Advanced Acne Therapies

There are over-the-counter treatments for acne, prescription topical
lotions, oral contraceptives and cosmetic surgery. How do you know
what is right for you? As always, ask your doctor. Sometimes,
prevention or treatment of acne is not possible and severe scarring
occurs. This scarring can take place on the face, chest, neck, back
and shoulders, wherever the individual was acutely acne-stricken. It
is physically and mentally scarring, affecting one's life permanently.
Doctors have developed a codification system for acne scarring that
will assist a patient in treatment and diagnosis. The names used are
ice pick, boxcar and rolling acne scars. Icepick scars are the most
common and are deep and narrow, descending extensively into the dermis
and/or subcutaneous layers. Boxcar scars resemble classic chickenpox
scars and can be superficial or deep, round pits with sharp edges in
the skin. Rolling scars give the skin a rippled texture and appearance
resulting from folds in the subcutaneous layer of tissue. There are
varying degrees of cosmetic procedures available to help correct and
rejuvenate skin damaged from scarring. Microdermabrasion: This
treatment is similar to a chemical peel and achieves exfoliation of
the skin. Crystals are blown onto the skin through a hand-held device
which polishes the surface of the skin. The crystals and the
exfoliated skin cells are vacuumed away, unclogging pores and
improving the complexion. This process is not permanent and requires a
series of treatments for best results. Scar Revision: Ice pick and
boxcar scars can be effectively treated with this therapy. These
procedures are done with local anesthesia to remove scar tissue.
Surgical excisions are made, in the form of a punch and suture
procedure. The circular scar is replaced with a linear suture scar
which can be further treated. Subcision cuts can also be administered
using a sharp instrument that weakens the base of the scar. There are
no sutures with this procedure and further treatment with dermal
filler substances can be administered. Resurfacing: Ablative Laser
Treatments and Dermabrasion are therapies that affect the surface
layer of the skin, causing the skin to reproduce younger skin that
forms new collagen. A wire or brush strips the surface unevenness of
the skin. This is a mechanical procedure that is most effective for
substantial scarring and can be combined with fillers or excision
procedures. Dermal Fillers - Fat, hyaluronic acid derivatives,
collagen and polytheyl-methacrylate microspheres with collagen may be
injected to renew scar depth and smooth out the skin. This is not a
permanent correction and continued injections are necessary. Laser and
light therapies are able to penetrate the dermis and subcutaneous
layers of skin and leave the surface of the skin unharmed. Laser
treatments damage the sebaceous glands, rendering less sebum
production. Propionibacterium acne is affected by light therapy,
reducing inflammation and destroying the bacterium. Skin texture is
improved and appearance of scars is lessened. These therapies can be
used for both active acne and scarred tissue. Blue light therapy- An
ongoing series of painless low-intensity blue light is applied to the
skin where blemishes and scarring have occurred. These sessions last
about 15 minutes and can change the pigment of the skin and cause
swelling and dryness. Pulsed light and heat energy therapy- Sebum
production is decreased by shrinking the sebaceous glands with light
and heat. Heat and green-yellow light is administered to mild or
moderate acne. Redness of the skin can occur. Diode laser treatment-
This is a potentially painful treatment, destroying sebaceous glands
in the dermis while not affecting the epidermis. Analgesics may be
applied to lessen the pain of this treatment beforehand. Swelling and
redness occur post-treatment.