If you suffer from acne, chances are that the first person you turned to for help was your dermatologist.  It only makes sense that you would turn to the medical professional whose job it is to treat skin if you were suffering from a skin condition.  Unfortunately, dermatologists are failing miserably to treat a condition that affects the majority of the population at one point in their lives and here are 5 reasons why:

1.  Successful acne treatment is comprehensive.
As both a practitioner who treats acne and a former acne sufferer myself, I know that internal factors like diet and stress have just as significant an impact on acne as external factors.  Most dermatologists prescribe medications that target a single factor in the multifactorial cycle of acne.  For example, Accutane reduces oil production, antibiotics kill bacteria, and Retin-A exfoliates skin cells but successful and sustainable acne treatment targets all of these things and more.

2. Many prescription topical medications contain pore-clogging ingredients.  
Believe it or not, some of the most widely prescribed acne medications contain comedogenic ingredients. The current formulation of Retin-A, for example, contains a highly pore-clogging ingredient called isopropyl myristate.  So while the active ingredient can make skin appear clearer for awhile, this is usually a temporary improvement because the comedogenic ingredient eventually clogs follicles.

3. Dermatologists just don’t have enough time (and they don’t really care).
Effective acne treatment requires time, attention, and investigation because the causes and triggers of acne vary between individuals.  Most patients are forced to wait months for a 5-minute visit with a dermatologist and the visit usually involves no more than a prescription being written.  And let’s just be honest, even if your acne is devastating to you, it is likely the least important condition that a dermatologist is dealing with during their day.

4. Everyone’s skin is different.  
You don’t need a medical degree to figure this one out.  Everyone has a unique skin type, acne type, and maybe an extra skin condition or two thrown into the mix.  Dermatologists prescribe the same medications to just about everyone without taking their unique situation into account.  I have seen many clients with dry, sensitive skin who are prescribed strong medications that cause like tazorac which cause more dryness and peeling.  A good practitioner will clear your acne without leaving with you with other uncomfortable and unsightly conditions.

5. The medical system is based on profit.
The medical system is so intertwined with pharmaceutical companies that the treatments and medications that Doctors and Dermatologists recommend are based less off of what actually works and is good for patients and more off of which medications Big Pharma has chosen to take through the FDA approval process.

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