Several Things You Need to Consider Before Choosing Laser Acne Treatment

totalacne | Apr 21, 2010 | Comments 0

Although teenagers are the ones who suffer most from acne, many adults can suffer from it too. Acne can consist of occasional unwanted outbreaks to chronic severe outbreaks. Along with acne often comes the unwanted side effect of scarring. Acne scars can last a lifetime and for some people, they are cosmetically significant enough to cause a loss of self esteem, psychological stress or even suicide.

Acne Treatment Types:There are a number of treatments for acne on the market today. Some can be purchased over the counter, whereas others require a prescription. This includes topical bactericidals, topical and oral antibiotics, topical and oral retinoids, hormonal treatments and laser treatments. As antibiotics have become increasingly ineffective due to overuse, we are seeing an increase in acne laser treatments.
Acne Laser Treatments:

More and more people are opting for acne laser treatments today to remove acne or acne scarring. People who are considering acne laser treatment, should keep in mind that this sort of treatment really should be considered as a last resort. Treatment of severe acne scars depends on their shape, depth, and location.
During laser resurfacing, a laser pen is held just above the acne or acne scar tissue. A concentrated beam of light is waved back and forth over the area, vaporizing the unwanted tissue and developing a new skin surface for growth. This is where the term laser resurfacing comes from. After the laser treatment, new collagen will form.

Types of Acne Scars:There are a number of different types of acne scars and the type of scar as well as the severity can determine the type of laser treatment required.
Ice pick scars – Deep pits, most common acne scarring.

Box car scars – Angular scars similar to chickenpox scars.

Rolling scars – Scars that give the skin a wave-like appearance.

Hypertrophic scars – Thickened, or keloid scars.
Associated Pain

There is pain involved with acne laser treatments. Some people describe it like a rubber band being “snapped” against the skin. Deep laser treatments can often require anesthesia.
Associated Cost:

The cost of acne laser treatments depends on where you live, if multiple treatments are required and how much work is being done. A full face acne treatment is much more expensive then a treatment involving smaller sections of skin.
What You Can Expect Afterwards:

Make sure you plan for plenty of time off after your procedure. It isn’t unusual for a patient to experience both pain and swelling after an acne laser treatment. This can vary from person to person, but usually lasts for a week to ten days. During this time, the patient should not wear make up.
Doctor Consultation:

If you are considering an acne procedure, you need to do your homework. Talk to a few different doctors; check prices and check patient reviews.
By keeping all of the above tips in mind, you should be able to make a much more informed decision about laser acne treatments. Keep in mind that this doesn’t guarantee your results, but it will increase your chance of a more positive outcome.

Source: articlebase.com

Filed Under: Acne Treatments • Featured • Laser Treatments

Tags: Acne Treatments • Laser Treatments

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Basic Things About Acne

Acne, a very common chronic skin condition, is still somewhat of a mystery as to what the root cause is. Most medical professionals believe that it could be attributed to several factors, one of which is hormone levels.

Recent studies show that certain hormones, known as androgen, may trigger the formation of acne because they enlarge the sebaceous, or oil producing glands in the skin which leads to increased sebum or oil production. This increase leads to the formation of plugs and serves as more food for the acne-causing bacteria.

While these hormones are actually present in both men and women, they usually surge at puberty. This fact also explains why teenagers develop armpit and pubic hair, and why boys develop facial hair and deeper voices, other than why acne forms.

Yet another potent cause of acne is the bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes that normally thrive on the skin. These bacteria are responsible for causing the condition to develop. According to some studies, acne develops as these bacteria emit substances that trigger redness and inflammation. They also make enzymes, which then dissolve the sebum or oil into the irritating substances that make the inflammation worse.

the female hormone estrogen also plays a large role in the development of acne, particularly in girls. It is important to note first that a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle is a result of the changes in the estrogen levels in her body. This can actually explain why this skin condition in a female way get better and then get worse as she goes through her monthly menstrual cycle. One of the beneficial side affects of some birth control pills that contain the helpful estrogen is to help control acne outbreaks.

It is also believed that acne is caused by some genetic factors. Without a doubt it does seem to be worse in some families.

In that respect it is thought that if you have parents or relatives who have bad acne, there is also a great possibility that you too will get it. Considering the genetic factors, many feel that there is no way for you to stop acne outbreaks from occurring.

Other possible causes of acne are stress, cosmetics, medication and diet. These are just minor factors that can cause acne, but many have found that they are aggravators of this skin condition.

Diet & stress don’t really cause acne to form, but these two potentially aggravate acne and cause  another skin problem you may experienced.

Knowing that there is no particular cause of acne, perhaps the best move is to try a few different treatments to see which is best suited to your particular skin type. Always consult your doctor before starting any treatment.

Source: articlebase.com

View the original article here

Read More

Basic Things About Acne

Acne, a very common chronic skin condition, is still somewhat of a mystery as to what the root cause is. Most medical professionals believe that it could be attributed to several factors, one of which is hormone levels.

Recent studies show that certain hormones, known as androgen, may trigger the formation of acne because they enlarge the sebaceous, or oil producing glands in the skin which leads to increased sebum or oil production. This increase leads to the formation of plugs and serves as more food for the acne-causing bacteria.

While these hormones are actually present in both men and women, they usually surge at puberty. This fact also explains why teenagers develop armpit and pubic hair, and why boys develop facial hair and deeper voices, other than why acne forms.

Yet another potent cause of acne is the bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes that normally thrive on the skin. These bacteria are responsible for causing the condition to develop. According to some studies, acne develops as these bacteria emit substances that trigger redness and inflammation. They also make enzymes, which then dissolve the sebum or oil into the irritating substances that make the inflammation worse.

the female hormone estrogen also plays a large role in the development of acne, particularly in girls. It is important to note first that a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle is a result of the changes in the estrogen levels in her body. This can actually explain why this skin condition in a female way get better and then get worse as she goes through her monthly menstrual cycle. One of the beneficial side affects of some birth control pills that contain the helpful estrogen is to help control acne outbreaks.

It is also believed that acne is caused by some genetic factors. Without a doubt it does seem to be worse in some families.

In that respect it is thought that if you have parents or relatives who have bad acne, there is also a great possibility that you too will get it. Considering the genetic factors, many feel that there is no way for you to stop acne outbreaks from occurring.

Other possible causes of acne are stress, cosmetics, medication and diet. These are just minor factors that can cause acne, but many have found that they are aggravators of this skin condition.

Diet & stress don’t really cause acne to form, but these two potentially aggravate acne and cause  another skin problem you may experienced.

Knowing that there is no particular cause of acne, perhaps the best move is to try a few different treatments to see which is best suited to your particular skin type. Always consult your doctor before starting any treatment.

Source: articlebase.com

View the original article here

Read More