Acne Treatment

Acne is the term for the blocked pores (blackheads and whiteheads), pimples, and deeper lumps (cysts or nodules) that can appear typically on the face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms. Seventeen million Americans currently have acne, making it the most common skin disease in the country. While it affects mostly teenagers, and almost all teenagers have some form of acne, adults of any age can have it. Acne is not life-threatening, but it can cause physical disfigurement (scarring) and emotional distress.

Sebaceous glands are attached to hair follicles in the skin on the face, neck, back and chest. They produce an oily substance called sebum, which normally reaches the skin surface through the opening of the follicle (pore). When follicles become plugged, sebum cannot reach the surface of the skin. This blocked sebum promotes the growth of bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes, or P. acnes) beneath the skin, which in turn produce chemicals and enzymes that attract white blood cells, causing inflammation. Eventually the follicle wall breaks down and the sebum, skin cells and bacteria erupt to form lesions or pimples. These are the visible effects of acne.

Treatment for acne varies depending on the type and severity of lesions, skin type and the patient’s age and life , but on average results are visible in six to eight weeks. Options include:

• Laser resurfacing
• Soft tissue fillers and fat transfer
• Punch excisional surgery for deep "ice-pick" pitted scarring
• Dermabrasion and microdermabrasion

Patients with mild acne can supplement treatment at home by washing with warm water and a mild soap twice a day and/or using a topical over-the-counter acne medication.

Rosacea Treatment

Rosacea is a chronic skin disease that causes slight redness on various parts of the face and, less commonly, on the neck, scalp and chest. Rosacea is widely considered a cosmetic concern or a medical condition, unless it affects the eyes, in which case certain medicines are immediately employed. Rosacea can also cause other cosmetic ailments such as rhinophyma. It is commonly triggered by specific environmental and behavioral prompts.

The characteristic symptom of rosacea is redness of the skin. However, other common symptoms include:

• Dryness
• Swelling
• Burning sensation
• Eye irritation
• Pimple-like blemishes

Although there is no known definitive cause for rosacea, doctors have hypothesized it can be related to hypersensitivity of certain sensory neurons. This, combined with overactive intestinal bacteria that are otherwise benign, may cause a chain of events which lead to the display of rosacea as we know it. In addition, patients with rosacea have elevated levels of certain enzymes which are inactivated by several antibiotics that have been deemed effective against rosacea.

The most common triggers for rosacea are:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Foods high in histamine
• Spicy food
• Sunburn
• Cold wind
• Sudden changes in temperature
• Strenuous exercise
• Emotional stress

Most mild cases of rosacea are left untreated, especially if they aren't cosmetically noticeable. Simply avoiding the triggers and taking extra care with the skin around one's eye is sufficient in these situations. If the redness gets worse or manifests on the eyelid, antibiotics like tetracyclines and metronidazole or more serious medication like isotretinoin may be prescribed. Lasers can be very effective at removing the redness associated with rosacea by vaporizing the blood vessels that cause it. This tissue is then reabsorbed by the body with no permanent damage. This procedure must be repeated periodically to destroy newly forming vessels.

Contact us for more information on Rosacea