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| Back-to-school time is here. For many students, | | | | Another laser that can target and treat problem |
| back-to-school means new wardrobes, laptops, | | | | acne in teens is the V-beam. The V-beam takes |
| and tall tales about summer adventures. But for | | | | the red out of acne by targeting the blood |
| others, it can be all about anxiety over acne | | | | vessels. This laser can rapidly extinguish |
| breakouts. | | | | inflammatory lesions as well as zap the |
| Acne takes many different forms. Some | | | | acne-forming bacteria. V-beam gets rid of your |
| complexions are marred by clogged pores | | | | acne and stops it from coming back. |
| (blackheads and whiteheads). Others have | | | | The Smoothbeam tackles acne from a different |
| inflamed pimples (pustules), or deeper lumps or | | | | angle. This laser delivers a gentle, but powerful |
| cysts (nodules). Acne can occur on the face as | | | | beam of light that penetrates below the skin to |
| well as other body parts including the neck chest, | | | | target the overactive sebaceous (oil) glands, the |
| back shoulders, and upper arms. Left untreated, | | | | root cause of acne. In addition to reducing the |
| acne can leave permanent, disfiguring scars. | | | | activity of the gland, the SmoothBeam kills the |
| Store-bought pimple creams may mark the spot, | | | | acne causing bacteria under the skin. Its energy |
| but they likely won’t get rid of it in time | | | | also stimulates the body to produce collagen, |
| for the Homecoming dance. One of the strongest | | | | which, after a series of treatments, can lead to |
| acne medications, Accutane, was recently | | | | an improvement in the appearance of acne scars. |
| withdrawn from the market due to safety issues | | | | For some teens, the damage has been done and |
| and related lawsuits. Accutane was the remedy | | | | they are left to deal with acne scars. Two |
| of choice for people with severe acne who did | | | | powerful treatments in your physician’s |
| not respond to topical therapies. Unfortunately, it | | | | toolbox to help acne scars include the Fraxel laser |
| also produced some devastating side effects for | | | | and Portrait PSR. The Fraxel treatment removes |
| teens with acne. | | | | damaged skin on the surface and stimulates |
| But new lasers and other acne-erasing | | | | collagen remodeling. Portrait, the Plasma Skin |
| technologies have already filled the gap. For | | | | Regeneration (PSR) procedure, works by |
| instance, a new treatment that combines vacuum | | | | delivering rapid pulses of nitrogen-based plasma to |
| and laser technology can basically clean clogged, | | | | the skin’s surface. This gas activates and |
| inflamed pores from the inside out. Called the | | | | stimulates the collagen beneath the surface of the |
| Isolaz system, this new photopneumatic | | | | skin, causing new, healthy skin to emerge. |
| technology improves mild to moderate acne and | | | | Some doctors use a two-pronged approach to |
| pustular acne. The best part? Improvements are | | | | getting rid of acne scars. They start by injecting a |
| visible within two days after treatment. | | | | dermal filler such as Restylane or Juvederm into |
| Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a procedure that | | | | the scars to raise the pitted surface of the skin |
| can significantly improve moderate to severe | | | | before stimulating new collagen growth with lasers |
| acne, including cystic acne. PDT uses a topical | | | | or other technologies. |
| agent called Levulan in combination with specialized | | | | To figure out what might work best for you, do |
| lasers and light sources, inactivating the bacteria | | | | your homework. Find a physician who is skilled in |
| that trigger acne, exfoliating the skin to unclog | | | | treating acne and acne scars, and has multiple |
| pores, and decreasing the activity of overactive | | | | technologies available to match to your specific |
| sebaceous glands in the skin. With three | | | | needs. Remember there is no one-size-fits-all |
| mechanisms of action, it has a long lasting effect | | | | treatment for either. |