Acne and Rosacea Treatment Updates from a Memphis Dermatologist

by George Woodbury Jr. M.D. Board-certified Cordova Dermatologist (TN), 02/23/2025

Memphis Dermatologist advised an Acne patient on new acne treatment for 2025 including Sarecycline and Aklief — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury counsels an Acne patient

Acne and Rosacea (Acne Rosacea) can have negative effects upon a person’s mood and self-confidence. Fortunately, Dermatologists like myself now have a growing number of promising, new Acne Treatment and Rosacea Treatment options to offer our patients. So let’s take a look, with my having practiced as a Memphis Dermatologist for the last 33 years, because pimple popping should now be a thing of the past, making Acne scarring less of an issue.

Acne treatment started early can make Acne Scarring less of an issue — Acne patient with before and after photos

First, let’s be clear about one important aspect of Acne and Rosacea: these skin conditions affect people in their teens, twenties and thirties, but even beyond. Many Acne patients and Rosacea patients are in their fifties, sixties, and seventies.

Acne is due to comedones or plugged pores leading to skin inflammation and sometimes skin infection — Acne patient with Nodulocystic Acne which is the most likely to lead to Acne Scarring

What causes Acne and Cysts? Dermatologists are increasingly realizing that both conditions are likely to be genetic: they tend to affect certain families more than others. Clogging of pores results in a skin inflammation and a skin infection, explaining why antibiotics tend to help. Rosacea seems to be the result of hyper-reactive blood vessels, with trigger chemicals including certain spicy foods and certain ingredients in red wine.

Dermatologists generally encourage patients to seek early Acne Treatment to cut down on risk of Acne Scarring — Couple enjoying Acne-free Skin

Severe flares or sudden worsening of Acne and Rosacea can be triggered by a skin allergy – so it is sometimes helpful to consider a type of Allergy Testing – Allergy Patch Testing – looking for sensitivity to certain trigger chemicals – like preservatives, fragrances, metals, or components of latex. I have offered Allergy Patch Testing to my Memphis Dermatology patients for over 20 years. Or you can find a Best Dermatologist Near Me that offers these services at the American Contact Dermatitis Society website (https://www.ACDS.org).

Acne affects teens and people in their twenties but also peoples in their forties, fifties, sixties, and even seventies — Memphis Dermatologisst Dr. George Woodbury counseling an Acne patient

Traditional therapies for Acne and Rosacea have included antibiotics like doxycycline and minocycline, with prescription topicals (meaning “on top of the skin”) for blackheads (comedones), papules, or cysts: Tretinoin Cream, Differin gel (Adapalene), Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid, Azelex® or Finacea® (Azelaic Acid), and Aczone® Gel (topical dapsone). A newer option is a topical anti-hormone therapy – Winlevi® Gel® (Clascoterone Gel). We sometimes combine these therapies with topical antibiotics like Clindamycin Gel, Erythromycin Solution, Metronidazole Cream and Gel, or (topical Minocycline).

Acne is due to clogging of pores of oil blands in the skin sometimes causing acne cysts — Acne that's leading to acne scarring sometimes equires oral antibiotics, else Accutane (isotretinoin) or Spironolactone treatment

Sometimes we consider a five months’ course of an oral medicine called isotretinoin (Accutane), which dries up oil glands. Accutane is highly effective, but requires strict avoidance of pregnancy while on treatment, and monthly bloodwork. Sometimes Dermatologists also look at hormonal therapies, like spironolactone pills, or even birth control pills.

If Acne is leading to cysts Dermatologists sometimes consider injections of those cysts — Pimple Popping can lead to Acne Scarring so Acne Treatment is a better option

Severe cases of acne can result in cysts, so we often discuss with patients the options of medical management versus surgical management, sometimes involving injecting the cyst sac, under a shot of local anesthetic. A Dermatologic Surgeon like myself will sometimes cut out or “excise” cysts, the goal being to cut down the risk of scarring. We encourage patients not to pop cysts, which can promote scarring.

Acne Scarring is due to skin inflammation due to clogged pores so early treatment is often helpful — Acne Scarring should become less of a problem due to the availability of Accutane (isotretinoin) and more effective oral antibiotics and Retinoids

In 2025, Dermatologists also have a new oral antibiotic which seems to have a quicker onset of action – Sarecycline – and a newer retinoid gel – Aklief® (Trifarotene) – which seem to have a quicker onset of action – meaning patients can often see their eruptions clear up quicker. There is also a variation of acne – called Pityrosporon folliculitis or fungal acne – which can be treated with prescription oral and antifungal medicines.

Big River Silk Skincare is all about organic skincare from acne cleansers to antiwrinkle cream and antiwrinkle lotion — Memphis Dermatologist Dr. George Woodbury with Big River Silk Skincare staff

What about cleansers and moisturizers for people with Acne and Rosacea?

Acne is due to clogging of pores to acne wash that tends to help clogged pores tends to cut down on Acne — AmberSoy Soap Gel is an Acne Wash containing a soft glycerine cleanser derived from purified Soybean Oil

After 25 years of practicing dermatology, in 2016 I decided to establish a skincare products company - Big River Silk Skincare™ Inc. – to manufacture and distribute organic skincare products for people going onto prescription therapies. For more on the gentle cleansers and moisturizers that my family of Woodbury Dermatologists has manufactured or compounded for many years for Tennessee and Arkansas Dermatology patients - AmberSoy™ Soap Gel and GlycoShea™ Facial&Neck Cream – see my post at www.Bigriversilkskincare.com – “Beauty of Refined Shea Butter in Skin Rejuvenation.”

Glycolic Acid is an Alpha Hydroxy Acid that tends to cut down on Acne flares — GlycoShea Facial&Neck Lotion contains Glycolic Acid as its Antiwrinkle Cream ingredient

If you or a family member has complexion issues like Acne or Rosacea, consider first getting a checkup with a Board-certified Dermatologist. My own Memphis Dermatology practice since 1993 has been with Rheumatology and Dermatology Associates, 8143 Walnut Grove Road, Cordova, TN, near both Germantown TN and Bartlett TN (www.Rheumderm.com or www.Bigriversilkskincare.com) (1-901-753-0168). Or you can find a “Best Dermatologist Near Me” or “Best Dermatologists Near Me” by going to the American Academy of Dermatology web site, AAD.org, then plugging your own zip code into the “Find a Dermatologist” tab.