Acne & Acne Scars

Acne is a general term for eruptive skin disease. There are many types of acne including blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules, and cystic. Acne is the most common skin disease in the United States, affecting 40 to 50 million Americans. Acne generally occurs in teenagers and young adults, though it can affect anyone. 85% of teenagers in America will develop acne each year.

Causes:

Though the exact cause of acne has not been determined, research has shown that four key elements contribute to acne. They are: excess oil, clogged pores, bacteria, and inflammation. During adolescence, the body begins to develop more sebum oil, which is produced to ensure our skin does not dry out. When sebum cannot flow freely to the skin, clogged pores result. Bacteria already found on the skin’s surface, flourishes in the excess oil, and causes inflammation.

The degree of inflammation determines what type of acnes appears on the skin. A small amount of inflammation results in a blackhead or a whitehead. This means oil flow is blocked right at the surface of the skin, and is the least serious form of acne. If the pore is blocked deeper within the skin, a papule, or pimple, forms. If the pore becomes blocked deeper still, a pus-filled pimple, or pustule, forms. The most severe type of acne lesions are cysts, which occur when very deep blockage causes intense inflammation. Cysts, sometimes called nodules, are very painful bumps.

Treatment:

The best treatment for acne is IPL because its a gentle treatment that addresses both acne bacteria, as well as the pigmentation and redness of your skin. It’s a fast “lunch-time” treatment with no down time and less side effects than oral medication. It improves the skins appearance with just a few treatments. 

We prefer IPL over a chemical peel because it not only calms the acne, but reduces any redness in old scars. We use the Lumenis M22 laser for IPL.