What is acne?
Acne is a skin condition defined by the development of whiteheads and blackheads which can progress to pustules, nodules or cysts.  It is an extremely common condition that affects 85-90% of people over their lifetime.  It is not a life threatening condition but it causes a great deal of human suffering due to the social impact of acne and scarring.  Acne also results in a huge expenditure of money every year spent on remedies.

What causes acne?
Basically the root cause of acne is sebum (skin oils) plugging the pilosebaceous apparatus (pore).  This can result in the accumulation of bacteria causing infection and sometimes rupture of the pore causing inflammation.  Causes for sebum plugging can include hormonal changes (puberty or otherwise), decreased skin cell turnover with or without bacterial infection.

How is acne treated?
Acne treatment focuses on three things: increasing cell sloughing (turnover), decreasing bacteria (P. acnes) and slowing sebum production.  These treatment goals may be achieved with topical treatments, laser therapy, antibiotics or hormonal therapy.  A home program is also very important.  Treating acne takes time, typically 4-6 weeks to begin to see improvement after a particular regimen is started.  Many times, acne is a lifelong condition and must be continually managed to prevent recurrence.  There is no quick cure for acne so persistence and patience is required when undergoing treatment.

How is acne treated at Sierra Cosmetic Laser?
We treat mild to moderate acne using a variety of approaches tailored to the needs of your particular skin condition.  You will have a consultation with our physician and licensed esthetician to determine your treatment plan.  Treatment will consist of a home program to follow and may include extractions, facials, chemical peels, topical medications, laser treatment or oral medication depending upon your individual needs.

Do you prescribe Accutane?
No, we are not prescribers of Accutane (isotretinoin).  However, if you are interested in Accutane therapy we would be happy to refer you to a board certified dermatologist who is experienced in Accutane administration.

What if you can't treat my acne (ie, too severe)?
The treatment of acne is multi-faceted and can be complex.  For complex cases of acne we prefer to refer patients to a board certified dermatologist experienced in the treatment of severe or resistant cases of acne.  In most cases we can successfully treat mild to moderate acne.