What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition that causes red blemishes usually on the face can occur anywhere on the body. The overproduction of oil by the skin oil glands gets trapped in blocked oil ducts and results in what we know as pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, and cysts.

What causes acne?

• Overproduction of oil by the skins’ overactive oil glands.

• The increase amount of oil on the skin leads to the blockage of skin pores and increased activity of the skin’s normal bacteria, propionibacterium acnes.
• The increase amount of propionibactreria acne causes skin irritation and inflammation leading to acne.
  
  

What are some other things that may contribute to acne?

• Physical irritation
• Genetic
• Stress
• Medications
• Cosmetic products

Who can get acne?

Even though acne usually occurs among teenagers, acne can occur at any age.

How can the physicians at Amae Laser Skin Solution help treat my Acne?

The physicians at Amae Laser Skin Solutions offer the complete treatment plan for all different types of acne, whether it is simple acne to large cystic acne. Our treatment plan includes the following:

• Complete physician consultation and evaluation (free initial consultation)
• Simple skin care regimen. Often this is all you need to control simple acne.
• Prescription medication, both topical and oral (covered by insurance)
• Acne extractions facials (covered by insurance)
• Chemical Peels (covered by insurance)
• Laser Acne Peel
• Levulan Photodynamic Therapy (with Intense Pulsed Light)
  
  

Why is it important to treat and control acne as early as possible?

Frequently acne that is left untreated and remains for a prolonged period of time have a higher risk of becoming a cyst. The cyst can become raised scar tissue that leaves disfiguring bumps. Prolonged acne can also leads to skin discoloration and scarring. The discoloration and scarring is much more difficult to treat than the acne itself. Often these complications are more pronounced in patients with darker skin types (Asian, Latino, African American, etc). These scars, bumps, and skin discoloration from untreated acne frequently take a psychological toll on the patients self confidence which can affect them socially and at work. 

Levulan Photodynamic Therapy

What is Levulan Photodynamic Therapy?

Levulan (aminolevulinic acid HCl) Photodynamic therapy is a FDA approved treatment for a precancerous skin condition actinic keratoses. Levulan photodynamic therapy has been shown to attack the oil and bacteria on the skin that causes acne vulgaris. By attacking the bacteria and the overactive oil glands, the acne will be significantly.

What Does Levulan Photodynamic Therapy Involve?

Levulan PDT involves an application of the medication on the treatment area and activation with a light source, Intense Pulsed Light.

What Can Levulan Photodynamic Therapy Treat?

• Acne (Mild to severe acne). Acne that has become resistant to topical and oral medication.
• Precancerous skin lesions (Actinic Keratoses)
• Sun damaged Skin
• Enlarged Pores
• Enlarged Oil Glands (Sebaceous Hyperplasia)
• Irregular skin pigmentation

Is there any downtime?

It is recommended that you stay out of the sunlight for 48 hours. This means in the evening, you can go out. Sunlight can cause further activation of the Levulan medication which may lead to an increased amount of exfoliation. This may lead to patient discomfort.

How many treatments are required?

This is dependent on the severity of the acne. Patients average 3-5 treatments. Some patients with very mild acne see results with just 1 treatment.

What Advantage does Levulan PDT have over traditional topical and oral medications?

Levulan is indicated when acne is non-responsive to topical or oral acne therapy. Levulan also does not cause any severe organ damage like Accutane® can.

Laser Acne Peel

What is Laser Acne Peel?

Laser Acne Treatment is a gentle and efficacious treatment for mild to severe acne.  After just a few treatments, patients typically experience reduced acne, reduced oil production and new skin. Laser Acne Peel also results in reduced pore sizes and redness and improved skin tone and color.

How does it work?

Laser Acne Treatment uses a solution containing small particles that are able to be absorbed into the pores of the skin. Once in the pores, a laser is used to heat up the particles to a temperature that causes the skin to lightly exfoliate as well as destroy some of the overactive oil that is causing the acne.

Is there any downtime?

This treatment will cause a light exfoliation. It is not necessary to limit any of your normal activity.

How many treatments are required?

This is based on the severity of the acne but frequently 5-6 treatments every 2-4 weeks are needed for the best results.