Acne Treatments
Acne is an eruption and disruption of the skin caused by localized inflammation of the skin that occurs when there is clogging of the skin pores by skin oils. This leads to an overproliferation of a normally occurring population of skin bascteria called P. acnes. This inflammation leads to cystic changes in the skin as well as the typical blackhead or whitehead formation. This production of skin oils is greatly influenced by genetic and hormonal factors and is typically seen most often in adolescents, in whom the androgen hormones that stimulate oil production are present in high concentrations in the bloodstream.
Treatment goals involve reducing the number of P. acnes bacteria present in the affected areas and reducing oil production by the skin, along with simple skin care to clear and prevent further blockages of skin pores.
Traditional skin hygeine should involve consistent washing with a mild cleanser and Skinceuticals® (2% salicylic acid wash and blemish control gel with Retinol). Other treatments which can be effective in treatment of the short and long-term effects of the inflammation of acne offered at Superior MediSpa include:
- Light therapy with the Aurora® AC system by Syneron, utilizes a broad spectrum of light and radiofrequency energies to target the P. acnes bacterium and the sebaceous glands of the skin. The short wavelengths of light in the blue-light spectrum target the P. acnes bacteria and stops the inflammatory process in the sebaceous gland. The combined RF energy of the system helps improve the texture the acneic skin which can be left rough and irregular. Treatments are typically performed twice a week for four to six weeks and most patients report improvement as early as three weeks into the initial therapy. Each session lasts about 15-30 minutes. After initial therapy, additional treatment sessions may be spread over a longer period of time. Most treated patients experience mild flushing of the skin, which resolves in a short period of time, and can resume normal activities immediately
- The Zeno® device offered at Superior MediSpa offers a convenient, portable option for treatment of localized flare-ups and pimples. Zeno® applies controlled heat directly to a pimple through a small metal pad, causing death of the bacteria which cause the localized inflammation. Two to three 2 ½ minute treatments in 24 hours are typically sufficient to treat most pimples. Zeno® works best at the first sign of a pimple and is best when used in combination with a good skin hygiene program. In controlled trials, 90% of blemishes treated with Zeno® disappeared or faded within 24 hours.
- Microdermabrasion and chemical peels may be highly useful in treatment of chronic scarring which occurs from acneic inflammation.
Rosacea
Rosacea is a common disorder of the facial skin which affects an estimated 14 million Americans. It often will begin as a blush-like redness that extends across the nose, cheeks, forehead, as well as the chin and can progress to red pimples and pus-filled bumps. Women are more likely to be affected by rosacea although symptoms tend to be more severe in men and can lead to thickening and discoloration of the skin of the nose called rhinophyma. Rosacea may even extend to involve the eyes and eyelids.
No one knows the exact cause of rosacea but it often runs in fair-skinned families and typically begins between 30 and 60 years of age. Rosacea tends to recur with intermittent flare-ups. Recurrences may increase in severity over time without treatment. While there is no cure for rosacea, treatment is directed at controlling symptoms and improving the appearance of the affected areas.
Treatment should include appropriate skin hygiene with products that clean and hydrate the skin surface. Avoiding products that may irritate the skin, such as some cosmetics, may also be important.
FotoFacial skin rejuvenation has been shown to be the most effective light therapy for rosacea. This combined energy technique treats the vascular and pigmented components of the skin lesions and can have a high success rate and dramatic effects upon the appearance of the affected skin. Every rosacea patient is unique and a treatment plan is tailored to the skin changes of each patient.
Actinic Keratosis
Actinic Keratosis is a skin condition that is characterized by rough, scaly patches on the skin of the face, ears, hands, foreams, chest and scalp. It is caused by frequent and/or intense sun exposure and is the most common sun-related growth. It has been estimated that 60% of individuals over 40 years of age who are predisposed will have at least one lesion of actinic keratosis. Persons at high risk for developing lesions of actinic keratosis are fair-skinned and tend to burn or freckle easily when exposed to the sun. Most physicians consider actinic keratosis to be pre-cancerous and left untreated, about one in 10 cases may develop into skin cancer. Treatment options offered at Superior MediSpa include:
- Chemical peeling to remove the damaged skin layer, allowing new skin to form
- FotoFacial light therapy may be used with very small lesions to destroy damaged skin cells
- Photodynamic therapy with Levulan. Levulan is 20% aminolevulinic acid which occurs naturally in the body. Levulan is an FDA-approved photosensitizing agent that is applied to the skin prior to treatment with intense pulsed light. This combination treatment produces highly charged free radicals in the skin which destroy the damaged skin cells and allow the growth of new healthy cells. Photodynamic therapy offered at Superior MediSpa can also be used in the treatment of acne and also to treat wrinkles and irregular pigmentation caused by sun damage.
Before and After Pictures Copyright (c) 2005 Syneron Medical, Ltd. All rights reserved.
