Acne Patients Seeing the Light

New Laser Therapy Prevents Acne From Graduating to Scars

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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How To Get Rid Of Acne – Face Up To Facts Acne Truly Sucks!

No-one would wish acne upon themselves or another individual, no more than they would wish a permanent cloud of mosquitoes to hang around their heads. This condition really sucks, so learning how to get rid of acne, could be one of the wisest learning decisions you ever make, your whole life.

World-wide, acne is a common disorder, it doesn’t skip age or race groups and everyone has the possibility of contracting this affliction. It is living with it that is so difficult! Life with acne is not walk in the park, the self esteem and confidence suffer perhaps more than even more than the outward appearance of an acne sufferer. If you think acne scars run deep, think about the psychological scars this skin condition can reap.

Self esteem is hard to maintain for anyone suffering from acne, some people may even get depressed and need treatment for it. Although acne does affect all age groups, one of the biggest age groups is teens. They are already hormonal, and enduring conflicting emotions so the appearance of acne is not going to make things get better.

Many people are the same, and can you imagine the psychological damage my sister in-law would experience if her face burst out in acne? I can! Many people are this lacking in self-confidence, she is not weird or alone in this.

No matter how often you read that inspirational book or practice the mantra’s gurus to help overcome an aversion to your “outer” appearance and focus on “inner” beauty, an acne sufferer still believes they look like the “Elephant Man”, overexposed to society! After sweeping the floors or gardening my sister in law refuses to go to a local store for a loaf of bread in case she is seen looking dirty.

Very like my sister-in-law, a good-looking outer appearance matters hugely. Many acne sufferers feel the same and this is not abnormal, so you can imagine how much looking like this hurts! The exposure is just awful and unfortunately, in the majority acne appears on the face.

Being a lingering condition, it is only lifestyle changes which make a difference, so commitment to this when learning how to get rid of acne is vital. Work on the inside as well as the outside, not magic potions exist that you can take and wake up in the morning to find it was all a bad dream. Cleansing and treating the skin well, is as important as cleansing and treating the body well and this means take a long hard look at diet too.

Acne is a health problem, it is not who you are, to overcome the feeling that you are your acne, learn as much as you can about managing it, and you will manage it with the right level of determination.

As much as the skin needs to be clean and treated, so does the digestive tract to purify the blood. Drink water, eat fresh fruit and vegetables and fiber, and education is vital. Bad habits soon go and good habits replace them in perpetuity if this is kept up.

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

How to Get Rid of Your Acne Fast and Easy?

Do you find yourself in the position that you truly wish you could get rid of an acne breakout? Are you currently experiencing concerns regarding whether or not your skin will clear up by the time of a very important event? Here is some helpful news: you may very well be able to clear up a fairly problematic skin condition with little effort.

Whether you wish to clear your face up prior to a big even or if you would prefer to practice better habits that will aid in the ability of how to get rid of acne fast, there are a number of things you may be able to do. Here are a number of things you can do to make your desires happen.

The very first thing that you need to consider when you want to learn how to get rid of acne fast is to pay careful attention to where you put your hands. Think about the things you touch and how often you touch your face every day. When you hands are carrying dirt, you will find that are moving the dirt right to your face when you touch it.

Often, it is best to look at acne sores as being not much different from open wounds. That means reducing them will rely on keeping them as clean as possible. Touching your face or even letting the phone get too close to the skin can all lead to dirt infecting the acne.

It is also very helpful to consider how much soap to use when you wish to learn how to get rid of acne fast. Acne can feel dirty and you may wish to keep cleaning it. That could cause a number of potential problems.

Again, keeping your face clean is necessary but using strong astringents is never all that great of an idea. Why? It can greatly inflame your face. Stick with a gentle soap or opt to go without any soap at all. Yes, this can leave you feeling somewhat greasy but it is better for your skin over the long run.

When you want to learn how to get rid of acne fast, also be sure to resist the urge to cover it up with makeup. When you do opt to use makeup to cover the acne, do not use one that has oil. This will clog the pores and lead to the presence of more acne. Oil free make up is easy to find and you can procure mineral makeup or makeup that has been designed to use over acne.

Take a little time out and consider that the options may be and to be sure that you think about how you be able to learn how to get rid of acne fast. A big part of this centers on knowing your triggers and making sure you can identify what your triggers are. You may discover that eating leafy green vegetables is helpful as would the habit of avoiding caffeine.

Those that want to learn hot to get rid of acne fast should look at the many things detailed herein as this will allow you to reduce the presence of problematic acne.

I like many of you who is reading this, had problem: how to get rid of acne? My life completely changed and I cleared my acne for good using an entirely healthy system. 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.

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