Conditions
Acne
Results of Treatment
The most common areas where women seek laser has removol are the lip and chin, underarms and bikini area. Laser hair removal is also ideal for large areas such as the legs.
About Acne
Acne is caused by the interaction of overactive oil glands with acne bacteria creating blocked follicles and rupture of follicles into the deeper skin layers exposing them to keratin and bacterial by-products that don’t belong there. This results in inflammation and acne bumps and pustules. Blackheads are plugged follicles. Prescription acne products are often the gentlest, most-effective treatments for acne. Generally, topical antibiotics like erythromycin or clindamycin solution, lotion or gel are used to reduce acne bacteria that create irritants from the follicle contents are combined with agents to remove plugs from pores, called comedolytics, including Retin-A® and its cousins the retinoids. These include Differin® (adapalene) gel, lotion or cream and Tazorac® (tazarotene) cream or gel and others. Oral antibiotics are often used to kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation including the tetracyclines such as doxycycline and minocycline as well as erythromycin and others. Finally, Accutane® (isotretinoin) is often given over a 4-6-month period for severe acne unresponsive to the above treatments.
So, what can we add to conventional acne treatments? At Main Line Center for Laser Surgery, we often use vascular lasers to treat red-acne scars in people who still have active acne. I call these lasers a 4th-line treatment for acne after most of the above treatments have been tried (except Accutane). The main drawback of treating acne with these lasers is cost. We believe these lasers help improve acne, while also improving acne marks, and improvement can last months but is not permanent. Lasers that treat acne on a more permanent basis are in development. Alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) ‘peels’ also help remove blackheads and improve acne, the most common of which is a glycolic acid peel. We administer these initially on a monthly basis because the skin turns over about once every 28 days. These safe, 3rd– and 4th-line acne treatments help prevent acne that can lead to scarring and are an important addition to acne regimens in the right patients.
To answer your specific questions or schedule a consultation, call Dr Bernstein today of 610-645-5551.
Did you know?
Dr. Bernstein was the first physician in the WORLD to use the V-Beam Perfecta® and V-Beam Prima® lasers and one of the first in the U.S. to acquire the Excel-V® laser has published numerous peer-reviewed articles on treating numerous conditions with these lasers. Dr. Bernstein is the creator of LaseResults® skincare.
