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Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
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Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Acne Treatment Center

Acne Treatment Center

UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Acne Treatment Center is the only one of its kind in the region. Acne is the #1 condition treated at the Division of Pediatric Dermatology at Children's Hospital, and the reason the Acne Treatment Center was established.

Some parents may feel that acne is a “rite of passage” and need not be treated; however, it can cause significant stress for a child or teenager and, in some cases, scarring that can last a lifetime. Acne is the most common (and almost universal) skin problem among school-aged and adolescent children, yet it is very treatable.

Meet our pediatric dermatologists and staff.

Find a Pediatric Dermatology Services and Acne Treatment Center location near you.

Appointments

Call us at 724-933-9190 or email us at ccpderm@chp.edu to schedule your child for her/his acne, wart, molluscum, or other pediatric dermatologic appointment.

Types of Acne

There are two main types of acne:

  • Comedonal acne exhibits blackheads and whiteheads and is best treated with topical agents such as washes and creams/lotions.
  • Inflammatory acne is composed of red bumps and pustules and can quickly lead to scarring if not controlled promptly. Inflammatory acne may need to be treated with a combination of oral and topical therapies.

Severe and/or Resistant Acne Treatment

Many prescriptive therapies are available for the treatment of acne. However, for severe acne or acne that has been resistant to other forms of therapy and has not improved, a drug called Accutane may be recommended. This drug must be prescribed and monitored very carefully by a specially licensed and experienced physician, such as a board-certified pediatric dermatologist, to monitor for any drug-related side effects. When given properly, Accutane is one of the most effective agents available for treating this subtype of severe or resistant acne. Our physicians are fully credentialed members of the iPledge Accutane Program, and our licensed PAs have reached the highest level of training and experience in managing patients in the iPledge program.