ACNE SURGERY: This procedure greatly speeds acne clearing and appearance by manually removing blackheads and whiteheads. A round loop extractor is used to apply uniform smooth pressure to dislodge the material. Lesions that offer resistance are loosened by inserting a pointed instrument to carefully expose the contents.
INTRALESIONAL CORTICOSTEROID THERAPY: If one or several painful acne cysts develop, fast relief is available with this relatively painless procedure. Each cyst is given a single injection of a dilute cortisone solution, using an ultrathin needle.
Laser and light therapy. Laser- and light-based therapies reach the deeper layers of skin without harming the skin's surface. Laser treatment is thought to damage the oil (sebaceous) glands, causing them to produce less oil. Light therapy targets the bacterium that causes acne inflammation. These therapies can also improve skin texture and lessen the appearance of scars, so they may be good treatment choices for people with both active acne and acne scars.
Dermatologists will use very aggressive treatments to try to prevent the progression of severe acne. They will try to stop it in its tracks while at the same time, work to prevent permanent scarring. Oral antibiotics and medications such as accutane, may be used at this stage as well as drainage techniques and surgical incision, also known as Acne Surgery. Other acne treatments such as injections of corticosteroids can be used. This is primarily used to melt cysts over a period of a few days. The acne therapy chosen by your determatologist will be matched to the severity of the condition effecting your skin.
Acne laser treatment for scars
Acne laser treatment has also been tried recently in a related form of skin disease called Acne Inversa, caused by sweat gland inflammation. This chronic condition is characterised by inflamed abscesses in the groin and armpits, and rarely on the scalp. The usual acne treatment of oral antibiotics often helps to control the condition, but the scarring left by the abscesses can be severe enough to limit movement, and is not always helped by cortisone injections. Acne laser treatment may offer a less invasive treatment than full surgery, and together with other acne medications such as Isotretinion, acne scars may be a thing of the past for these patients.
Acne Treatment Guide
Chemical Peels and Dermabrasion
This involves the application of an exfoliate, such as glycolic acid, to the areas affected by acne. Sometimes, microdermabrasion is used as an alternative. The result is the peeling off of the top skin layers that opens comedones, and since the pores are no longer clogged, acne is eliminated.
