June 2, 2025 • 17 mins
Sienna N, a student at Detroit Country Day, opens up about her personal battle with acne, shedding light on a skin condition that impacts countless individuals. She candidly shares her journey, reflecting on the emotional turmoil that comes with waking up to new breakouts – frustration, anger, and embarrassment are all too relatable feelings for anyone who has faced this issue. But Sienna goes beyond the surface, discussing the complex biological processes behind acne. She explains that acne is not merely a teenage affliction but can affect adults as well. Through her exploration, Sienna debunks common myths, such as the misconceptions that acne is only a teenage problem or that it will simply go away on its own. Instead, she highlights that acne is primarily caused by overactive oil glands, which lead to clogged pores and bacterial growth. Sienna invites Dr. Fatima Fahs, a board-certified dermatologist practicing in Michigan, to discuss skincare and product formulation as well as the research the efficacy of over the counter cosmeceuticals. Sienna’s insights are not just informative; they resonate with anyone who has ever felt self-conscious about their skin, making it clear that seeking help, whether through dermatology or personal care, is a vital step towards overcoming these challenges.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:03):
Hi everyone, my name is Sienna Nguyen.
I'm currently a student atDetroit Country Day and today I'm
coming on here to talk aboutsomething that affects so many of
us, our skin, specifically acne.
I know how it feels to wake upand look in the mirror and see a
new breakout.
You're frustrated, angry,maybe even embarrassed.
Acne isn't just a surfacelevel problem on your skin.
(00:23):
It's a complex biologicalprocess that involves genetics, hormones,
bacteria and cell signaling.
I myself used to struggle with acne.
I know it feels to wake upfeeling frustrated with your skin
or buying every skincareproduct out there trying to get rid
of whatever's on your face.
I know the feeling of finallythinking your skin condition is improving
just to wake up and it lookseven worse.
(00:45):
I eventually decided to go toa dermatologist.
The dermatologist thenprescribed me with a Raslow, a topical
retinoid.
My skin cleared within a fewweeks and made me feel so much better
about my appearance and self esteem.
This made me love dermatologyand what they do to help people.
Today I will be breaking down acne.
Not just what it is, but thescience behind it.
(01:05):
I feel like there are threecommon misconceptions about acne,
some being that only teenagersget acne.
This is not true as manyadults suffer from acne.
Eating unhealthy foods cause acne.
While diet can play a role,that's not the case for some people.
Acne will go away on its own.
This is not true.
Usually without treatment,acne will get worse.
(01:26):
There are so many differentideas out there for the cause of
acne, but the truth is acne isprimarily caused by overactive oil
glands.
These glands produce sebum andwhen too much is produced, it sets
off a chain reaction leadingto breakouts.
There are many othercontributing factors, but that being
a primary one, Acne vulgarismostly affects young teens, usually
(01:47):
during puberty, but can alsoaffect adults.
Acne shows up in manydifferent forms, such as whiteheads,
blackheads, pimples, andvaries from mild presentation to
severe.
Acne doesn't just appear inyour face.
There's a biological processbehind it.
So what actually happensbeneath the skin?
According to Dr.
Mohamed Alsai, thepathogenesis of Acne vulgaris actually
(02:10):
starts when your hairfollicles become clogged, resulting
in the buildup of sebum andkeralytic debris, which is just the
buildup of dead skin cells andC Acnes, which is bacteria that contributes
to the cause of acne.
All these things then causepro inflammatory mediators to be
released which contributes tothe inflammatory processes of acne.
(02:31):
Studies show that the cloggingof hair follicles and the buildup
of sebum is due to thehypersensitivity of sebaceous filaments
and the increase of inactivityof androgens.
Androgens are hormones thatcontribute to increased production
of sebum, allowing for morebacterial growth like C.
Acnes.
This is a reason why acne ismore common in teens going through
(02:51):
puberty because of theincrease in androgen activity.
This is then how cariolyticdebris occurs.
Although this is a primaryfactor, there are many other factors
that contribute to acne vulgaris.
When there is more C.
Acnes produced due to avariety of factors, this causes a
cytokine response to happen.
According to the Journal ofImmunology, the C.
(03:13):
Acnes induce monocytes, whichis a type of white blood cell, to
secrete pro inflammatory cytokines.
Cytokines are basically smallproteins that act as messengers in
your body.
The process of how C.
Acnes produce theseinflammatory cytokines is still unknown
but is thought to be involvedin a pattern with toll like receptors
such as T TLR2.
(03:35):
So when C.
Acnes are present it triggers TRL2.
When TRL2 becomes activated,it then activates signaling pathways
within the cell.
Studies on mice have shownthat when TRL2 is activated, it triggers
an inflammatory response likeIL6, which is a pro inflammatory
cytokine that was produced inresponse to C.
Acnes.
In mice, when TRL2 was absent,IL6 was not produced, indicating
(03:59):
that TR TRLL2 is important forthe production of IL6 in response
to the bacteria.
C.
Acne in humans, macrophages,which are a type of immune cell around
clogged hair follicles,express TRL2, which means that TRL2
helps drive the inflammationof acne.
After TRL2 is activated, ittriggers a cell signaling pathway
(04:22):
in the body leading to inflammation.
NFKB is a protein triggered by TRL2.
NFKB helps regulateinflammation production.
When activated by the TRL2receptor, it moves into the nucleus
of the cell and turns on thegenes for pro inflammatory proteins.
This then producesinflammatory cytokines such as IL8,
(04:46):
especially cytokines like IL8.
These recruit neutrophilswhich leads to the epithelial rupture
and inflammation which causesthe redness and swelling of acne.
Scientists then tried to seewhat would happen if they blocked
TRL2 with antibodies.
The results of this showedthat the cell produced less inflammatory
(05:06):
cytokines proving its centralrole in acne.
As you can see, acne is one ofthe most common skin conditions worldwide
that affect people of all ages.
Beyond physical effects, acnecan have mental and psychological
impacts.
It can oftentimes lower one'sself esteem and body image.
(05:27):
The signs of acne treatmentshave advanced throughout the years
to help more effectively helppeople with the skin condition.
Recently, social media hashelped promote the visibility of
acne.
Lots of content creators orinfluencers who have flawless skin
may create a beauty standardthat might make people feel more
insecure.
On the other hand, they areinfluencers, embracing their natural
(05:48):
skin helping promote the truthof acne.
This helps let people knowthat they are not alone, helping
boost self confidence.
I think social media is not astrue as many people online use filters
and editing tools to improvetheir appearances before wrapping
up, Dr.
Fatima Faz, a board certifieddermatologist, will be joining us
to answer some questions.
(06:08):
She's skin care educator andfounded the award winning Dermi Doc
Box.
She's been featured in the NewYork Times, Forbes, Women's Health,
and more.
Welcome.
Thank you.
Thanks for having me.
Yeah, so I just have a fewquestions for you, the first one
being what daily habits orskincare routines can help prevent
(06:29):
acne breakouts?
Acne is something I see in theoffice all day long and oftentimes
the first conversation I havewith patients is what are we doing
on a daily basis that could beimproving things before we even get
to a medication stage?
So probably the easiest thingto start with is just gently cleansing
your face twice a day.
(06:50):
Acne tends to be caused by anincrease in oil production, so if
we let that oil sit on top ofthe skin, it leads to clogged pores.
So simply just cleansing yourface twice a day morning and night
before you go to bed is areally good habit to get into to
just start to reduce some ofthat oil that sits on the skin.
And then my second tip that Ialways tell patients is that moisturizing
(07:14):
on a regular basis with an oilfree non comedogenic moisturizer,
meaning a moisturizer thatdoesn't clog your pores isn't too
heavy on the skin, can also behelpful in maintaining a good solid
skin barrier.
And then lastly, if you're notready to get started on an acne journey
with a dermatologist, justpicking some over the counter spot
(07:35):
treatments that have activeingredients in them like benzoyl
peroxide or salicylic acid canreally help with spot treating pimples
and acne as they come up.
Yeah.
Thank you.
How do topical treatments likecreams or gels compare to oral medications
for treating acne?
You know, 10 plus years ago,we didn't have as many options for
(07:58):
acne treatment that we do today.
And I think probably the mostexciting part about being in medicine
is that the medical field isalways changing and we're always
getting new and improvedmedications for our patients.
The benefits of topicaltreatments is you don't have to worry
as much about systemic or fullbody side effects.
(08:19):
So I always love to start witha topical regimen for my acne patients
because the less side effects,hopefully the better the compliance.
So topical gels or creams canbe helpful because you're placing
them directly onto theaffected acne prone skin.
But the downside is sometimesthat acne can be really deep.
(08:40):
So some patients will come inand say, have these big deep cysts
under the skin.
They're painful, they'recausing scarring.
And at that point, when Istart to see those kinds of intense
acne cysts and scars, it'smaybe time to move to something like
an oral medication which canhelp internally to reduce big acne.
(09:01):
That's really helpful.
Actually, when I went to adermatologist for like my acne, they
prescribed me with a Raslowand it like really helped.
So, yes.
Arazlo is a brand name productfor retinol.
So retinols, retinoids are aclass of ingredients that help to
(09:22):
turn over our skin cells.
And we know that acne iscaused by clogged pores.
So when you're turning overthose skin cells or helping to clear
out those pores, it leavesless of a chance for big acne bumps
to get there in the first place.
So if you're keeping your skincells turned over and you're reducing
(09:43):
the oiliness of the skin, thatkind of stops the acne in its tracks
and it's unable to even havetime to form.
And so it can be a reallyhelpful long term treatment to both
improve acne as well asprevent it from coming back.
Yeah.
Thank you.
How do treatmentrecommendations vary based on skin
(10:04):
type or severity of acne?
I think acne is definitely nota one size fits all.
It's always really importantfor me when I see a patient to sit
down and talk to them aboutwhat they're experiencing on a day
to day basis, because it'sabsolutely possible to have acne
but also be suffering with dryor irritated skin.
So if you're somebody who'sdry skinned or eczema prone Using
(10:28):
a lot of active ingredientswith a lot of really drying factors
in them can just make oneproblem better and potentially one
problem way worse.
So oftentimes it's not justabout handing a patient a prescription,
but working through an entireroutine that they can follow based
on their skin type.
Either recommending hydratingcleansers or gentle types of exfoliants,
(10:51):
or even a thicker moisturizeron some days or less medication than
you may.
And so that's really where thefine tuning comes in with developing
a skincare routine for youracne based on your skin type.
So the drier side, you mightwant to use more gentler products
and somebody who ends up beingsuper oily, even with active ingredients,
(11:12):
you might want to incorporatemore over the counter products that
can reduce some of thatoiliness as well.
Yeah, that's like really good insight.
What advice would you give tosomeone who's feeling frustrated
or self conscious about their acne?
We know that acne affects ourquality of life because it's something
that everybody else sees too.
(11:34):
So when you have a face fullof acne breakouts, it can really
affect your self confidence,it can make you self isolate.
Some patients come in feelingvery depressed and it really affects
your mood.
And so if you're getting tothat point where it's becoming difficult
for you to want to go out,want to be with friends, feeling
(11:56):
self conscious about showingyour face, trying to cover your acne
with lots of makeup, then Ireally believe in finding a doctor
who will sit down with you andtalk through some of your concerns,
questions and help find a planthat's going to be helpful.
But acne at the end of the dayis a medical condition.
So I tell patients all thetime there's no shame in reaching
(12:18):
out or getting help forimproving your acne.
It's one of my favorite thingsto treat in the office because not
only can I help somebodyimprove their skin complexion, but
I can actually help themimprove their emotional well being.
Because we know our skin andthe way it looks to the outside world
plays a big part in how wefeel emotionally too.
(12:39):
So just don't feel hesitant toreach out, don't feel self conscious
to you, ask for help, or thinkthat this is something silly or something
that you'll grow out of.
Because we know the longersevere acne stays on the skin, the
more likely the chance ofscarring is to last long term too.
(13:00):
Yeah, I felt like when I firstwent to dermatologist, like I was
nervous at first because Iremember like acne really brought
down my like self esteem, myself confidence and I really wanted
to fix it.
And I was just like nervous ofgoing to a dermatologist.
I wasn't sure, like, oh, like,would this work?
I just really wanted like atfirst I thought I could like, oh,
(13:21):
I could like get rid of it myself.
Like, let me just try like allthese like creams and like I try
to do all this.
And then I went to adermatologist and like when they
prescribed me with like araslow, like it just cleared up my
skin within a few weeks.
And I felt like that reallylike increased my self confidence
and my self esteem and reallymade me like become interested in
(13:42):
like the field of dermatologyand like what they do for other people.
I thought that was really cool.
I love that.
Yeah.
So the last question I havefor you are, are there any new advancements
with acne and its solutions?
Yeah, I think there's a lot ofreally exciting stuff happening and
(14:02):
it's also helping me offer mypatients more options for treating
their acne.
For many patients who strugglewith more hormonally sensitive acne.
So acne that tends to beespecially for females along the
jawline or chin, maybeassociated with their menstrual cycle.
We used to only have a pillversion of a medication that can
(14:24):
be helpful for controllingthat hormonal type of acne.
Now we have new topical creamsthat can be helpful for blocking
those hormone receptors thatimpact acne.
So having a topical versioninstead of having to give a patient
an oral one is really helpful.
We're also learning how toformulate acne medications better.
(14:46):
So instead of giving a patientindividual acne creams and products,
we are now learning toformulate those active ingredients
together.
So we can combine things likebenzoyl peroxide and retinols in
one prescription, which makesthe patient more compliant and want
to use it and also make itmore effective.
(15:08):
And then probably the mostexciting part about acne treatment
right now is all of the lightand laser based therapies that we
have.
So there are more and moregrowing evidence to show that blue
and red light therapy at homecan be helpful for reducing acne
causing bacteria and all theinflammation that comes on our skin.
And now we even have FDAcleared laser devices that can help
(15:32):
to target those oil glands andreduce their oiliness.
So lots of new advancementsand options for patients, especially
over the last few years.
So I always encouragepatients, if you even felt frustrated
before with your acne regimen,you know, go back, try again and
see what other new optionsthere are out there because we're
(15:53):
getting new information andnew treatments almost every few months
at this point.
Thank you so much.
Yeah, I really like yourresponse to that because I just feel
like acne is like alwayschanging and like, so like with these
new solutions and everything,like it just helps people like, become
(16:13):
more aware of like, acne and like.
Absolutely.
Thank you so much, Dr.
Fatima Foss for allowing me toask you these questions.
I really appreciate was my pleasure.
Thank you for having me.
Thank you.
So to wrap it all up, acneaffects many people everywhere, not
just teens.
Most importantly, acne doesnot define who you are and should
(16:36):
not make you feel worse about yourself.
It is all part of a naturalprocess and understanding it is a
step towards managing it.
Today we uncovered thebiological process behind acne and
how factors like hormones,cell signaling and bacteria come
into play.
We talked about how cloggedpores due to hormones invite bacteria
like C.
Acnes to thrive in these environments.
(16:58):
The cell signaling pathwayactivated caused TRL2 to trigger
proteins like NFkB to beactivated, which releases inflammatory
cytokines like IL8,contributing to the redness and inflammation
we see in acne.
If you found this episodehelpful, share it to a friend who
might relate or wants to knowmore about skin health.
Thanks for listening.
And remember, your skin ispart of who you are.
(17:19):
Treat it with care and kindness.
Sam.
Hi everyone, my name is Sienna Nguyen.
I'm currently a student atDetroit Country Day and today I'm
coming on here to talk aboutsomething that affects so many of
us, our skin, specifically acne.
I know how it feels to wake upand look in the mirror and see a
new breakout.
You're frustrated, angry,maybe even embarrassed.
Acne isn't just a surfacelevel problem on your skin.
(00:23):
It's a complex biologicalprocess that involves genetics, hormones,
bacteria and cell signaling.
I myself used to struggle with acne.
I know it feels to wake upfeeling frustrated with your skin
or buying every skincareproduct out there trying to get rid
of whatever's on your face.
I know the feeling of finallythinking your skin condition is improving
just to wake up and it lookseven worse.
(00:45):
I eventually decided to go toa dermatologist.
The dermatologist thenprescribed me with a Raslow, a topical
retinoid.
My skin cleared within a fewweeks and made me feel so much better
about my appearance and self esteem.
This made me love dermatologyand what they do to help people.
Today I will be breaking down acne.
Not just what it is, but thescience behind it.
(01:05):
I feel like there are threecommon misconceptions about acne,
some being that only teenagersget acne.
This is not true as manyadults suffer from acne.
Eating unhealthy foods cause acne.
While diet can play a role,that's not the case for some people.
Acne will go away on its own.
This is not true.
Usually without treatment,acne will get worse.
(01:26):
There are so many differentideas out there for the cause of
acne, but the truth is acne isprimarily caused by overactive oil
glands.
These glands produce sebum andwhen too much is produced, it sets
off a chain reaction leadingto breakouts.
There are many othercontributing factors, but that being
a primary one, Acne vulgarismostly affects young teens, usually
(01:47):
during puberty, but can alsoaffect adults.
Acne shows up in manydifferent forms, such as whiteheads,
blackheads, pimples, andvaries from mild presentation to
severe.
Acne doesn't just appear inyour face.
There's a biological processbehind it.
So what actually happensbeneath the skin?
According to Dr.
Mohamed Alsai, thepathogenesis of Acne vulgaris actually
(02:10):
starts when your hairfollicles become clogged, resulting
in the buildup of sebum andkeralytic debris, which is just the
buildup of dead skin cells andC Acnes, which is bacteria that contributes
to the cause of acne.
All these things then causepro inflammatory mediators to be
released which contributes tothe inflammatory processes of acne.
(02:31):
Studies show that the cloggingof hair follicles and the buildup
of sebum is due to thehypersensitivity of sebaceous filaments
and the increase of inactivityof androgens.
Androgens are hormones thatcontribute to increased production
of sebum, allowing for morebacterial growth like C.
Acnes.
This is a reason why acne ismore common in teens going through
(02:51):
puberty because of theincrease in androgen activity.
This is then how cariolyticdebris occurs.
Although this is a primaryfactor, there are many other factors
that contribute to acne vulgaris.
When there is more C.
Acnes produced due to avariety of factors, this causes a
cytokine response to happen.
According to the Journal ofImmunology, the C.
(03:13):
Acnes induce monocytes, whichis a type of white blood cell, to
secrete pro inflammatory cytokines.
Cytokines are basically smallproteins that act as messengers in
your body.
The process of how C.
Acnes produce theseinflammatory cytokines is still unknown
but is thought to be involvedin a pattern with toll like receptors
such as T TLR2.
(03:35):
So when C.
Acnes are present it triggers TRL2.
When TRL2 becomes activated,it then activates signaling pathways
within the cell.
Studies on mice have shownthat when TRL2 is activated, it triggers
an inflammatory response likeIL6, which is a pro inflammatory
cytokine that was produced inresponse to C.
Acnes.
In mice, when TRL2 was absent,IL6 was not produced, indicating
(03:59):
that TR TRLL2 is important forthe production of IL6 in response
to the bacteria.
C.
Acne in humans, macrophages,which are a type of immune cell around
clogged hair follicles,express TRL2, which means that TRL2
helps drive the inflammationof acne.
After TRL2 is activated, ittriggers a cell signaling pathway
(04:22):
in the body leading to inflammation.
NFKB is a protein triggered by TRL2.
NFKB helps regulateinflammation production.
When activated by the TRL2receptor, it moves into the nucleus
of the cell and turns on thegenes for pro inflammatory proteins.
This then producesinflammatory cytokines such as IL8,
(04:46):
especially cytokines like IL8.
These recruit neutrophilswhich leads to the epithelial rupture
and inflammation which causesthe redness and swelling of acne.
Scientists then tried to seewhat would happen if they blocked
TRL2 with antibodies.
The results of this showedthat the cell produced less inflammatory
(05:06):
cytokines proving its centralrole in acne.
As you can see, acne is one ofthe most common skin conditions worldwide
that affect people of all ages.
Beyond physical effects, acnecan have mental and psychological
impacts.
It can oftentimes lower one'sself esteem and body image.
(05:27):
The signs of acne treatmentshave advanced throughout the years
to help more effectively helppeople with the skin condition.
Recently, social media hashelped promote the visibility of
acne.
Lots of content creators orinfluencers who have flawless skin
may create a beauty standardthat might make people feel more
insecure.
On the other hand, they areinfluencers, embracing their natural
(05:48):
skin helping promote the truthof acne.
This helps let people knowthat they are not alone, helping
boost self confidence.
I think social media is not astrue as many people online use filters
and editing tools to improvetheir appearances before wrapping
up, Dr.
Fatima Faz, a board certifieddermatologist, will be joining us
to answer some questions.
(06:08):
She's skin care educator andfounded the award winning Dermi Doc
Box.
She's been featured in the NewYork Times, Forbes, Women's Health,
and more.
Welcome.
Thank you.
Thanks for having me.
Yeah, so I just have a fewquestions for you, the first one
being what daily habits orskincare routines can help prevent
(06:29):
acne breakouts?
Acne is something I see in theoffice all day long and oftentimes
the first conversation I havewith patients is what are we doing
on a daily basis that could beimproving things before we even get
to a medication stage?
So probably the easiest thingto start with is just gently cleansing
your face twice a day.
(06:50):
Acne tends to be caused by anincrease in oil production, so if
we let that oil sit on top ofthe skin, it leads to clogged pores.
So simply just cleansing yourface twice a day morning and night
before you go to bed is areally good habit to get into to
just start to reduce some ofthat oil that sits on the skin.
And then my second tip that Ialways tell patients is that moisturizing
(07:14):
on a regular basis with an oilfree non comedogenic moisturizer,
meaning a moisturizer thatdoesn't clog your pores isn't too
heavy on the skin, can also behelpful in maintaining a good solid
skin barrier.
And then lastly, if you're notready to get started on an acne journey
with a dermatologist, justpicking some over the counter spot
(07:35):
treatments that have activeingredients in them like benzoyl
peroxide or salicylic acid canreally help with spot treating pimples
and acne as they come up.
Yeah.
Thank you.
How do topical treatments likecreams or gels compare to oral medications
for treating acne?
You know, 10 plus years ago,we didn't have as many options for
(07:58):
acne treatment that we do today.
And I think probably the mostexciting part about being in medicine
is that the medical field isalways changing and we're always
getting new and improvedmedications for our patients.
The benefits of topicaltreatments is you don't have to worry
as much about systemic or fullbody side effects.
(08:19):
So I always love to start witha topical regimen for my acne patients
because the less side effects,hopefully the better the compliance.
So topical gels or creams canbe helpful because you're placing
them directly onto theaffected acne prone skin.
But the downside is sometimesthat acne can be really deep.
(08:40):
So some patients will come inand say, have these big deep cysts
under the skin.
They're painful, they'recausing scarring.
And at that point, when Istart to see those kinds of intense
acne cysts and scars, it'smaybe time to move to something like
an oral medication which canhelp internally to reduce big acne.
(09:01):
That's really helpful.
Actually, when I went to adermatologist for like my acne, they
prescribed me with a Raslowand it like really helped.
So, yes.
Arazlo is a brand name productfor retinol.
So retinols, retinoids are aclass of ingredients that help to
(09:22):
turn over our skin cells.
And we know that acne iscaused by clogged pores.
So when you're turning overthose skin cells or helping to clear
out those pores, it leavesless of a chance for big acne bumps
to get there in the first place.
So if you're keeping your skincells turned over and you're reducing
(09:43):
the oiliness of the skin, thatkind of stops the acne in its tracks
and it's unable to even havetime to form.
And so it can be a reallyhelpful long term treatment to both
improve acne as well asprevent it from coming back.
Yeah.
Thank you.
How do treatmentrecommendations vary based on skin
(10:04):
type or severity of acne?
I think acne is definitely nota one size fits all.
It's always really importantfor me when I see a patient to sit
down and talk to them aboutwhat they're experiencing on a day
to day basis, because it'sabsolutely possible to have acne
but also be suffering with dryor irritated skin.
So if you're somebody who'sdry skinned or eczema prone Using
(10:28):
a lot of active ingredientswith a lot of really drying factors
in them can just make oneproblem better and potentially one
problem way worse.
So oftentimes it's not justabout handing a patient a prescription,
but working through an entireroutine that they can follow based
on their skin type.
Either recommending hydratingcleansers or gentle types of exfoliants,
(10:51):
or even a thicker moisturizeron some days or less medication than
you may.
And so that's really where thefine tuning comes in with developing
a skincare routine for youracne based on your skin type.
So the drier side, you mightwant to use more gentler products
and somebody who ends up beingsuper oily, even with active ingredients,
(11:12):
you might want to incorporatemore over the counter products that
can reduce some of thatoiliness as well.
Yeah, that's like really good insight.
What advice would you give tosomeone who's feeling frustrated
or self conscious about their acne?
We know that acne affects ourquality of life because it's something
that everybody else sees too.
(11:34):
So when you have a face fullof acne breakouts, it can really
affect your self confidence,it can make you self isolate.
Some patients come in feelingvery depressed and it really affects
your mood.
And so if you're getting tothat point where it's becoming difficult
for you to want to go out,want to be with friends, feeling
(11:56):
self conscious about showingyour face, trying to cover your acne
with lots of makeup, then Ireally believe in finding a doctor
who will sit down with you andtalk through some of your concerns,
questions and help find a planthat's going to be helpful.
But acne at the end of the dayis a medical condition.
So I tell patients all thetime there's no shame in reaching
(12:18):
out or getting help forimproving your acne.
It's one of my favorite thingsto treat in the office because not
only can I help somebodyimprove their skin complexion, but
I can actually help themimprove their emotional well being.
Because we know our skin andthe way it looks to the outside world
plays a big part in how wefeel emotionally too.
(12:39):
So just don't feel hesitant toreach out, don't feel self conscious
to you, ask for help, or thinkthat this is something silly or something
that you'll grow out of.
Because we know the longersevere acne stays on the skin, the
more likely the chance ofscarring is to last long term too.
(13:00):
Yeah, I felt like when I firstwent to dermatologist, like I was
nervous at first because Iremember like acne really brought
down my like self esteem, myself confidence and I really wanted
to fix it.
And I was just like nervous ofgoing to a dermatologist.
I wasn't sure, like, oh, like,would this work?
I just really wanted like atfirst I thought I could like, oh,
(13:21):
I could like get rid of it myself.
Like, let me just try like allthese like creams and like I try
to do all this.
And then I went to adermatologist and like when they
prescribed me with like araslow, like it just cleared up my
skin within a few weeks.
And I felt like that reallylike increased my self confidence
and my self esteem and reallymade me like become interested in
(13:42):
like the field of dermatologyand like what they do for other people.
I thought that was really cool.
I love that.
Yeah.
So the last question I havefor you are, are there any new advancements
with acne and its solutions?
Yeah, I think there's a lot ofreally exciting stuff happening and
(14:02):
it's also helping me offer mypatients more options for treating
their acne.
For many patients who strugglewith more hormonally sensitive acne.
So acne that tends to beespecially for females along the
jawline or chin, maybeassociated with their menstrual cycle.
We used to only have a pillversion of a medication that can
(14:24):
be helpful for controllingthat hormonal type of acne.
Now we have new topical creamsthat can be helpful for blocking
those hormone receptors thatimpact acne.
So having a topical versioninstead of having to give a patient
an oral one is really helpful.
We're also learning how toformulate acne medications better.
(14:46):
So instead of giving a patientindividual acne creams and products,
we are now learning toformulate those active ingredients
together.
So we can combine things likebenzoyl peroxide and retinols in
one prescription, which makesthe patient more compliant and want
to use it and also make itmore effective.
(15:08):
And then probably the mostexciting part about acne treatment
right now is all of the lightand laser based therapies that we
have.
So there are more and moregrowing evidence to show that blue
and red light therapy at homecan be helpful for reducing acne
causing bacteria and all theinflammation that comes on our skin.
And now we even have FDAcleared laser devices that can help
(15:32):
to target those oil glands andreduce their oiliness.
So lots of new advancementsand options for patients, especially
over the last few years.
So I always encouragepatients, if you even felt frustrated
before with your acne regimen,you know, go back, try again and
see what other new optionsthere are out there because we're
(15:53):
getting new information andnew treatments almost every few months
at this point.
Thank you so much.
Yeah, I really like yourresponse to that because I just feel
like acne is like alwayschanging and like, so like with these
new solutions and everything,like it just helps people like, become
(16:13):
more aware of like, acne and like.
Absolutely.
Thank you so much, Dr.
Fatima Foss for allowing me toask you these questions.
I really appreciate was my pleasure.
Thank you for having me.
Thank you.
So to wrap it all up, acneaffects many people everywhere, not
just teens.
Most importantly, acne doesnot define who you are and should
(16:36):
not make you feel worse about yourself.
It is all part of a naturalprocess and understanding it is a
step towards managing it.
Today we uncovered thebiological process behind acne and
how factors like hormones,cell signaling and bacteria come
into play.
We talked about how cloggedpores due to hormones invite bacteria
like C.
Acnes to thrive in these environments.
(16:58):
The cell signaling pathwayactivated caused TRL2 to trigger
proteins like NFkB to beactivated, which releases inflammatory
cytokines like IL8,contributing to the redness and inflammation
we see in acne.
If you found this episodehelpful, share it to a friend who
might relate or wants to knowmore about skin health.
Thanks for listening.
And remember, your skin ispart of who you are.
(17:19):
Treat it with care and kindness.
Sam.
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