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

na

Do you have acne? If you’re like the majority of us humans, then, it’s quite possible you do. Some of us are affected as teens and some as adults. Then there are those who have it their whole life. Regardless of your acne phase, one thing is for certain; you don’t have to just put up with it. The drug store shelves are constantly overloaded with acne blemish control products. I don’t care if you’re struggling with whiteheads, blackheads, red bumps, or the whole lot of them, there is an acne blemish control treatment out there for you. If you haven’t browsed through the local drug stores, then it’s certainly time you did. Check out the cosmetics aisle. You will be overwhelmed with the options. Now, you are stuck with the problem of what product to buy.

When it comes to your face, it is crucial to know and understand what skin type you have. Do you know yours? I found out when I was about 20 years old that I had normal to dry skin. Get online and take a quick test to better understand your skin type right away. This way you will be able to narrow down your search when browsing for quality acne blemish control products. Many of these treatments are specifically for oily, combination, dry, or normal skin. Don’t waste all your time and money trying them all out. This is your face we’re talking about here. You need the acne blemish control treatment that is right for you.

The Internet is a perfect place for you to understand acne and how to control it. You will soon find out that there are an incredible amount of solutions to this age-old problem. Probably the most popular acne blemish control product on the market today is Proactive solution. Many happy customers, including well known celebrities, swear by this unique treatment. It’s time to get your life back. Don’t let acne ruin your self-confidence. Log on to the internet and find that ideal acne blemish control product that’s right for you.

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

Phil de Fontenay runs an acne help blog. The purpose is to supply useful and relevant articles and information for acne sufferers. You can visit the site here get-acne-help.blogspot.com.

Acne has different classifications, according to the severity of the infection.Comedo is the form where all severe acne cases originate. This is characterized by red swelling or small lesions on your skin. Whiteheads and blackheads are two forms of comedo. Conversely, blackhead is an open comedo. The coloration is due to the accumulation of dark skin pigments called melanin, plus hardened sebum and other skin debris and particles. This is the basic structure of whiteheads, however, the only difference is the coloration and these are deeply situated into the skin layers. If you have sandpaper-like skin around the tissue of your mouth and on the surface of your forehead, chin and cheeks, you probably have papules. Pus-filled lesions are also termed as pustules. Nodules on the other hand are similar with pustules. However, nodules are firmer and are larger acne growing deep in the skin. Inflammation may develop your pustules into containing semi-liquid or liquid materials composed of white blood cells (which are dead because of the acne-infecting bacteria named as Propionibacterium acnes), dead skin cells and active or inactive bacteria. This can result into more serious acne called cysts. In such situations, you may need the assistance of a skin dermatologist or physician.

Prevention is the only obvious way to go when dealing with adult acne. A proper diet, paired with plenty of water and rest is a good start. Trying to relieve stress and maintaining proper skin care and hygiene can also help to prevent acne from occurring.But what about the pimples that you may already have? There are many treatments available for people who have adult acne.

Anti-acne medications, certain skin care products, and even laser surgery are just a few of the many treatments available for acne on the market today. Visiting a qualified doctor or dermatologist is the only way to determine how severe your acne really is and to find the proper treament available for you.

This article has been made accessible by the author, Bank Koapit. .Should you require any further information regarding tiensshop.com/index.php?cPath=4_25″> appendicitis causes please visit histiensshop.com/index.php?cPath=4_25″> signs and symptoms of appendicitis resources