Treatment Methods | Helpful Skincare Advice

The Benefits and Disadvantages of Acne Treatment Options

May 14, 2019August 24, 2012 by Alison

adult acne

Acne is the most prevalent skin condition that affects people of all ages, genders, and races. But the fact that many people in other parts of the world are also suffering from pimples provides no comfort to someone who has to deal with blackheads, whiteheads, or zits on his or her face. Aside from being unsightly, acne can have a negative impact on the academic, professional, and social aspects of a person’s life.

According to the 2008 Skin Matters survey, having pimples as an adult is more stressful than dealing with it as a teen. Survey participants also said that having acne is worse than having wrinkles or grey hair.

Throughout the years, different treatment methods have been developed to manage this dreaded disease. Before you get information about these anti-acne strategies, it pays to know more about what you are dealing with. Take a look at some basic information about acne:

Acne Facts and Myths

Acne vulgaris or simply acne is a condition that affects the oil glands of your skin. You experience an acne breakout when the follicles in your skin are clogged with oil and dead skin cells. The exact cause of the problem is unknown but several contributing factors have been determined. Contrary to popular opinion, you don’t get acne simply because you are not washing your face enough or due to your consumption of oily or greasy foods. However, eating a lot of processed carbohydrates and sugar may attract acne-causing bacteria and cause skin cells that are associated with acne to divide.

While dirt may contribute to acne, washing your face too much may actually make your breakouts worse. You should wash your face just two times a day with a mild facial cleanser. Avoid facial scrubs because they are more likely to make matters worse. Getting a tan to dry your face will also do you no good. Tanning will help temporarily mask your pimples but it will dry and irritate your skin, leaving your face more prone to future breakouts.

Different Acne Treatment Strategies

It’s definitely not a good idea to touch, pop, or squeeze a pimple to free a clogged pore because it will make the zit look worse and last longer, cause the spread of bacteria, and may lead to permanent scarring. But this doesn’t mean that you should let your pimples disappear on their own because there are several anti-acne methods that you can try to manage your breakouts.

Non Surgical Treatments for Acne Scars Using Fraxel ® Laser

May 14, 2019July 23, 2012 by Alison

acne scarring — Laser treatment is becoming increasingly popular as a treatment for the scars left by acne blemishes

Acne scars affect millions of people and can be a source for a lot of frustration for teenagers and adults alike. Acne is something we all have to deal with during our teenage years, and sometimes through adulthood. Acne scars are caused by the inflammatory swelling of follicles in the dermis, which rupture and leave an indentation resulting in a scar.

There are varying treatments for this, from chemical peels to topical creams, and laser treatments. Fraxel® is a non-ablative soft laser treatment that can be used on the face. Fraxel® is mainly known for its use as an anti-aging treatment, but the laser is used to smooth skin and improve tone and texture.

Instead of one solid laser beam, the Fraxel® laser is separated into multiple small segmented beams that can treat many areas in the same region at once. This is well suited for the treatment of acne scars as they usually occur in clusters on the face. The mini laser beams can treat these specific areas without affecting the surrounding areas.

The benefit of using this treatment is that it works to regenerate the collagen that is missing by penetrating and stimulating the underlying tissue. The procedure is done in the office of your cosmetic doctor and takes anywhere from 15 minutes up to a half hour. There is minimal discomfort involved and no downtime. You can go back to your regular daily activities as soon as you wish.

Things To Consider Before Undergoing Cosmetic Surgery for Acne Scars

May 14, 2019June 12, 2012 by Alison

Severe acne breakouts can leave scars that are noticeable and since scars are not generally pleasing to look at, it may result in problems with self-esteem. Using creams and other products can help reduce their appearance, so that they become less obvious. But if the scars are too deep, there may be no other option but to go through surgical methods to completely remove them.

Cosmetic surgery for removing acne scars comes with some risks, which is why deciding on it should be a long and thorough process. You need to take time and make sure that this is really what you want and there are plenty of factors to consider and we have highlighted the main three below:

The kind of procedure you need

Remember that each person has a different skin type, which also means that each skin problem is different. There are many procedures available, but not all of these may suit your condition.

The dermatologist can do simple laser treatments or peeling effects to replace the top layer of the skin that has been damaged by acne. There is also another treatment that may require injection of dermal fillers to smoothen scars out, while deep scars may need a more complicated skin resurfacing procedure to replace and remove acne scars. New methods are being developed by experts to perfect this science.

As always, these processes may cause adverse effects, such as pain, redness or swelling, so be sure to thoroughly ask about the particulars of each procedure, as well as how to manage the after-procedure with your cosmetic surgeon. By knowing enough information, this will help you decide which one you will be most comfortable with.

Beyond Pimple Popping, Acupuncture for Acne

May 14, 2019May 25, 2012 by Alison

Treating acne with acupuncture may sound too much like popping a pimple with a pin – but Maryland acupuncture can treat acne without ever touching afflicted area, which is usually the face.

From the smallest whitehead to the most severe – which is chronic and cystic acne that can leave scars – acne leaves its own social and emotional scars. Many sufferers feel embarrassment during flare-ups and avoid social situations, trying to hide their condition – and themselves – while their pimples heal. When one pimple heals while another one forms, there can be a cycle of acne that brings a stressful and self-conscious lifestyle.

Acne is caused by a number of aggravators. The most obvious cause is the clogging of a pore in the skin. Excess oils and skin cells clog the sebaceous gland, which becomes infected with bacteria. The hormones of puberty, as well as the hormonal changes during such events as menstruation in women, can exacerbate the inflammation.

Acupuncture won’t cure puberty or menstruation, nor would we want it to. Those bodily changes are a fact of life and the reason we, as humans, can grow and reproduce. But Maryland acupuncture can treat the effects of those hormones by encouraging the flow of the body’s energy and blood. The spleen and the liver, stimulated through acupuncture, can quicken any stagnation of internal energy and revitalize blood flow, keeping hormone levels from wreaking havoc with our skin. The foot and the ankle contain acupuncture points which coordinate with the spleen and liver. They seem unrelated to acne on the face and chest, but acupuncture treats the body as a whole. Each organ is connected to a channel that runs through the body to the skin’s surface.

Photorejuvenation Treatment For Pimples And Acne

May 14, 2019November 26, 2011 by Alison

Photorejuvenation is a method of pimple treatment that is gaining in popularity amongst those who suffer from acne.

It is an incredible figure but statistics show that close to $4 billion is spent on various different acne treatments worldwide, every year.

Much of this total is spent on treatments and medications that have quite unpleasant side effects for many users and many users of these treatments find that the benefit they see in their skin really is not worth the side effects they have to endure.

We all want to have great-looking skin and especially for teenagers and young adults who are particularly vulnerable to skin breakouts due to hormonal changes, a remedy for acne pimples and blemishes which works fast without side-effects is bound to be popular. Photorejuvenation definitely fits the bill. It is excellent as a blemish and pimple treatment as well as fading scars and skin-staining marks from previous outbreaks.

What is IPL Photorejuvenation?

Photorejuvenation light therapy treatment delivers pulses of light and uses different wavelengths that are effective on different layers of the skin and different types of blemishes.

Effectively, the different wavelengths are represented by light of different colours and this is why you will see blue light, or red light treatments or combination treatments advertised.

Blue light is the type specifically used to treat acne as it destroys the bacteria that cause the problem. It also has a comforting and soothing effect on your skin. Red light has the effect of promoting the circulation of blood beneath the skin surface.

Of course, these two lights are part of the visible spectrum and do not penetrate far into the skin, only up to about ten millimetres. This makes it particularly effective at treating surface problems such as acne blemishes and scars. The fine beams of light destroy their target skin cells, resulting in the generation of new skin cells, producing the rejuvenating effect. The treatment is aimed at the layers below the skin surface so it is not abrasive on the skin.

A treatment of photo rejuvenation also includes light from the invisible end of the spectrum and this lighe will penetrate much more deeply and it is this long-wavelength light which stimulates the production of collagen and elastin within the skin which is why it is called rejuvenation treatment – because it leads to the skin looking (and behaving), like younger, more youthful skin.

This type of pimple treatment is entirely safe provided that either you have your treatments dispensed by a dermatologist or beautician who will abide by all the necessary safety guidelines or, that you follow all the instructions very carefully if you purchase a home treatment system. There are several really good ones available which can definitely save you a lot of money when compared with the cost of salon treatments. As mentioned though, it is very important to follow the directions and wear appropriate eye protection as blue light will damage the eyes, leading to a condition known as macular degeneration if you do now wear the safety goggles recommended.