Important Statement About Acne

IMPORTANT STATEMENTS ABOUT ACNE.

1. There is HOPE. I will do my very best to help you get the acne condition under control.

2. Whatever medications we finally decide to use for you today, it will take about 6 to 8 weeks before you will see a significant improvement. So hang in there and do not give up.

3. You may be already using a number of different prescribed or over the counter medications or washes for your acne. Whatever I don’t mention today for the treatment of your acne, you do not need to use. By the time we are done, you will have a complete plan for treating your acne.

4. It is very important that you use and take your medications faithfully and diligently. It won’t work if you use it just when you remember or feel like it.

5. Remember I am here to help you. Therefore, if you have any questions related to your acne or the medications, I expect you to call me anytime. My call return policy is to call you back on the same day unless I am not in the office or somehow did not get your message. Please be sure to leave enough phone numbers where I can reach you and the best time to call you back. The only time that I do not need to hear from you is when NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.

6. Follow up or return appointments for rechecking your acne condition is usually between 10 and 12 weeks from the last visit.

7. There are 5 important areas about acne that you need to keep in mind.

A. DO NOT PICK AT YOUR ACNE. Picking will lead to slower healing, increasing the chance of scarring, and possibly opening the door to a serious skin infection. Try your best not to pick.

B. DRINK LOTS OF WATER A DAY. AT LEAST 4 TO 6 GLASSES. NOT SOFTDRINKS!

C. GET ENOUGH SLEEP NIGHTLY, AT LEAST BETWEEN 8 AND 9 HOURS.

D. TRY TO REDUCE YOUR STRESS LEVEL. WE KNOW THAT STRESS MAKES ACNE WORSE.

E. LOOK AT YOUR DIET. CERTAIN FOODS MAY HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOUR ACNE. THESE FOODS ARE POSSIBLY PIZZAS, TOO MUCH GREASE, SPICY FOODS, BURGERS, SOFTDRINKS, FRIES, CHIPS, CANDIES, CHOCOLATE, DONUTS, SWEETROLLS, ETC. IF YOU NOTICE ANY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THESE FOODS AND YOUR ACNE, YOU MAY WANT TO CUT DOWN THESE FOODS.

8. THE TWO BASIC PROBLEMS WITH ACNE ARE

A. CLOGGED OR PLUGGED PORES

B. OVERGROWTH OF BACTERIA

THEREFORE, WE NEED TO DIRECT OUR TREATMENT AT OPENING PORES AND REDUCING THE BACTERIAL COUNT.

9. Our goal is at least 80% improvement in the next 12 to 16 weeks. Once we arrive at that level, we will continue to work together to get even more control. To expect an ultimate control of 90 to 95% is probably realistic.

Disclaimer
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