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Acne
Treat mild to moderate acne with our personalized treatments...
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| Acne - before treatment |
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| Acne - after treatment |
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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.
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