Acne treatments
Acne refers to lesions or pimples caused when the hair follicle (or “pore”) on the skin becomes blocked with oil and dead skin. This blocked follicle is the perfect place for bacteria to grow and create pus-filled red bumps known as pimples. Hormonal changes often cause increased oil production that contributes to the problem.
Acne presents in different forms, ranging from mild acne, with whiteheads and blackheads, which most of us get at various times, to severe acne, which causes nodules, cysts or lumps under the skin. Acne scarring is generally caused by the more severe forms of acne.
The best way to treat acne is to start treatment soon after it appears, to prevent it becoming severe and resulting in scarring.
Initial treatment involves dietary modification and a Medical skin care regime involving regular cleansing and other products designed to enhance skin cell turnover and reduce oil in the skin. Simple treatments such as Microdermabrasion, or a series of Chemical Peels, can also be used. These treatments gently and effectively exfoliate the superficial layers of the skin, removing damaged skin cells and emptying blocked pores, while stimulating new cell growth.
Acne scars can be effectively treated with lasers, either Fraxel or Laser Genesis, both of which target the deeper layers of the skin, promoting new collagen formation, which will lift and soften acne scarring.
The Fraxel laser is now considered the most effective treatment available for acne scarring. Unlike the older CO2 laser resurfacing, the Fraxel laser gives all patients a significant improvement with minimal downtime and without the complications.