Category Archives: Acne Treatment

Laser Treatments for Acne and How They Benefit You

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Men and women have had their battles with acne for well over 2000 years, if not longer, and the fight continues to this day. In all this time, acne has certainly shown to be a formidable opponent indeed. The weapons used in the war against acne though have improved, and advances in laser treatments for acne prone people are fast becoming the weapon of choice for those want to get rid of their acne faster than they otherwise would have.

Before you stand up and cheer with the thought that you can finally get rid of your cystic acne once and for all, remember that not all laser treatments for acne will benefit you as much as you hope. You have to do your homework. This article should just be one of several that you should read, but I will do my best to give you a bit of background into the types of acne laser treatments that are currently available…remember that word “currently”, because technology not only continues to evolve but evolve exponentially as we go forth.

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Acne Laser Treatment

Laser Treatment for Acne

Where many acne treatments have successful short term results, laser technology used for the treatment of acne is boasting more longer term results. But the degree of success in controlling acne breakouts using laser technology can also depend on many factors such as the severity and type of acne you have and the type of acne laser used.

Well, I can’t exactly tell what type of acne you have but I can talk about a few of the laser treatments for acne that are available for you to check into. I’ll get into more laser treatments for acne in other articles as well. Watch for it.

Acne Laser Treatment Technologies

One such laser technology used to treat acne called is called Isolaz also uses a vacuum to help clean out pores from the skin of their patients and then uses an intense pulse of light to kill the bacteria responsible for the acne. Check out this video.

They claim that thousands of patents have already benefited from this technology and that the procedure takes only about 15 minutes or so and is quite painless. You should note that the number of laser treatments you need depends on how severe your acne is. Also, even greater success can happen when this laser treatment is combined with other prescription based acne treatments.

Now, after watching the video you may be asking how light from a laser kills the bacteria that cause acne. Well, when a laser lights up the acne on your face it burns the follicle sac away where the hair grows along with the sebaceous gland where oil is produced. This causes oxygen to build up where the bacteria is on your skin. Oxygen kills the bacteria that causes acne just like it makes metal turn to rust.

One drawback to lasers used to treat acne is that sometimes they can really burn your skin and turn your skin red if proper care and precautions aren’t in place. If mistakes are made your skin could become damaged by the heat and long term spots or dryness could develop.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved the small-scale use of lasers for the treatment of acne. Although results have been mixed, many findings are showing great promise for some devices where others were injuring patients with burn wounds due to coolant failure.

…This article to be continued…

Acne Cysts and How to Treat Your Cystic Acne

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Deep cysts, inflammation, extensive damage to the skin and scarring characterize severe acne. It often requires an aggressive treatment regimen and should be treated by a dermatologist. Severe forms of acne can require years of treatment and may experience one or more treatment failures. However, almost every case of acne can be successfully treated. There are five popular treatments for acne cysts. There are many effective treatments that are available currently. Drainage and surgical excision, inner lesion corticosteroid injection, isotretinoin (a potent drug for treating severe cystic acne), oral antibiotics, and oral contraceptives are the most popular treatments.

Some people may choose a more natural treatment for severe acne, which will also be covered briefly in this article.

Drainage and extraction, or acne surgery as it is also called, should not be performed by patients and is used on some large cysts that do not respond to medication and require drainage and extraction. Dermatologists are trained in the proper technique and perform acne surgery under sterile conditions. Patient attempts to drain and extract acne cysts, by squeezing or picking, can lead to infection, worsening of the acne and scarring. When an acne cyst becomes severely inflamed, there is a good chance it will rupture and scarring will occur. To treat these severely inflamed cysts and prevent scarring, dermatologists may inject such cysts with a diluted corticosteroid. This lessens the inflammation and promotes healing of the acne cyst. An inner lesion corticosteroid injection works by melting the cyst over the course of a few days.

Isotretinoin is the most effective treatment known today for severe acne and acne that is resistant to other medications and treatments. Isotretinoin is a form of vitamin A, a synthetic creation, which comes in a pill form. It is administered once or twice a day for anywhere from sixteen to twenty weeks total. There are many possible side effects that may occur while undergoing this therapy. Possible side effects include severe pain in the chest or abdomen, trouble swallowing or painful swallowing, severe headache, blurred vision or dizziness, bone and joint pain, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea or rectal bleeding, depression, dryness of the skin, eyes and nose, and thinning hair.

While taking isotretinoin patients are monitored closely by their healthcare provider through follow up appointments.

Oral antibiotics have been a basis of therapy for severe acne for many years. Like topical antibiotics, oral antibiotics work to reduce the “P. acnes”. “P. Acnes” are normal residents on the skin, which decreases inflammation. Treatment with oral antibiotics usually begins with a high dosage, which is eventually reduced as the acne resolves. Over time, the “P. acnes” bacteria can become resistant to the treatment. When resistance occurs, another antibiotic can be prescribed or other treatment options may need to be explored.

Oral contraceptives have been shown to effectively clear acne in women by suppressing the overactive sebaceous glands. Oral contraceptives can be used as long-term acne therapy; however, this medication should not be prescribed to women who smoke, have a blood clotting disorder, are older than thirty-five or have a history of migraine headaches, without the advice of a gynecologist.

Spironolactone, a synthetic steroid, may be used in combination with oral contraceptives to treat acne in adult females. Spironolactone inhibits androgen, hormones that stimulate oil glands in addition to other effects on the body, production. There are possible side effects that may accompany Spironolactone treatment. A few side affects include irregular menstruation, breast tenderness, headache and fatigue.

Some people choose more natural ways to combat cystic acne. Some natural treatments are eating a whole foods diet that consists of only natural foods that have not been chemically or mechanically processed. Yoga or deep relaxation techniques may be used to reduce the amount of stress that is put on the body and the mind. Essential oils are another natural treatment that may be added to the diet of sufferers of severe acne.

These are just a few of the natural methods of treatment for cystic acne. No matter what method of treatment you decide to try you should always consult a professional, whether it is your dermatologist or an herbalist. Your doctor should be able to refer you to a board certified dermatologist if needed.

Why Acne Treatment is so Important

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The problem of acne is not a new one, and yet we find ourselves at the end of the first decade of the twenty-first century still without a genuine, permanent cure for the condition. Acne is a problem which persists for a large number of sufferers due to the lack of strong, substantial research aimed at delivering a cure, and a preference for lotions and potions which may well clear up the external symptoms for some weeks at a time, but do little to affect the overall condition. This ensures that in good time, a return to the old problems will occur, and the sufferer will need to start again in their search for a cure.

As it is widely felt that the major root causes of acne are internal, it is puzzling that the majority of the cures which are commercially available treat the condition from the outside. For the sufferer this simply means that they will need to spend the same money over and over to achieve the same short-term effect. There is little point in doing this from a common sense point of view, as the sole substantive effect is to clear the skin to make room for more symptomatic lesions and blemishes to fill. Treating the condition from the inside is really the only sensible approach. This can be achieved in consultation with a doctor, but if possible you should also consult a dietician to find what steps you can take to regulate your body’s production of sebum, along with observing a rigorous cleansing regime.

5 Tips to Get the Most Value from Acne Treatment Products

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Acne treatment products sold to consumers is a multi-billion dollar business servicing mainly teenagers and adults of all ages. Because there are so many acne products in the market place, buying one that is the least expensive while still getting rid of your acne can seem like the holy grail for many people who suffer from this skin condition.

But, as in most things in life, all products that get rid of acne are not treated equal. Some are better than others. Some products that are purported to help treat acne are absolutely useless. So how do you know you have a good product to help you treat your acne, and how do you get the most from your purchase.

With that said, here are:

5 tips to help you get the most value from acne treatment products:

1. Know What You Are Buying

If you bought your acne cleansing kit because the advertisement on TV looked really cool and they said it works really great, you’re probably losing out because one acne product simply cannot satisfy all needs. The best acne treatment products you can buy are those that actually work for your skin type. The better you know your skin, the better product you can buy. In other words, if you have oily skin, you need to buy products that address that issue.

2. Patience is a Virtue Your Skin will be Grateful For

I know, I know. You’re anxious to get rid of your acne RIGHT NOW! So, what do you do? You buy some ABC product. If you’ve ever been enticed by acne treatment products that promise almost instantaneous results, I’m sorry. Don’t worry though because you’re not alone. Millions around the world are still doing that. For your sake I hope it works for you, but chances are virtually guaranteed that products that promise quick healing seldom live up to their promise…instead, read #1 above.

3. Never Pop Pimples!

So you have an acne problem and started taking some product to deal with it. What ever you do, don’t start popping pimples. Yeah I know; tough to do when you look in the mirror and see that big fat juicy pimple just staring you in the face begging you to POP it. Don’t you dare! Don’t listen to that devil in your head no matter how tempting he gets.

Popping pimples will just give you more problems. Your acne will take longer to heal at best and you could end up with acne scars at worst. Not only will you end up getting frustrated at not being able to get rid of your acne, but you will also end up spending even more money on even more products that treat acne.

4. Be Careful with The Side Effect of Acne Treatment Products

The first point talked about the importance of knowing your skin in order to buy the right products for your skin type. Be aware on any skin allergies you may have by talking with your doctor. Mind you, if your acne is severe enough, your doctor may refer you to a skin specialist who will prescribe products specifically for you. The better you know your skin, the better informed you will be when buying acne treatment products that don’t have any side effects.

A few side effects that may occur include:

  • allergic reactions
  • respiratory tract irritation
  • flaking of the skin
  • redness
  • inflammation of the skin

If you find yourself susceptible to skin products with these side effects, you should try products that use natural ingredients. Acne treatment products that incorporate herbs as their main ingredient is quite popular. One ingredient you will consistently find in natural acne products is tea tree oil. Acne products with tea tree oil in them kills bacteria. The point here is before you use anything do your research first.

5. Want to Remove Your Acne Scar and Do it Quickly and Efficiently?

So you just couldn’t resist popping your pimples could you? I’ll bet you even make “pimple popping” a weekly event every Friday evening. Yeeech! Please don’t invite me.  Your acne just got worse and you’re ending up having to spend a lot more money on skin care products than you’d like. It may come to a point where you’re a candidate for acne laser scar treatment. If you’re acne condition is pretty bad, you certainly should be seeing a qualified doctor and check this option out.

Although I can’t confirm it, there are three good things that I can see happening from laser treatment:

  1. It’s fast
  2. There’s no side effects (confirm with your doctor)
  3. Not much pain involved (be brave)

 

Lessons learned:

- Know thy self: the better you know your skin, the better products you can buy for your skin

- Time heals all wounds: giving your skin the proper time it needs to heal properly

- Don’t make matters worse than they already are by touching your skin…yes, that means pimple popping.

- All products aren’t created equal. Some are good, some are bad, and some are just plain ugly.

- Hope is a good thing…at least as far as technology goes. Laser technology for the treatment of acne has come a long way.

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