What Causes Acne and How To Treat It - Dermatologist Perspective 

Im having adult acne and i want to cry

I regret picking at my acne when I was younger. Be gentle with your skin folks.

Dr. Shah and Dr. Maxfield, thanks so much for making these videos and sharing your knowledge! Seeing a dermatologist may not be financially feasible for me right now, and I’m sure for many others too, so these videos are invaluable to me. Now, I at least know where to start!

From video: EXCUSE the spelling Acne: 1. caused by increase in oil production (oil blocks pores)-> "stickness" skin cell cohesiveness-> bacterial overgrowth -> inflammation 2. increased oil production aka sebum 3. stopping oil production is difficult. But you can keep oil from clogging your pores 4. stop oil production 1. niacinamide and green tree extract can decrease oil production for some. 2. ORAL prescription can also reduce oil production. 3. Salicylic acid can help get rid of oil but not decrease 4. *Don't over scrub your skin. harsh exfoliants. irritation = produce more oil. (astringent, alcohol) - not good. 5. decrease pore obstruction. pore obstruction = causes bacteria to build up. 1. retinoid - flakiness and "purging" expected for a few weeks, a good sign because that is what this vitamin is supposed to be doing. 2. aha, glycolic acid and other bha's 6. decrease bacterial overgrowth 1. benzol peroxide 2. syclic acid, glycolic acid, azelaic acid will also have some antibacterial effects 7. decrease inflammation 1. other things above will get it done. But for a specific targets to inflammation do below. 2. nicinamiade, retinoids 8. *retinoids target 3 out of the 4 of the acne process above.

You guys explain things in a way that people can really understand a subject so important like acne that is often really bad understood!! Just sent this to a few of my friends, thank you

So so so so happy that Hyram recommended this channel.

You guys should do a video on what acne “means” depending on where on the face/body it’s located. That would be a great one to watch!! Thank you for all the valuable content you two put out there for us!! Greatly appreciate it!

I wish I could find a dermatologist in my area that was this passionate about my acne. I would have SO much more hope in my skin.

As someone who has acne I appreciate this so much, keep it up! Can’t wait for your future videos.

So glad I found your channel guys! I’ve just finished binge watching most of them! I (and a lot of other people I assume) would love a video of a detailed skincare routine for acne prone skin with product recommendations. For example, what cleanser, treatment and protectant to use (for oily, acne prone skin) That would be so incredibly helpful! 🥰

This was so helpful. Hi , I’m from Germany and here going to a dermatologist is not very common. It is also very hard to get an appointment and if you get one the dermatologists can’t really help you a lot . I’m so thankful that there are people like you who want to help others and are not all about the money.

This is the best video describing acne on RU-vid. Thank you handsome gentlemen

Thank you guys so much! I feel like I’ve been stuck as far as what to use and why I’m using it but you guys actually took the time to break it down and explain (with this video and others) what each product is targeting and what I need to add! Thank you!

I also found your channel through Hyram and I am here to stay! I appreciate your work. Thank you for helping us all! 😊

Love the content! As someone who’s suffered with acne for years, could you maybe make a video on a good (reasonably priced) skin care routine? Thanks!

Like another commenter said, please talk about the role SUGAR CONSUMPTION plays in acne! I have been under the treatment of a dermatologist from age 10, due to terrible cystic acne that runs in my family. I've done everything...accutane, doxycycline, retin-a, and so many more. Then I read somewhere in a book that cutting down on sugar would help. Within a day or two of cutting out sweets, my acne situation improved more than it ever had with any of the prescriptions. Had I known this earlier it would have saved me from the years of embarassing skin problems and the terrible scarring I now have on my face. Why don't more dermatologists talk about this?

First thing of all I wanted to say THANK YOU, your channel has helped me a lot with my acne half of my face is cleared up already and the products you have recommended such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide have been such a game changer. Thank you so much for all your help, I really appreciate it.

I’ve tried all the things they just recommended over the counter. I’m finally going to a dermatologist on Friday and I’m so excited.

I'm so excited that you were in Hyram's video and I found you! I am a science oriented person (just took my MCAT today) and am excited to learn from you. I just started my second round of Accutane today, 8.5 years after my first round which cured my acne for 5 years, and would love a video about tips and products to minimize side effects. Accutane was the only thing that could fix my acne the first time and now that I have mild acne again and have tried everything topical again I'm happy to get back to clear skin.

Thank you both so much for sharing your knowledge with us! I have taken notes from this video, and I feel confident that I'm going to beat this dang cystic acne that just won't go away (even after I completely changed my diet to whole foods). As soon as I can, I'm going to see a dermatologist. Thank you!

Love using tumeric,has lighten up my acne scars the dark marks it has left every time I do an Aztec clay mask,I've seen a massive difference 🖤🖤 I'm gone be a future esthetician,hoping to be as properly educated as you two,you know your stuff

Thank you so much for sharing this information. The next video should be about how to get rid of acne marks / dark spots. Such as those red ones that look like blemishes. Thanks again 🙌🏻

Hyram brought me here and I am so grateful! thank you for sharing your knowledge

Dr.Shah and Dr.Maxfield, I wanted to thank you for the creation of this video. I was looking for a video on acne to share with my students, and this was the video I was hoping to find. I have been following your channel for several years. Durning which time I have started including some of your suggestions into my skincare routine. Your suggestion works wonders on my face, so I now it will help my students. Great speaking speed and keeping the words ease to follow.

These videos give so much more information than we get on Tik Tok. It truly is amazing that you both share so much info!!

I’m so glad I found out you have a RU-vid channel from Hyram, this is so helpful! 💙💙💙

I love all your guys' videos - so informative! That would be super interesting if you guys did a video on skincare for athletes (or people who have very active, laborious jobs and are sweating all day long) and/or people who live in a tropical (hot/humid) climate and are sweating all day long even when they're NOT doing anything active! :)

Thank you for making these videos! They are so informative and helpful!!!

Thank you so much for sharing your information. It's so good to hear the information from the right people not misleaders. I've seen a lot of skin care misleaders. So yeah thanks.

Thanks Docs! One of the best videos on Acne. Love the simplicity with which you both explained it!

You guys are so nice 😊 I’m from Brasil. As our dermatology, health and beauty industry is really strong I usually don’t see other country’s videos. But you guys are very nice and drop information in such didactic way that I can’t stop watching 😄 Congratulations and thank you for your work here!

I use Benzoyl Peroxide under my arms in the shower because bacterial waste products is the primary cause of body odor (per Dr. Dray) and now my underarms barely have any smell! Thanks for the great tips for everyone. ❤️

I wish i know you guys when my acne was starting. Thank you for this!!

Great video! Love from South Africa 🇿🇦

Great video! This was really helpful and full of information. Right now I use a 2% salicylic acid treatment and CeraVe products, but it isn't working very well so hopefully this will help!

I’ve been binge watching your videos and have learned a lot. I wish I found y’all sooner! I’ll definitely check out the products y’all mentioned and I also subscribed 😆 I’ve recently bought the Cerave SA cleanser and so far so good, I also slowly add the Differin in my routine. Hoping for the best 😇 thank you so much!

thanks so much for this video! i've noticed that using retinol one night and benzoyl peroxide another has helped a lot but i'm still breaking out on the lower cheek and jaw area. i'm thinking it's hormonal (25 y/o female) and will be seeing a dermatologist soon, but until then i'd love to hear more about the different types of oral treatments just so i can go into my appointment a bit more informed ps: love dr shah's tik tok too!!

Would love a video on the steps to apply skin care products!

I follow you on every social media you got! Much love from Philippines.

You guys are so dope. Can you do a future video on acne scars?

Great tips I added some of these to my regimen 3 weeks ago and I can see a great improvement in my skin

Thank you for the wonderful tips. I would've loved it more had you discussed the relationship between excessive sugar/carb intake and insulin spikes leading to excess testosterone and therefore an increase in oil production. I saw so many dermatologists as a teenager and not one told me about this cascade, which ultimately would've allowed me to treat the root cause of my acne! Great info for acne products but why don't we focus more on prevention from the source?

I would love to see a video specifically about scalp acne.

You are great. I just binge-watched lots of your good videos and I feel super ready to modify my skincare routine. Many thanks :). The only thing that I still struggling with and couldn't find in your channel, is how to choose the proper moisturizer for my skin.

OMG! my skin is indeed like one of these you showed with permanent scarring, even when I have literally tried every treatment like PRP, Radiofrequency, microneedling etc and had been on acutane and birth control pills all along on and off.

What would you recommend for ingrown hairs in the legs/armpits from the result of shaving? Are exfoliating wash cloths okay to use? Thanks !

At the age of 26 I am still struggling with acne all over my face, n despite of all the videos available I didn't know what went wrong, thank you so much for this knowledgeable video, I hope after this I can make my face acne free.....huge respect to you guys :)

I just love you guys. My trusted source of skincare information right here ❤️

Thanks again you guys are amazing. Love your videos. Exactly what I needed !

You should do a video on the best moisturizers for different skin types!!

amazing video! thank you for explaining it so well

It’s the acne scarring I find the worst. I look like I’m blushing continuously 🤣

Wow great information! I started to get hormonal acne when the pandemic started. I wish I could found your channel earlier very helpful! Plus can yall make a video over hormonal acne?

I love using Azelaic acid when I have pimples works really nice!

Thank you so much for the video and the great info! I’m actually learning a lot. Now, I suffer from acne and I am wondering how to combine retinoid, salicylic acid and niacinamide into a good skincare routine.

Okay I’m hooked on your channel! I’m almost on my 4th month of accutane treatment and would love to see a video on accutane.. thoughts/insights/research?

I have binged watched you guys channel the last two days!! I can’t get enough of the useful information 🥰 Your TikTok videos made me come to RU-vid for the good stuff 😉📝🤓

Hi from Indonesia, thankyou this is so helpful! ❤️❤️

You’re both amazing! My Dermatologist only rushes me out the door. Time for a new one.

I regret not watching this sooner!!! 😭 thanks!

Thank you for all the useful information you share with all of us! Can taking vit B12 under the tongue stimulate the acne and why? Also, wearing masks in this covid pandemic? What to do to avoid it? Also, would be interesting to make a video about cosmetics that need to be used by people with MTHFR mutation. I have it and my doctor says to use only natural cosmetic, as the body is cleaning much slower the toxins out of the body. What is considered a natural cosmetic? What is the normal expiration date of such product? Can you explain which ingredients are considered natural (and especially what natural ingredients are good for oily/acne skin). Thanks :)

Hi Dr. Shah and Dr. Maxfield, Your videos have been really beneficial! Thank you for creating these. I wanted to request if you can do a video on skincare thats safe for pregnancy or a pregnancy safe skin care routine especially for acne prone skin.

Glad I found your channel. Would love to hear your thoughts on milia

Loved the video! Could you please talk about the nizoral shampoo and whether or not it can help, and how. And also what products we can use together and which can’t be used together. Would really really appreciate it :)

Great video can't wait to see more ☺️ Video request: Could you plz make a video about rosacea? I just recently found out I have rosacea even though I've had it for about 10 years. I wish I had someone to give me the information I needed sooner

I'm from India, I have seen a couple brands trying to use turmeric root extracts in their formulations, glad you mentioned it! Sending lots of love and wishes for the growth of your channel! 💕

I've been using Benzoyl Peroxide. Then tried Salicylic Acid cleanser. And now, I've decided to try retinoid specifically adapalene.

Please create more videos, I love learning how to take care of my skin

Hi Dr. Shah and Dr. Maxfield! From Philippines 🇵🇭 ❤️

This is so helpful, thank you! What products should I use alongside spironolactone? I want to compliment the treatment without overwhelming my skin

This has been so helpful as I struggle with comidonal acne, fungal acne, and hormonal acne. Just found out I have pcos and that’s why I have such oily skin(: sulfur has been the biggest game player for me!

Thanks for sharing this marvelous videos. I'm very pleased to see this video. I enjoy this - it's so useful and helpful.

Great videos! Can you pls make one on how to treat cysts that grow on your face, neck (or anywhere someone might not want to surgically remove because of scarring)? Thank you!

Thank you for this, docs! Can you guys do a video of facial shaving the right way? It’s something I and I know a lot of other guys struggle with! 🥰

So many acne videos… us dry girls and guys need love too!!

Always informative !!

so so so so so helpful!! thanks so much!!

How do you choose which step to focus on? How do I know whether my acne is more triggered from blockages or from bacteria or if it’s just inflammation? I assume we’re not meant to use all the products you mentioned at the end all at once, just one or two

Hi doc, any tips/advice about retinoid for oily skin, thank you so much doc😁

almost alwayssss. I have never seen any improvements over the past 10 years

Omg tysm I was almost confused for a second about my acne

Thank u so much for making my life easy 😭

These guys have perfect skin i feel like crying

I loveee you guysss so muchhh! Thanks for doing this!

I really enjoy watching your videos Dr Shah you are amazing

Hi there I have very uneven skin around my face and I was hopping you guys could make a video on how to even out your skin tone

Dr Shah and Dr Maxfield thank you so much for making such videos, can you tell me what should I do for enlarged pores like which chemical can help me reduce it.

👋 Could you please at some point talk about skin texture, specifically small below skin bumps (milia?) on the checks and around the jawline? For me they almost never come to the surface and will stay around for a long time. I would describe the bumps as hard. Thank you!

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. I’ve suffered from mild/moderate acne since a teenager. Now at age 31, it still hasn’t cleared. It has really impacted my self esteem. This video was very informative and helpful and I have now started to use some of the ingredients you recommend to treat my acne. Wish me luck!

I'm your new big fan follower. And I'm glad when you said South East Asia esp Indonesia

Would love to see a video about navigating the treatment of newly diagnosed eczema! I was kind of recently diagnosed with it (when I was 19, I’m almost 21 now) and I feel like I’m completely clueless as most eczema sufferers I know have had it since young and have said it’s a process of trying things out to see what works for them, but I’m lost as I was only prescribed an emollient when I was given my diagnosis and it hasn’t really worked & now I don’t know what to try next :(

Please please do a video addressing how to use multiple of these active ingredients safely! I see so so much conflicting information that seems to just be catering to whatever the big brands want us to think - I use Retinol and salicylic acid and I do them one in the morning one at night because I am so unsure if I should or how to layer them correctly - Also I use hyaluronic acid all the time

Great video! What's your guys' take on gut health and liver health in regards to acne?

love your videos! what's your best recommendation for body sunscreen?

Really helpful video, please could I ask, can you use Azelaic acid while you have retinoids on your skin or would you need to spread them out... hopefully another video you do will answer that ..great content

omg.. thank for your helpful video, docs! 😍🤔

Thank you for this informative video! It would have been helpful if you touched on prevention. I’ve heard that diet high in carbs can play a role in increased acne through increased insulin which increases androgens which in turn increases acne production. Prevention from a dermatologist perspective would be helpful. For what would be the use of these products you highly recommend for treating the acne when you don’t treat the root cause?

Hi doctorly ! I am trying really hard to get rid of acne. Unfortunately, while my pimples on my face are fading away, they are now reaching out my chest and my back (bacne), that's why I ordered the Panoxyl acne treatment. What do you two recommend as a night and day routine specifically ? Can I use peroxyde benzoyl as a cleanser, then apply retinol and/or niacimide all together and the salicylic mask from The ordinary once a week ? Thank you for your hard work :)))

First of all, thank you so much for spreading information! it is so helpful! :) second I have a question, I read online in a not so reliable source that when mixing some of the active ingredients they cancel each other out, is that true?