Acne & Acne Scars

What is acne?

Acne is a long-term skin condition that occurs when dead skin cells and oil from the skin clog hair follicles.

Typical features of the condition include blackheads or whiteheads, pimples, oily skin, and possible scarring. It primarily affects skin with a relatively high number of oil glands, including the face, upper part of the chest, and back. The resulting appearance can lead to anxiety, reduced self-esteem, and, in extreme cases, depression or thoughts of suicide.

Which treatments clear up my acne?

It depends on how severe it is. It can take several months of treatment before acne symptoms improve. It's best to consult our dermatologist if an individual is unable to adequately control his or her acne. The goal of treatment should be the prevention of scarring (not a flawless complexion) so that after the condition spontaneously resolves there is no lasting sign of the affliction. Here are some of the options available

Topical (externally applied) antibiotics and antibacterials

These include erythromycin, clindamycin ,sulfacetamide, and azelaic acid.

Oral medications

Doctors may start antibiotic treatment with tetracycline or doxycycline.

Light treatments

Recent years have brought reports of success in treating acne using special lights and similar devices, alone or in conjunction with photosensitizing dyes. It appears that these treatments are safe and can be effective, but it is not clear that their success is lasting. At this point, laser treatment of acne is best a substitute.

Retinoids: Retin-A (tretinoin)

has been in use for years, and preparations have become milder and gentler while still maintaining its effectiveness. These medications are especially helpful for unclogging pores. Side effects may include irritation and a mild increase in sensitivity to the sun. With proper sun protection, however, they can be used even during sunny periods.

Chemical peels

Whether the superficial peels (like glycolic acid) performed by estheticians or deeper ones performed in the doctor's office, chemical peels are of modest, supportive benefit only, and in general, they do not substitute for regula r therapy.

How acne scar be treated?

Scars from acne or other causes can detract from your appearance and confidence. For those patients whose acne has gone away but left them with permanent scarring, several options are available. These include surgical procedures to elevate deep, depressed acne scars and laser resurfacing to smooth out shallow acne scars. Newer forms of laser resurfacing ("fractional resurfacing") are less invasive and heal faster than older methods, although results are less completed and the procedures may need to be repeated three or more times.

Fractional RF: eMatrix Sublative Rejuvenation

utilizes bipolar radiofrequency energy to heat the skin below the surface, while not affecting the top layer of the skin. The eMatrix laser is considered the gold standard for treating acne scars in Asian patients and those patients with darker skin.

scars are reduced, and younger, healthier-looking new skin cells are formed. A series of 4 to 6 monthly treatments of eMatrix are generally required for the best cosmetic results. With the production of new collagen, acne scars are reduced, and younger and healthier-looking skin is formed.

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Erbium Glass Fractional Laser

is one of the most advanced lasers used for skin rejuvenation. It is a non-invasive and non-ablative laser which works at 1550 nm wavelength. This laser works deeply in the dermis while preserving the superficial layer of the epidermis, for maximum results without downtime.

The non-ablative laser uses a wavelength that does not cause the water in the tissue to evaporate (ablate – due to a lower water absorption coefficient than with a CO2 or Er: YAG laser and allows better tissue penetration) but rather the laser energy heats the tissue in a controlled manner, it specifically activates fibroblasts to stimulate neocollagenesis.

Fractional non-ablative lasers produce a gentler effect on the skin, keep the epidermis intact, reaching the dermis, inducing controlled tissue injury in the dermis and stimulating dermal remodeling and collagen production.

The non-ablative fractionated lasers combine the best of the gentle and safe and aimed toward improving texture, mild to moderate wrinkles, and acne scarring as well as treating hyperpigmentation due to sun damage and aging. The neck, chest, and extremity regions are also safely and effectively responsive to these lasers. The lasers fractional pattern assists with efficacy of the treatment as well as the safety and downtime profile. Treatment requires a moderate amount of downtime with excellent results.

The treatments are also effective in darker-skinned individuals as they do not induce the abnormal pigmentation that often arises with ablative laser use on darker skin due to their limited tissue damage and melanocyte stimulation.

Fractional erbium laser resurfacing is an anti-aging treatment that refreshes and rejuvenates your appearance. Fractional laser resurfacing produces significant improvement of acne scars, reverses sun damage, successfully removes superficial wrinkles, increases skin thickness, and improves skin tone and texture.

CO2 fractional laser resurfacing

is an effective procedure for the treatment of loose skin, dull skin, roughness, oversized pores, acne scars, excess pigmentation, sun damage, and wrinkles. For patients looking to improve the weathered and worn-out appearance of their skin, this revitalizing treatment offers impressive results.

This cutting-edge option can be used to rejuvenate the skin of the face, hands, neck, arms, and chest. It is safe for all skin types and creates long-lasting benefits.

CO2 fractional laser skin resurfacing is an ablative procedure, meaning tissue is removed during the treatment process. This allows for more effective reduction of harsh skin issues than non-ablative procedures. During a treatment session, the heat of the laser is used to remove the damaged skin cells in the skin layers. It is powerful enough to travel down to the deeper skin layers. This signals the body to create fresh new skin cells and new collagen protein, resulting in youthful and beautiful skin with improved health, smoothness, and elasticity.

The Benefits of CO2 Fractional Laser Resurfacing

Unlike surgical procedures such as facelifts, this treatment will not require several weeks of painful recovery time and carries a lower risk of complications. No scalpels are needed and no incisions will be made.

Unlike other ablative laser treatments, CO2 fractional laser resurfacing does not remove the entirety of the skin layer. It is fractional, meaning several microscopic sections of skin cells are removed from the skin layer. The undamaged sections of skin can then work to heal the damage more effectively. Fractional procedures result in a shorter and more comfortable recovery time.

Treatment Process

At the start of this laser procedure, anesthesia will be administered in the form of a topical numbing cream to numb the targeted region of the skin. Once the cream has taken effect, a handpiece will be used to apply laser energy to the region. This produces a sensation that some have described as being similar to an extremity falling asleep.

Aftercare

After your treatment session is complete, you will be free to return home and rest. The procedure requires patients to take around seven to ten days off from work. Avoid sun exposure while you are healing and recovering, as it can damage the weakened skin tissues.
For the first 48 hours after skin resurfacing, apply an effective moisturizer to the skin carefully in order to promote healing. Facial redness will fade to a light pink during healing.

Once you have returned to work and your daily schedule, you will be able to see results slowly appearing in the form of healthier and smoother blemish-free skin as new collagen is produced. After six months, the full results will be apparent.