What Causes Acne?

Our skin contains tiny microscopic holes called pores, the largest of which are on our face, back, chest and shoulders. These pores are our skin's opening to the outside world and allow our body to "breathe", releasing impurities and toxins.

One of the structures located within each pore is an oil-producing gland known as the sebaceous gland, which lubricates the skin keeping it soft and moist. Under normal circumstances, sebum, the oily substance made by this skin gland, travels up and out to the skin's surface. This oil production and subsequent release is part of a normal cycle occurring regularly throughout the day.

The problem arises when certain genetic factors, such as increased hormone production (as occurs during puberty), causes this oil-producing process to go into overdrive, leading to an over-production of oil. Since the body can't keep up with this excessive oil production, it tends to accumulate and combine with dead skin cells located on the skin's surface to clog the pores.

Bacteria grow in the oily environment, multiply and move deeper into the pores, becoming lodged underneath the skin's surface.

If a pore that is clogged with oil, dead skin and bacteria is closed off by the body's immune response. This causes as a whitehead. If a clogged pore stays open, the top portion may darken because of exposure to the air, causing a blackhead.

In some cases, the sebaceous or oil-producing gland itself can become infected, forming what is known as a cyst deep beneath the skin's surface. These acne cysts can rupture, spreading the infection into nearby skin tissue.

Acne Laser Treatment

The problem will not go away with the topical skin cleansing systems and herbal concoctions you see on the Internet. The only FDA approved drugless method for treating acne at the source, which are the oil producing glands themselves, is Laser Acne Therapy!

There were several options traditionally available to clear and control acne. The two main categories are professional in-office treatments and over the counter home care products:

Some products do a decent job at killing surface bacteria and removing some of the excess skin oils. But they are unsuccessful at producing long-term results because they cannot address the cause of the acne- the over-production of oil by the oil-producing glands themselves.

Laser Acne Therapy is the first FDA approved drugless treatment for acne that actually addresses its cause. It has shown impressive results without the pain, expense or side effects associated with traditional over-the-counter and prescription treatments.

The non-surgical Laser Acne Therapy works by the use of laser-emitting beams of invisible light which pulsate through the layers of the skin and are absorbed by the oil-producing sebaceous glands themselves. The invisible light is converted to heat, temporarily disabling and reducing the size of the glands that produce oil. Thanks to recent advances in laser technology, this is possible without harming or irritating the surrounding skin. Additionally, the thermal effect produced by this process also kills the bacteria found within the clogged pores.

This laser treatment also stimulates new collagen formation, elevating depressed or pitted acne scars. Over time, as this new collagen is deposited, the appearance of the scar will lessen and fade.

This medical procedure can help both adolescent and adult acne. It also can be used to treat both men and women with all skin types and colors. However, pregnant women and people with photo sensitivities should consult their physician first.

Treatment sessions. Each treatment takes 15-20 minutes to perform. The number of treatments needed varies, depending on the severity of your acne or acne scars. On average, 4-5 sessions administered two weeks apart will dramatically reduce active acne. Acne scar correction requires a series of approximately the same number of visits, given 4 weeks apart. Once your acne is significantly improved or clears, periodic treatment is recommended to keep the acne from re-appearing. Acne scar maintenance treatments are recommended once every 6 months.

Laser Acne Therapy is usually not painful and does not require anesthesia. Some patients may experience a slight burning or tingling sensation at the individual laser treatment sites, lasting only a few seconds. For people with extremely sensitive skin, a topical anesthetic can be used over the treatment area before the actual laser treatments are administered. There are no known side effects.

Is The Treatment Permanent? At this time, there is no "cure" for acne. Laser therapy effectively clears 70%-90% of moderate inflammatory acne in four to six weeks. Results are especially impressive when compared with conventional treatments, such as topical creams and oral antibiotics. Since the treatment can now address the cause of your acne at its source, outbreaks can effectively be controlled for approximately 4-8 months. After that, only occasional touch-ups may be necessary.

Are There Other Procedures To Help My Acne? Yes, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, combined with medical grade acne and skin care products show great additive effects.