If You Ever Wanted to Treat Acne Without Medication

If your acne is moderate to severe, your dermatologist is likely to prescribe a medication

meant to treat acne. Your dermatologist may prescribe an oral or topical antibiotic or an

oral or topical vitamin A derivative called a retinol, However, you may not be a good

candidate for these medications. It is possible to build up a resistance to certain

medications, reducing their ability to treat your acne over time. In addition, antibiotics

can have undesirable side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, yeast infections, and

lessening the effectiveness of birth control pills. If you experience these side effects, you

may want to consider asking your dermatologist if you are a good candidate for laser

acne treatment.

Laser acne treatment, sometimes referred to laser resurfacing, has become a relatively

popular treatment, especially for those whose acne has caused scarring. There are three

types of acne scars. The first type is ice pick scars, which are narrow, sharp scars that

make the skin look like it has been punctured with an ice pick. The second type is a

boxcar scar, a round to oval depression that has a sharp vertical edge. The third type is a

rolling scar, which occurs as a result of tethering of otherwise normal-appearing skin to

the tissues below. Boxcar scars are responsive to laser acne treatment, but ice pick and

rolling scars do not respond to laser acne treatment quite as well. However, you do not

need to have acne scars in order to be a candidate for laser acne treatment.

Laser acne treatment is a procedure that works by essentially burning the top layers of

skin to a precise depth. The laser emits light, which is absorbed by the water in your skin.

As this water heats up, the sebaceous glands in the area heat up as well. The sebaceous

glands become injured as a result, and cannot produce oil as effectively. The skin then

heals, replacing the burned layers with newer appearing skin. The most popular types of

lasers used for laser acne treatment are the carbon dioxide (CO2) and erbium:YAG lasers.

The carbon dioxide laser is the more powerful type of laser acne treatment, as it actually

removes skin tissue.

Laser acne treatment is not as scary as it sounds. It is a simple, outpatient procedure that

takes place in your dermatologist's office or a skin care center. Depending on the size of

the area your dermatologist will be treating, the procedure lasts anywhere from 5 to 30

minutes. During the procedure, both you and your dermatologist will wear some form of

protective eyewear. This is because lasers are extremely bright and can cause damage if

they are shining directly into your eyes. Your dermatologist will then use a small hand

piece to deliver laser pulses to your skin. You will feel a probe touch your skin and emit a

small spray of a cooling solution with each laser pulse. The purpose of the cooling

solution is to protect your skin's outermost layer. Laser acne treatment is not particularly

painful, although some have compared the sensation to that of having a rubber band

snapped upon your skin. If you do find the treatment painful, your dermatologist can

apply a topical anesthetic.

The risks of laser acne treatment are minimal. You may have some redness appear

immediately after the procedure, but this usually goes away in a few hours. Some people

experience changes in their skin tone, but these changes are temporary. They generally

subside within a few weeks. After receiving laser acne treatment, you will need to avoid

sun exposure by applying sunscreen and wearing a hat.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, and is not meant to serve as

medical advice. For medical advice, please consult your doctor.

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