Acne Treatment Orange County

What is acne?

Acne occurs when the pores become plugged. Blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) occur on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders, and even the upper arms. Active acne is experienced by both teenagers and adults all the way through their 40's. Untreated acne can leave scars, which can be treated.

How does acne form?

Hormones found in both males and females rise during adolescence (puberty) and stimulate and enlarge the oil (sebaceous) glands of the skin. These glands are found in the face, upper back, and chest. Rarely, persistent acne can be due to a hormonal imbalance. The oil glands are connected to a hair-containing canal called a follicle. The sebaceous glands make an oily substance called sebum, which reaches the skin surface by emptying through the skin surface opening of the follicle. The hair follicle opening is sometimes called the pore. The oil (sebum) causes the cells from the follicular lining to shed more rapidly and stick together, forming a plug at the hair follicle opening. Bacteria grow and stimulate inflammation, which causes the wall of the follicle to break. The bacteria spill into the skin causing redness, swelling, and pus.

Acne laser treatment options

A more recent and effective acne medical treatment other than chemical peels, is Isolaz – a dual-action treatment that uses suction to remove the clogged matter in the pores combined with a special medical light that kills the bacteria in the pore and on the skin surface. For our Orange County acne treatment patients, this method can be used alone or in conjunction with RX and topical therapy to enhance and speed skin clearing.

Acne Scarring Before & Afters

Tips for acne treatment and control

• Keeping your skin clean is important. Don't skip morning or night cleansing. But don't “over clean" acne skin is sensitive and if too dry on the surface, more oil is produced to compensate. A cleansing brush is an ideal companion and most can be used in the shower too.

• Acne is not directly caused by the foods you eat, but it's common sense to realize that a healthier inside will show a healthier outside.

• A strict diet by itself will not clear your skin, but if certain foods seem to make your acne worse (Soda, chocolate, or fried foods), then try to avoid them.

• It is always important to obtain a well-balanced diet. Drinking a good amount of water helps hydrate the skin, which keeps sebum from getting sticky so it flows out of the pores more easily.

Dairy products are suspect and you should at least try not drinking milk or eating ice cream for a few weeks' trial to see how your skin changes. Sunlight ages the skin and can cause skin cancer, therefore, you should not sunburn, “bake in the sun,” or use sunlamps. Choose a sunscreen that is oil-free, such as a gel or light lotion. Sunburns will aggravate your acne. Oddly enough, though, some of our Orange County acne treatment patients say they benefit from swimming in the ocean. But remember to rinse your skin after beach swimming as salt left on the skin for long periods can be irritating.

We recommend Oxygenetix oxygenating makeup or pure mineral makeup such as Colorescience or Jane Iredale. Be sure to thoroughly remove your cosmetics every night with an oil-free cleanser and water. A flesh-tinted acne lotion containing Benzoyl Peroxide, Salicylic Acid, or Sulfur can safely hide blemishes. Also, shield your face when applying hairsprays, perfumes/colognes, and gels.

What type of acne treatment is right for me?

Isolaz is a very unique procedure which is based on the removal of the food source of acne breakouts. Bacteria grows within the hair follicle (pore) and is fed by sebum and dead skin cells. Isolaz uses suction which vacuums the pore to remove the debris, thus removing the growth medium. Medical strength light is applied immediately following the suction to kill the exposed bacteria, thus helping to immediately begin the process of reducing acne. No downtime; this acne treatment is tolerable and fast.

Combination OmniLux light therapy

The addition of alternate red light treatments increases the effectiveness of acne light treatments by acting as an immediate anti-inflammatory. At Revive Aesthetics OC your light therapy may be preceded by Salipeel to unclog pores. Acne patients are discovering a faster, more visible response to their acne clearing.

LightStim blue light system

LightStim is a therapeutic light that treats moderate inflammatory acne quickly, easily, and pain free. LightStim destroys the most common bacteria that cause acne within the skin type. Results may be seen in 4 weeks. This drug-free treatment is one of the safest acne treatments available. With LightStim, there are no side effects. The treatment takes about 45 minutes and should be done twice a week for 4 weeks. During a primary consultation, Revive Aesthetics OC will determine the best treatment plan for you.

Photo dynamic acne treatment Orange County

Anew procedure used to treat resistant acne as well as older acne scars leaving skin smoother. This process begins with an agent, Levulan, applied to the skin, then activated with specific wavelengths of light. This acne treatment procedure takes 45 minutes. The Levulan agent targets all types of acne glands, acne rosacea (redness), and benign bumps on the skin. This treatment decreases skin oiliness, and the appearance of pores is minimized. The all-over skin texture improves. Redness and skin peeling may occur during the first two days and you must avoid sun exposure the following day. 3-4 treatments are recommended at 2-3 week intervals to obtain optimal results. Because PDT is a topical procedure, there are no systemic side effects.

SmoothBean acne treatment

A non-invasive laser treatment that targets acne with absolutely no downtime and a low risk of side effects. A treatment takes between 10 to 30 minutes allowing you to return back to work directly afterward. The number of treatments and intervals of treatments varies depending on the severity of the condition and the extent of the improvement desired. Revive Aesthetics OC uses a small handpiece that touches your skin to deliver the laser light. You will feel a quick spray of coolant onto your skin during each laser pulse.

Results from SmoothBeam may vary depending on anatomical location and the extent of desired results. Several treatments may be required before these results can be seen. Precautions should be taken before and after treatment. One must avoid sun exposure for 4-6 weeks before treatment, and again after treatment. An appointment with Revive Aesthetics OC should be made to discuss the best acne treatment plan for your skin.

Help for acne scars

Fraxel has become the most effective acne scar treatments available. Fraxel Repair CO2 Laser is the most aggressive procedure and acne scar treatment. For shortened treatment options for improving the appearance of your acne scars, Fraxel's CO2 laser may be your best option. Vbeam has recently been used for the treatment of acne and red acne scars. Bellafill is an FDA approved filler used in lessening the appearance of acne scars.

Are there other options for acne control?

Controlling your acne is an ongoing process

Acne treatments work by preventing new acne. Treatment takes time. If your acne has not improved after 6 to 8 weeks, you may need a change in your treatment. The treatment Revive Aesthetics OC recommends will vary according to your type of acne. Occasionally, an acne-like rash can be caused by makeup, lotions, or oral medication. It is important to help us at Revive Aesthetics OC by providing a history of what you are using on your skin or taking internally. We can then choose the best way to cure your acne. The following are a list of options available to assist you in clearing up your acne.

• Prescription products: Revive Aesthetics OC may prescribe topical creams, gels or lotions with Vitamin A acid or Benzoyl Peroxide to help unblock the pores and reduce bacteria. These products may cause some drying and peeling but are highly effective. Revive Aesthetics OC will advise you on the correct use and how to handle side effects.

• Topical antibiotics: Along with creams, antibiotics, such as Cleocin, can also be applied to the skin. These are used in less severe cases of acne. Over the counter Differin may be an option. Ask your doctor.

• Injections: In severe cases of large red bumps or cyst break-outs, Revive Aesthetics OC may inject Cortisone directly into the bumps to help them go away.

• Extractions: Revive Aesthetics OC's licensed Aestheticians may open pimples or remove blackheads and whiteheads. Don't be tempted to pick, scratch, pop, or squeeze pimples yourself. When the pimples are picked at, more redness, swelling, inflammation, and acne scarring may occur.

• Oral medications: Antibiotics, such as Tetracycline, Doxycycline, Minocycline, or Erythromycin, may be taken orally. Medication is often prescribed for moderate or severe cases, especially when acne is seen on the back or chest. Revive Aesthetics OC discourages long-term use of antibiotics as often antibiotic resistance can occur as well as a wide variety of physical problems. Antibiotics work to reduce the bacteria in the follicle and may also decrease the skin's redness directly. Women may develop vaginal yeast infections when taking antibiotics. If this occurs, discontinue medications and contact Revive Aesthetics OC immediately for treatment of the yeast. Check with Revive Aesthetics OC about taking antibiotics if you are pregnant or nursing, or if you are trying to get pregnant.

• Other drugs may be used to help with severe acne. These include female hormones or medications that decrease the effects of male hormones. Another oral medication, Isotretinoin (Accutane) is sometimes used when acne does not respond well to any other treatments. Patients must understand the side effect of Isotretinoin. Frequent follow-up visits are necessary to monitor side effects. These drugs can cause severe birth defects if taken during pregnancy.