What’s a four letter word for a skin condition that affects nearly 80 percent of the population in various forms and can cause considerable emotional stress? If you answered acne, then you hit this hard-to-treat condition on the head. While a more difficult question might have been how to treat acne, dermatologists are at the forefront of using laser technology to stop acne in its tracks – and prevent the acne scars that are often a result.

No. 1 Skin Condition

Acne is the most commonly diagnosed skin disorder in the world, topping the list of reasons that patients seek out the help of a dermatologist. While studies show that acne is not caused by diet or stress but by physiological factors such as hormones, excess oil and bacteria, patients often place the blame on their own shoulders.

“Acne patients are often times truly frustrated, and rightfully so,” said by a dermatologist. “They hear mixed messages about the causes of acne and sometimes spend an enormous amount of time and money trying to treat the condition with the latest over-the-counter products. By the time I see them in my office, the acne usually has worsened to the point that it is affecting their self-esteem and social lives. But it’s important to remember that acne is a treatable medical condition.”

Acne lesions are prevalent on parts of the body where there is a high concentration of pores that contain oil-producing sebaceous follicles, such as the face, neck, chest, shoulders, and upper back. When these follicles become clogged and inflamed, blackheads and whiteheads develop. If a whitehead or blackhead ruptures, its infected contents come into contact with the skin and the infection spreads – producing what is classically referred to as a zit. In a worst-case scenario, the zit becomes so badly infected it turns into a cyst that is located deep in the skin. If left untreated, these painful lesions can lead to an acne scar.

Until recently, a combination of topical and oral medications – including antibiotics – has been used almost exclusively with varying degrees of success to combat acne. Now, dermatologists are using non-ablative laser technology to successfully treat active acne and the scarring that often results as well.

One of the main benefits of non-ablative lasers, in contrast to their ablative counterparts, is that they can clear acne without producing a notable injury to the outer layer of the skin. Non-ablative therapy works by targeting the overactive sebaceous glands that are responsible for acne. The laser emits a wavelength of light that is strongly absorbed by water within the skin. This generates heat in and around the sebaceous glands. By creating a mild thermal injury just below the skin’s surface, a non-ablative laser alters the structure and function of the sebaceous gland, leading to prolonged acne clearance.

“I believe that laser-based applications for acne will one day become the preferred treatment option for acne patients, many of which are dissatisfied with topical and systemic treatments and are wary of their risks and side effects,” explained by the dermatologist. “I use non-ablative therapy extensively in my practice, and I’ve found it to be a safe and cost-effective treatment that has dramatically changed my patients’ lives for the better.”

Non-ablative treatments typically take between five to 20 minutes, during which time the patient experiences a slight snapping or stinging sensation that is alleviated with a pre-treatment topical anesthetic and post-treatment ice application. A series of three to five treatments are delivered at monthly intervals in order to achieve the desired clearance.

Marked reduction in acne lesions often occurs within a couple of treatment sessions, and a series of treatments should result in acne clearance for more than six months. Side effects are limited to mild redness and swelling, which will not interfere with a person’s daily activities.

Acne’s Cruel Reminders

Non-ablative laser therapy is also being used to successfully treat the scars that remain long after the initial acne has been cleared. While acne scars rarely pose a health risk, they are difficult to treat and can be very damaging to a person’s self-esteem. Traditionally, dermatologists have used dermabrasion, surgical excision, and fillers, such as collagen, to diminish scarring. However, the results in many cases were limited.

Over the last several years, laser technology has assumed an increasingly important role in the treatment of acne scars. At first, ablative lasers were used to sculpt or vaporize the skin’s surface. Now, techniques involving non-ablative lasers have taken over, thanks primarily to their ability to promote collagen growth beneath an acne scar without creating an external injury.

“Our experience has shown that patients treated with this therapy experience significant improvement in the appearance of their acne scars,” said by a dermatologist. “After a series of three monthly non-ablative treatments, patients have many times exceeded our expectations and often outperformed the results obtained by ablative lasers.”

With medical technology advancing at a rapid rate, Dr. Alster cautioned patients to be sure to consult a dermatologist experienced in laser therapy for proper treatment.

“Don’t be afraid to ask your physician questions about his or her experience and qualifications or training with a particular procedure,” said Dr. Alster. “Since any type of laser procedure can carry potential side effects, it’s important to entrust your care to qualified hands.”

Kerwin Chang writes for http://www.acnestuff.net where you can find out more about acne and other skin care topics.

Article Source: http://www.articledestination.com

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So if you’re looking for a new route to learn how to get rid of acne, you probably already have everything you need. Seriously, open up your fridge and cabinets. You will find everything you need in there. Things like oatmeal, lemon juice, and various other home remedies can do the trick, and we’re going to share them with you today.

One of the best home remedies that teach you how to get rid of acne is an oatmeal mask. You only need to do this twice a week, and it’s easy to formulate. Just cook some oatmeal, let it cool off, then apply it directly to your face. When it’s dry you just rinse it off. A lot people use the dry oatmeal as a facial scrub afterwards to get rid of the dead skin.

Oh, and we didn’t even tell you to just get out in the sun. Those rays can kill the bacteria that produces acne, and dry up oily skin. Just make sure you aren’t taking any medicine that makes you sensitive to sunlight.

Your skin needs plenty of water to stay healthy and many times people make the mistake of not drinking enough fluids. This can cause your skin to become irritated, dry and flaky which will cause breakouts.

You should get about 8 to 10 glasses per day that are around 8 ounces each. If you’re not a big water drinker, then make sure you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. They can give you a little extra when you need it. Aqua however is the main factor in how to get rid of acne.

Those who suffer from oily skin will want to utilize lemon juice. We know it doesn’t smell great, but you don’t have to pour it on. Just add a little to a cotton ball and wipe your face with it. This will absorb the excess oil from your skin.

If your skin is already dry, don’t bother taking this route. If you do it’s only going to cause more irritation. Instead, take vitamins. Vitamins E and A are the best, but just take a multi-vitamin so you get a little bit of everything.

If you suffer with acne, the important thing to remember on how to get rid of acne is to always wash your face twice a day and drink plenty of water as well as eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.

What it comes down to is in order to learn how to get rid of acne, it doesn’t always mean you have to take prescription medication. Just ask a dermatologist, because they’ll tell you the same thing. We always recommend seeking a medical professional when you want to get rid of acne.

I like many of you who is reading this, had problem: how to get rid of acne? But my life totally changed and I removed my acne permanently using an entirely healthy method. Now I feel great and I can look at myself in the mirror again! You should check out my story! How to remove blackheads? – advice: Peter Skonctueht.

So if you’re looking for a new route to learn how to get rid of acne, you probably already have everything you need. Seriously, open up your fridge and cabinets. You will find everything you need in there. Things like oatmeal, lemon juice, and various other home remedies can do the trick, and we’re going to share them with you today.

One of the best home remedies that teach you how to get rid of acne is an oatmeal mask. You only need to do this twice a week, and it’s easy to formulate. Just cook some oatmeal, let it cool off, then apply it directly to your face. When it’s dry you just rinse it off. A lot people use the dry oatmeal as a facial scrub afterwards to get rid of the dead skin.

Oh, and we didn’t even tell you to just get out in the sun. Those rays can kill the bacteria that produces acne, and dry up oily skin. Just make sure you aren’t taking any medicine that makes you sensitive to sunlight.

Your skin needs plenty of water to stay healthy and many times people make the mistake of not drinking enough fluids. This can cause your skin to become irritated, dry and flaky which will cause breakouts.

You should get about 8 to 10 glasses per day that are around 8 ounces each. If you’re not a big water drinker, then make sure you eat a lot of fruits and vegetables. They can give you a little extra when you need it. Aqua however is the main factor in how to get rid of acne.

Those who suffer from oily skin will want to utilize lemon juice. We know it doesn’t smell great, but you don’t have to pour it on. Just add a little to a cotton ball and wipe your face with it. This will absorb the excess oil from your skin.

If your skin is already dry, don’t bother taking this route. If you do it’s only going to cause more irritation. Instead, take vitamins. Vitamins E and A are the best, but just take a multi-vitamin so you get a little bit of everything.

If you suffer with acne, the important thing to remember on how to get rid of acne is to always wash your face twice a day and drink plenty of water as well as eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.

What it comes down to is in order to learn how to get rid of acne, it doesn’t always mean you have to take prescription medication. Just ask a dermatologist, because they’ll tell you the same thing. We always recommend seeking a medical professional when you want to get rid of acne.

I like many of you who is reading this, had problem: how to get rid of acne? But my life totally changed and I removed my acne permanently using an entirely healthy method. Now I feel great and I can look at myself in the mirror again! You should check out my story! How to remove blackheads? – advice: Peter Skonctueht.