen device is usually her first point of call to reduce the signs of acne scarring and improve the skin’s tone and texture. Intended to treat facial acne scars and to improve the appearance of fine lines, enlarged pores and pigmentation, amongst other conditions, Dr Mansouri says SkinPen Precision is a safe and effective option for all skin types and tones, with minimal downtime, and can be added by patients as an extension to their maintenance skincare routine to “optimize their skin health.”

Erchonia’s red and violet handheld laser, the EVRL is an anti-inflammatory, low level laser therapy that stimulates cells to heal themselves. Often used to treat a variety of conditions and manage pain in patients, Dr Munir Somji, founder of Dr Medispa, says the device is FDA cleared to help treat infection thanks to the laser’s anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties, targeting the actual type of bacteria — rather than the skin — that is responsible for causing acne.

Topical treatments

For any skin, maintaining a healthy skin barrier and microbial environment is crucial. BIOJUVE, a breakthrough skin science that optimizes skin health on and below the surface, offers the first and only living microbe formula designed to provide optimal care for skin biome.

Said to deliver transformative results in just one week and can be used as a standalone routine or to add a complementary boost to microneedling treatments such as SkinPen or other energy-based treatments, BIOJUVE is a twice-daily regimen: think an AM routine with Conditioning Cleanse, Biome Support Complex and Hydrating Barrier Cream and a PM routine with the Living Biome Essentials Serum and Activating Mist.

Dr Shotter says BIOJUVE’s Xycrobe™ Technology delves deep into the skin’s ecosystem, residing not only on the surface but also within the hair follicles. “This unique capability allows for continuous delivery of Bioessentials —including proteins, fatty acids, polypeptides, and antioxidants — with effects range from reduced inflammation to improved hydration and overall texture.”

For mild acne, often referred to as comedogenic acne and characterized by a few spots, blackheads, and whiteheads, the key preventive measures are to avoid greasy makeup and oily products. “We typically recommend topical treatments like tretinoin, benzoyl peroxide, or a combination of these with topical antibiotics,” says Dr Hiba Injibar, Consultant Dermatologist and Founder of Dermasurge Clinic.

Dr Phillips recommends to look closely at the ingredients in each product. “A key ingredient to look for is salicylic acid. Salicylic acid works to treat acne by unclogging blocked pores and decreasing the skin’s sebum production, leading to fewer breakouts.”

Obagi’s Clenziderm MD acne therapeutic system, consisting of a complete 3-step system specifically formulated for normal to oily skin to treat acne, uses benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid as key ingredients to help control breakouts.

“Additionally, practising good skincare habits, such as gentle cleansing and moisturizing, can help improve the overall health and appearance of your skin.” Dr Phillips adds.

For more severe cases like nodular or cystic acne, Dr Injibar recommends a treatment plan beginning with antibiotics, like doxycycline or minocycline, at a low dose for an extended but controlled period, and subsequently with added skincare products designed for oily, acne-prone skin, including cleansers, wipes, foundations, and even sunscreens.

But antibiotics is not a solution for the long run, stresses Dr Injibar. “It addresses only the inflammation aspect of acne. Prolonged antibiotic use can lead to resistance and alter gut flora, which we want to avoid.”