Archives: FAQ

How do I know if it’s time to see a doctor?

June 22, 2021

If over-the-counter or non-RX products are not working for you, it’s time to see a doctor. Pandia Health is here for you with board certified doctors that provide prescription treatment for acne.

I heard you can’t mix certain acne ingredients, like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, with other ingredients like retinol—is this true?

Yes, do not use benzoyl peroxide and salicylci acid at the SAME time as your tretinoin. Ideally, use 1 in the morning and tretinoin at night. Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are strong medications that will kill the effect of the tretinoin. Tretinoin can cause skin irritation. Some users may get dry, red, or peeling […]

What ingredients should I look for in acne treatment products and why?

If you’ve suffered from acne, you’ve most likely tried many different products to get rid ugly acne. With so many skin care products that claim to prevent breakouts, clear blemishes, and unclog pores, knowing which ingredients to look for can be confusing and overwhelming.  Over the Counter: Salicylic acid is an ingredient commonly found in […]

I heard that if I had acne during my teen years I probably will have acne after menopause—is this true?

No. It might not be acne. It might be rosacea. During adolescence, hormones are heightened. When these acne making male hormone levels increase, sebaceous glands enlarge and produce more sebum, an oily/waxy substance that can clog pores, leading to acne. Menopause is a red flag. Many menopausal women tend to think they have adult acne […]

Will I ever outgrow acne?

Remember the devastation of discovering a blemish minutes before photo day or a big dance in high school? Just because we aren’t teenagers anymore doesn’t mean that our days suffering from acne and pimple problems are gone. Unfortunately, the blemish before the big dance has been replaced with the acne before the big meeting. For […]

Should I stop wearing makeup if I have acne?

No. You just need to make sure you wash it ALL off each day.  Make up can block your pores and cause acne. So, if you think that your makeup may be making your acne worse, spend a few weeks makeup-free and see what happens.  When choosing makeup choose something that is “non-comedogenic.”  Comedo = […]

I heard greasy food like pizza can make me break out, is this true? Can what I eat cause breakouts?

TLDR: eating greasy foods does NOT cause acne. Certainly, if every time you eat pizza, you get zits, then don’t eat pizza as much if you don’t want zits. But the research shows that what you eat is not related to acne. Some studies show that people who adhere to a diet with a low […]

Does having acne mean I’m not cleaning my face enough? Is there a proper way to cleanse my face so I don’t get acne?

TLDR: No. If you have acne, it’s NOT because you are NOT washing your face enough.  If you wash your face too much, then your face is stripped of its natural oil and will make MORE oil to compensate for the oil you washed off!  So only wash your face, twice a day. A gentle […]

When should I see a doctor for acne treatment?

If over-the-counter treatments, with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, along with gentle cleansing, don’t work for you (give them a chance — it can take 4-12 weeks to improve acne), a doctor can prescribe stronger treatment.  Our co-founder/CEO Dr. Sophia Yen spoke to the founders of Pro-Activ who were dermatology residents at the time. They […]

Why does acne appear most often in teenagers?

The main trigger of acne is extra hormones — specifically, testosterone, often referred to as the “male hormone,” (However, Women have testosterone too.) When teenagers hit puberty, their hormones start surging — and then, the acne acts up. However, acne is not just in teenagers.  51% of women 20 -29 years old,  35% of women […]