[2011-10-15 22:52:38 - pedro from Bryn Mawr]: hi.. im 16 years old and i have a appointment next month but i just want to know if the doctor im going to is for ance treatment ? and how much does it cost for every appointment ? and finally how long does it usually take to get rid of acne ?

[2011-10-17 06:11:19 - Dr. Ringpfeil]: Acne is one of the most common condition in dermatology and therefore you have made the right choice to have your acne treated by a dermatologist. If you have health insurance, the cost for the visit depends on the rate your insurance has set with us and any deductible, co-pay or co-insurance you have. If you do not have health insurance, we charge $115 for the initial visit if you ae a new patient to us. Acne treatment is individual and customized to the type of acne you have. On average, mild acne responds in 1-2 months, moderate acne responds in 2-4 months and severe acne can take 4-6 months to clear, granted that the most effective measures can be used. Sometimes intolerability of a certain type of treatment delays time to response. Follow up visits are an integral part of your acne treatment as fine tuning is sometimes needed. We typically recommend f/u visits every 2 months until acne is perfectly controlled and then every 4-6 months or as little as once a year to maintain the results. Once again, if you have insurance the cost depends on the above factors. Without health insurance, f/u visits run between $40 and $60 depending on complexity. Also, as 16 year old, a parent or guardian must accompany you to the office at least on your first visit, however, this person does not have to be present in the consultation room unless you want to.

[2010-12-23 01:26:06 - Melissa from Havertown]: I want to get my acne cleared, but I have no insurance as of now. Do you except clients with no credit, and who just make payments?

[2011-01-04 15:25:09 - Dr. Ringpfeil]: This is not problematic. We only charge for the services you receive on the day of the actual service; no upfront payment or credit for future services is collected. Please call the office for current consultation charge. We will discuss the treatment plan once you have been evaluated and will customize it to your needs.

[2011-03-05 22:46:59 - Dionna from Philadelphia]: HI, I am 17 years old and I've been dealing with this problem for about 5 years .My acne goes up and down. I think its stress im not sure. BUt I am going on prom soon and I need to have something to treat this IMMEDIATELY and have a clear face.

[2011-03-07 10:45:49 - Dr. Ringpfeil]: Acne can be extremely bothersome. It tends to be present at a time in life when you would like it the least. In some, it is triggered by stress, in others by hormonal influences and there are also unknown triggers. It will burn out eventually. It is unpredictable whether one will have acne just a couple or several years. However, acne is treatable. The goal of treatment is to minimize the visible signs of acne until your body is ready to no longer make it. While some "quick fixes" are available to make you look good for an upcoming event, longer term treatment is the most successful and rewarding. It allows you not to stress about the big event as your skin will be in good shape already. If desired, long term treatment can be started at the same time as the "quick fixes" are prescribed.