Acne is a very common skin problem, particularly amongst adolescents and young adults. It is a painful condition that usually appears on the face, neck, chest and back and can cause embarrassment to the sufferer, resulting in a loss of self-esteem and personal confidence. At Medical Lasers our experienced technicians can treat this condition with Acne Laser Treatment and specialised skin products.
What Causes Acne?
Acne is an inflammatory skin condition affecting the sebaceous glands in the skin. Hormonal changes are believed to cause an increase in the size and sebum output in the skin follicles. Propionibacterium acnes (P. Acnes bacteria) thrive on the sebum in the blocked follicles and multiply. The body’s natural immune system can become resistant to the P. Acnes bacteria and if left untreated the scarring can be severe and permanent. Stress or emotional tension can also aggravate the condition so it is important to intervene and seek treatment to reduce or eliminate permanent scarring. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or birth control pills may also contribute to acne.
How Can Acne Be Treated?
At Medical Lasers your acne can be successfully treated with a combination of specialised laser treatments and products on recommendation from one of our experienced technicians. Appropriate skin care is the first step to successfully treating acne. During your initial consult the technician will discuss your concerns, assess your skin condition and devise an individual program for your needs.
A typical Medical Lasers acne treatment program may consist of one or more of the following:
- Deep medi-cleansing and/or medical strength skin peels to reduce pore enlargement and blockage of the sebaceous glands. This will assist in decreasing breakouts and inflammation by removing sebum build-up that P. Acnes bacteria thrive on.
- ClearLight™ therapeutic light can be used on its own or in conjunction with recommended products. Using Acne PhotoClearing (APC™) technology the ClearLight ™ targets sebaceous activity to effectively destroy P. Acnes bacteria. ClearLight™ acne therapy is an excellent alternative to acne medications.
- Smoothbeam™ Laser Treatment. The Smoothbeam™ is a specific laser designed to target and reduce sebaceous activity. It compliments topical acne treatments and is an excellent alternative to acne medications.
- A personalised cleansing and skin-care regime for use at home between clinical treatments.
Will The Acne Return After Treatment?
Prolonged clearance of acne is common but there is no guarantee the acne clearance will be permanent. Other sites may become active and follow-up treatment may be required. Acne Laser Treatment can be used in conjunction with most other acne medications. Acne Laser Treatment is not designed to treat scarring from previous acne, although this can be addressed within Medical Lasers clinic.
Can I Treat Existing Scarring?
Treatment is available to assist in scar reduction. Medical Lasers clients may be referred to the APSA (Adelaide Plastic Surgery & Associates www.apsa.com.au) clinic to undergo treatment for existing scarring following acne laser treatment. Your technician can discuss this option in further detail.
Sunscreen and Make Up
Daily application of sunscreen is very important for all skin types to prevent against sun-damage and inflammation of existing skin conditions.
Medical Lasers recommends Reflect™ by Cosmedix sunscreen. Reflect™ by Cosmedix is a light, spray-on liquid that will not aggravate existing skin conditions. It is non-oily and contains Titanium Dioxide. The molecular structure of this product ensures that the sunscreen does not penetrate the skin. Reflect™ by Cosmedix is a physical sunscreen that sits on the surface of the skin, not a chemical that is absorbed by the skin.
Make-up is commonly implicated in the cause of acne. Although make-up does not cause acne, it can most certainly exacerbate the condition. Foundations that claim to be oil free can physically block pores and cause further inflammation and this can lead to a cycle of infection as the acne sufferer attempts to cover up the redness and inflammation caused by the acne.
Medical Lasers recommends our range of C2 Skin Minerals. The mineral make up, available in powder and liquid foundation, does not block pores so will not aggravate the skin. It also contains SPF 20 to help prevent premature ageing and post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation from acne lesions.