Acne Treatment

Michigan Acne Treatment

Allure Medical offers Shelby Township and Livonia patients struggling with acne a number of effective procedures for healthy, better-looking skin.

Have you imagined waking up one day, looking in the mirror and seeing that your skin has totally cleared up? That the blemishes that you had yesterday are gone today? That the little scars from acne have faded?

Well, it doesn’t happen overnight, but it can happen. You can have clear skin! There are really just a few steps, but they are all important.

Step 1:

Below you can read about the actual cause of acne and the topical medications that can begin to give you some relief. To some degree, it is trial and error, but with the proper advice, you can be on the right formula.

Step 2:

Destroy or shrink the abnormal acne glands and the bacteria festering inside of the glands. To destroy and shrink the acne gland, we use a device that delivers a unique form of heat and energy to target these glands and bacteria. We use Exilis (radiofrequency) and Isolaz (an intense pulsed light device with suction to pull the oil out of the gland before firing). In some cases, we use PhotoDynamic Therapy as well.

Step 3:

Restore your clear skin and reverse scarring. Your skin has an endless ability to heal. Scars are areas that have incorrectly healed (in this case, because of inflammation from the acne in this case). Very tiny holes (way too small to see with your eyes) create a new pathway for your skin to replace abnormal scarred skin with normal smooth skin. This is done with Fraxel and Dermapen.

About Acne

Acne is a common condition affecting 17 million Americans. Although acne is not a serious health threat it can cause serious emotional distress. The good news is that acne is highly treatable.

acne diagram

When the dermal and epidermal layers of the skin become inflamed, a production of sebum or oil results. The skin cells then die and clog the follicle causing acne.

Types of acne:

Non-inflammatory

  • Whiteheads are plugged follicles below the surface of the skin.
  • Blackheads are plugs that are dark in color and push through the skin’s surface.

Inflammatory

  • Papules are firm, pink bumps that are tender or sore.
  • Pustules are small, red round lesions with a white center.
  • Nodules or Cysts are a severe form of acne that are usually very large and painful and may cause scarring.

There are many misconceptions about the causes of acne. Acne is not triggered by stress, eating greasy foods or not properly cleaning your skin. Acne is a medical condition that often is a result of heredity. Without proper treatment acne can afflict a patient for years or the majority of their life.

Acne conditions require a multi-step medical solution:

–– Wash with a mild cleanser (hand wash, no cloth) daily. This type of skin care will help reduce the effects of acne.

–– Use of a Topical Retinoid product (vitamin A) can effectively manage acne. Retinoids can be used long-term and have been proven safe and effective. Retinoids also diminish some of the signs of aging skin. Examples of retinoids; Retinol, Retinaldehyde (Retrinal), Adaplene (for darker skin) (Differin 0.1% gel) and Tretinoin (Retin-A micro 0.1% gel). Retinoids should be used before bedtime because retinoids cause the skin to be light sensitive. Retinoid treatment may also be combined with a salicylic acid, glycolic acid and a daily moisturizer.

–– Benzoyl peroxide should be used as a topical every morning as directed. It works as an antibiotic, but is much safer, and resistance won’t occur. You may also consider the use of Ultraviolet (Blu-U) light therapy – the blue light kills the acne-causing bacteria.

–– The use of oral antibiotics can be an effective treatment; however, routine use leads the acne causing germs to become resistant, which limits their effectiveness.

–– Hormone modulation can also be considered, reducing the amount of testosterone expression on the skin will generally reduce acne breakouts. Blood tests are necessary to determine what underlying hormonal factors are present and an appropriate plan established.

When these steps fail more aggressive medical techniques should be considered:

–– Chemical Peels can be used anywhere in acne, even before this stage. The peels basically unplug pores and improve the texture tone and health of the skin, while simultaneously reducing the effects of acne.

acne before and after

–– Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a more aggressive procedure performed with a topical photosensitizing agent called Levulan activated with wavelengths of light. The treated areas can appear red with some peeling for 2-7 days. In many cases it is extremely effective and often will noticeably reduce acne for periods of six to 12 months.

–– Isolaz is the newest and the world’s only aesthetic technology that combines vacuum with light technology. Read more about Isolaz below.

–– Accutane is generally the most aggressive acne treatment. Accutane is an oral form of vitamin A and works like topical retinoids. There are some potential side effects. Be sure to discuss these side effects with your Doctor to determine if this treatment is right for you.

Our liscensed aestheticians will work with patients to develop a formal and accurate assessment of their skin conditions. From that assessment he will prescribe the best treatment for your individual needs.

Above all else patients should remember that acne is very treatable.

Call 800-610-7484 for your Free Consultation.


NEW Isolaz Acne Treatment

If you are one of the over 60 million Americans suffering from acne, imagine waking up with clearer more radiant skin.

magazine covers

Featured in Vogue, Bazaar, The Doctors (see video below), Self, Elle, Allure Magazine and more, Isolaz was rated among the 3 hottest products at the 2007 American Academy of Dermatology conference.

Why Isolaz Acne Therapy?

Isolaz clinical studies show immediate results within 24-48 hours, including reduced redness and immediate drying/flattening of the blemish.*

Isolaz is the world’s only acne therapy that combines a vacuum with a light-based technology. The vacuum helps to loosen and extract dirt, blackheads and excess oil from deep within your pores; and the light-based technology helps destroy acne-causing bacteria, uneven skin tone, sun damaged skin, facial redness and more.

Isolaz deep pore-purification™ therapy helps jump-start acne treatments by helping your skin absorb topical medicines and moisturizers better.

Isolaz can help remove red spots, brown spots and tiny broken capillaries sometimes associated with rosacea.

People who have tried Isolaz have reported a visible reduction in pore size, improved skin tone and texture for a younger, healthier looking complexion.

How Isolaz Acne Treatment Works

Isolaz controls acne at the source by using a breakthrough technology called Photopneumatics™ to purify your pores from the inside out. Photopneumatics™, a unique combination of vacuum and light-based technology, helps to both clear existing acne and prevent future breakouts.

isolaz treatment diagram

Isolaz Also Purifies Your Pores

Isolaz is quick, easy and virtually painless. In fact, many of our patients have their treatments done during lunch without any downtime. Additionally, patients have found their skin feels tighter and has a healthy radiant glow following Isolaz therapy. Also, Isolaz therapy is effective on all skin types.

acne on nose

What To Expect During Your Isolaz Acne Treatment

Before:

your skin will be hydrated with a soothing mist before applying the Isolaz tip. Since the treatment causes little to no pain you won’t need pre-numbing.

During:

When the Isolaz tip is placed on your skin, you will feel a warm sensation. The process is repeated over the entire treatment area. In a recent clinical study, 100% of patients reported no pain during treatment. Treatment sensation was most commonly described as being similar to that of a warm massage. Many people have their treatments done during lunch without any downtime.

After:

There are no post-treatment regimes associated with Isolaz therapy. Once your treatment is complete, you are free to resume your normal activities and you can apply makeup immediately. In fact, you may find that your skin takes on a healthy glow and feels cleaner right away.