Take a more natural path to healing your acne. Achieve the radiant complexion you deserve with one of our multiple-modality acne protocols.
ACNE TREATMENT IN LOS ANGELES
Get ready to love looking in the mirror again! Our more natural approach to acne treatment will return your skin to vibrant health and beauty without dangerous drugs. A comprehensive treatment package includes acne-specific lasers for inflammation, swelling, redness and pigmentation, and can incorporate BlueLight, or “photodynamic” treatments. Silk peels (dermal infusions) are often recommended, which deeply infuse and nourish the skin with specialized formulations such as salicylic acid to further reduce acne and breakouts.
We know what a huge difference being proud of your appearance can make. Let us help you achieve the glowing, confidence-building complexion you deserve by eliminating acne.
Acne treatments require specific lasers, which target the bacteria that infects follicles, eliminating the infection without antibiotics or medications like Accutane. A specialized BlueLight can also be used for this purpose. With the infection now in retreat, we use 2 or 3 additional lasers to shut down hyperactive sebaceous glands and reduce the inflammation that often accompanies acne and cystic acne. This reduces swelling, and removes redness and hyper-pigmentation. The final step utilizes specialized lasers that precisely vaporize the outer-most dead layer of skin (epithelial peel) and also induce a complete regeneration of a brand new epithelium that looks absolutely radiant.
In many cases, acne treatments are integrated with a package of silk peels (dermal infusion facials) administered by one of our certified medical aestheticians. The dermal Infusion procedure infuses your dermis with a variety of natural substances, including salicylic acid, which is clinically proven to further reduce acne and cystic acne breakouts. In this procedure, a precise amount of the dead layer of your skin (stratum corneum) is also removed, which promotes further healing and rejuvenation of your skin to its silky-smooth, radiant state. In addition, the medical aesthetician will customize a daily anti-acne treatment regimen.
For information regarding the challenges, truths and misconceptions of treating darker skin types with lasers, visit the Darker Skin FAQ page.
In the most severe cases of cystic acne with active lesions, our laser protocols might not be of sufficient strength to achieve the ideal result, so we customize a treatment that combines lasers with photodynamic therapy with ALA. All treatments are performed in our offices in Los Angeles or Orange County.
First, Levulan is applied to your skin and left on for a 30-35 minute incubation period. This clear solution is 20% Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA is a natural substance found throughout your body). Once absorbed into your skin, the ALA is activated with a specific wavelength of light in the blue spectrum, taking about 10-15 minutes. Active cells such as sebaceous glands absorb ALA, and when the ALA is activated by the blue light, a patient’s overactive sebaceous glands are dramatically impacted and shut down - hence the term “photodynamic” acne treatment. The ALA will also target sebaceous hyperplasia (small 1-3 mm bumps on the skin) and the papules of acne rosacea. Skin oiliness is decreased and the appearance of pores minimized. The entire skin texture improves following a photodynamic acne treatment.
After BlueLight treatment, the typical patient will experience redness, peeling and crusting for several days. (Please see pictures of actual patients). Usually the first 2-3 days are the most intense. Complete resolution typically requires 2-3 weeks. Pressed mineral base foundation will hide most of the redness. Remaining indoors is advised for 2 days following your acne treatment to avoid sun exposure, as there is photosensitivity for up to 48 hours.
The advantage of this treatment is the rapid reduction in cystic acne lesions without scarring or surgical excision. Your skin appears refreshed and younger following each treatment. 2-5 treatments are advised, with 3-4 week intervals in between to obtain optimal results. There are no known systemic side effects to BlueLight.
In order to enhance ALA absorption into the skin, we recommend that a portion of the outermost dead layer of skin be removed (stratum corneum) before application. Typical methods include various skincare scrubs, dermabrasion or laser epithelial peeling techniques. Results are greatly enhanced when a light Erbium laser peel is used, which is extremely precise and safe. (This peel is included in the treatment price.)
During your complimentary consultation, our patient educators will recommend the specific acne and/or cystic acne treatment that will be most effective for you, and provide a step-by-step outline of the procedure. You’ll also be advised about the proper pre and post-treatment skincare instructions.
After your acne treatment, expect some degree of redness, ranging from a mild “sunburn” pink to a deep red (depending on skin type and skin sensitivity). Patients are photo-sensitive to sunlight for up to 48 hours following treatment, so it’s advisable to stay indoors and out of direct or indirect sunlight. Skin peeling and crusting is normal for several days afterwards. During the first week, a strict skincare regimen must be adhered to for proper healing and optimal results.
In cases where the patient also suffers from existing acne scarring, sun damage, age spots, rosacea and wrinkles, photodynamic acne treatments can be customized by incorporating other specialized protocols such as various procedures in the the SpectraLift™.
We hope this information has been informative, and we look forward to your visit to our Los Angeles or Orange County clinics.
