Archive for the ‘Acne’ Category

7 tips to prevent acne and breakouts naturally

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

Acne is a very common skin problem and though there are cosmetic cure like laser and dermabrasion to cure acne, it is better in the first place to control your breakouts through natural remedies, the right nutritional balance and proper skin care.

Here are some easy things you can start doing today to help you heal your acne:

1. Wash your face twice a day with an anti-bacterial soap – This should be done religiously once when you first wake up in the morning and then, right before you go to bed at night. However, take care not to scrub or use any sort of rough cloth.

2. Keep your hair off your face – Hair has oil and dandruff which triggers breakouts. Also, try to wash your hair everyday and after workouts.

3. Take a potent multi-vitamin – This will ensure that the acne is not due to lack of nutrition. Our body often fights back the lack of nutrition is by producing excessive sebum, clogging pores, and reducing the ability for your skin to heal and fight bacteria.

4. Do not squeeze your blackheads and pimples – If you squeeze, scratch, rub or touch your pimples and blackheads, you are actually rupturing the membranes below your skin, causing infection and sebum to spread underneath your skin. The result is more pimples.

5. Wash your pillow case every other day - Your pillow case absorbs the oils from your skin and when you lay your face on it, it reapplies the dirt and oil causing breakouts.

6. Apply a honey mask to your face - Honey does wonders to the skin with its antibacterial properties and thus it heals minor blemishes.

7. Include chromium, Vitamin A and zinc in your diet - Taking a chromium supplement once a day will help heal your pimples quickly and prevent future breakouts. Vitamin A strengthens the protective tissue of the skin and actually prevents acne. Vitamin A is also a powerful antioxidant needed to rid your body of toxins. Zinc is an antibacterial agent and a necessary element in the oil-producing glands of the skin.

Removing acne scars through laser skin resurfacing

Monday, July 12th, 2010

Acne breakouts leave back embarrassing scars and the problem of getting rid of these is one of the most common ones that people face today. One of the methods to get rid of them is laser skin resurfacing.

You can easily opt for the skin resurfacing treatment with an appointment from a dermatologist. These dermatologists recommend a process called subcusion where the upper layer of the skin is lifted so that circulation can be increased to encourage the skin to heal faster. They also use a chemical peel which basically burns away the top layer of your skin to reduce the appearance of acne marks. The methods of resurfacing the skin have been helpful in getting rid of these acne marks faster. The results of laser resurfacing are particularly noticeable after the initial healing and for about a year thereafter.

Laser resurfacing is a process where the upper layers of damaged skin are burned or vaporized for acne scar treatment by applying a controlled burning laser beam. The area treated recovers rapidly with newer skin and healthy tissue. When the treatment is done in fractions, this allows the skin to rapidly recover with little downtime. The essence of fractional laser therapy is that only selected areas of the damaged skin are treated with the ablative laser light beam.

Some surgeons combine laser resurfacing with other procedures to produce maximal effect. The advantages of laser over other resurfacing methods (deeps chemical peels and dermabrasion) include greater precision, less bleeding and discomfort and, possibly, shorter recovery time.

Possible adverse reactions include additional or excessive scarring, infection, loss of normal skin pigmentation, skin redness and dryness, and others. In particular, people with darker skin are more likely to develop uneven pigmentation whereas people who were on accutane (a common acne treatment that has the side effect of thinning the skin) or those with certain connective tissue disorders are more prone to scarring.

Get flaw-less and scar-less skin with Facial scar revision

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

Whether the scars are caused by accidents or by surgery, they are unpredictable. The way a scar develops depends as much on how your body heals as it does on the original injury or on the surgeon’s skills. Acne scars, burns and excessive tissue scarring after an accident can take months, even years to heal on their own. In some cases, it can cause severe emotional and mental pain, to some extends scars can affect person’s speech or vision. To get rid of these scars, Facial scar revision is a procedure that can alter the appearance of a scar and make it less visible. It can restore function to a part of the body that is restricted by a scar, or it can improve the appearance of a scar, making it almost invisible. However, it’s also important to remember that scars cannot be completely removed. While no scar can be removed completely, plastic surgeons can often improve the appearance of a scar, making it less obvious through facial scar revision.

Many variables can affect the severity of scarring, including the size and depth of the wound, the blood supply to the area, the thickness and color of your skin, and the direction of the scar. So each type of scar requires a different type of treatment and after-care regimen. Scar revision works on a number of scar types, including:

Keloid scars- these are the thick, puckered, itchy clusters of scar tissue that grow beyond the edges of the wound or incision. They are often red or darker in color than the surrounding skin. Keloid’s occur when the body continues to produce the tough, fibrous protein known as collagen after a wound has healed. These scars may also respond to pressure therapy or even surgery such as dermabrasion and skin resurfacing procedures. And the treatments effectively buff away the skin’s layers so that the scar tissue is reduced to the same level as the natural skin.

Z-plasty- it is a surgical technique used to reposition a scar so that it more closely conforms to the natural lines and creases of the skin, where it will be less noticeable. In this procedure, the old scar is removed and new incisions are made on each side, creating small triangular flaps of skin. Z-plasty is usually performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia.

Hypertrophic scars can be especially damaging to the skin’s overall appearance and may even restrict muscle movement. These are often confused with keloids, since both tend to be thick, red, and raised. However, it remains within the boundaries of the original incision or wound. These scars may be removed with surgery, but the skin will need to be buffed and smoothed down after healing is complete in order to achieve a more natural appearance. This surgery may be done under local or general anesthesia, depending on the scar’s location

Drawbacks of Facial Scar Revision Procedures

All surgeries have risks, and that includes scar revision surgeries. There are several risks and drawbacks involved with these often-complex facial surgery procedures, in rare cases, patients who have had the sort of surgery have found that they are prone to bruising, infection, and other problems.  It is important to remember, that scar revision surgery can take a while for the full effect to be seen. Some patients wait a year before the full effects of the surgery are apparent.

Dermaplaning - The gentle treatment for acne scars

Wednesday, May 13th, 2009

For the millions of acne sufferers spread across the globe, clear skin is the ultimate goal. For the smoothest looking skin possible, a method called dermaplaning, that’s a controlled scraping of the skin’s top layers, is used to treat acne scars and removal of facial hair. Both men and women of all ages can benefit from dermaplaning. And the potential effectiveness of treatment depends on skin type, skin coloring and medical history.

Dermaplaning is an aggressive form of microdermabrasion that helps resurface the skin while increasing collagen production. The idea is that the process removes damaged and scarred skin, allowing new, healthy, and smooth skin to grow in its place. In addition to smoothing out the skin and reducing the appearance of acne scars, dermaplaning can help eliminate unwanted hair around the face and leave the skin looking smoother and younger. If you’ve been suffering from acne scars or an uneven skin tone, you may be a good candidate for the dermaplaning procedure.

How the procedure goes:

Dermaplaning can be done as a stand-alone treatment or in conjunction with other procedures. By skimming off peach fuzz and with the extra exfoliation it provides, dermaplaning enhances the effectiveness of other skin care treatments, and helps with product penetration. The simple procedure is performed by gently moving a scalpel which is like an electric razor over surface layers of the face to remove fine facial hair and to ex-foliate the skin. Whether the procedure is to be performed on the entire face or a small area also determines the length and the depth of the procedure, it can be performed for a few minutes or hours and can be performed as a single or a series of procedures.

Objectives of dermaplaning:

  • The treatment can be used for the removal of unwanted facial hair and acne scars.
  • The procedure can be used for ‘freshening up’ a patient’s face.
  • In other cases, dermaplaning may be used for reducing the appearance of crater-like features left by severe acne. By skimming away the surrounding skin, the noticeable difference between the area levels is evened out, thus lessening the overall effect of the defect with the dermaplaning process.

Treating Acne with a better diet

Monday, May 11th, 2009

Acne is a common skin condition that can have many forms. Generally, acne refers to the medical term acne Vulgaris and is caused by bacteria. If you’re having trouble keeping your acne under control, a few lifestyle and diet changes could be an important step for improving your skin,  healthy diet and lifestyle play an important role in the look and behavior of your skin cells.

Acne usually appears on the face but can also appear on the neck, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms. The acne being in boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 11, it usually results in a very severe case of acne as a teenager. Teens aren’t the only age group concerned about acne. In fact many adults are searching for information about acne treatments, acne products, acne prevention, and acne solutions and its cause.

The skin needs essential nutrients, vitamins and minerals to stay healthy, and a lack of nutrition can negatively impact the way your skin functions on a day to day basis. However, vitamins and minerals are needed for the health of the skin, our hormonal balance, and a strong immune system, so it’s important to make sure you’re at least getting the recommended daily allowance of vitamins. Weak or damaged skin is more vulnerable to acne breakouts, blemishes, scarring and several other skin conditions. Eating diet full of nutrient-rich foods may help improve the skin.

Essential vitamins for acne sufferers: Eating wholesome foods means the body can absorb more nutrients per serving, and easily process and assimilate the vitamins and minerals it needs.

Vitamin A: a fat-soluble vitamin that can strengthens the skin, improve the rate of skin cell production, protect skin from toxins, and even give your immune system a boost. Vitamin A is stored in the fat cells of the human body and can reach toxic levels. But over dosage of vitamin A is harmful.

Vitamin B: a valuable addition to your stress-reducing regiment, B vitamins are all important for healthy skin tone, though several are recommended for acne sufferers. It can really help clear up existing acne breakouts and improve the texture and tone of your skin. Include more of leafy vegetables and milk to the diet.

Vitamin E: a common ingredient in today’s anti-aging beauty products, Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that is excellent for speeding up the healing process, due to its antioxidant capacity. It also helps with the absorption of vitamin A and can reduce the risk of skin damage and protects your cells. Foods include broccoli, peanuts, sunflower seeds and wheat germ.

Tea Tree Oil: It has natural anti-inflammatory properties and helps sooth and treat problem skin. It is used to help tighten pores and firm skin for a more youthful, healthy appearance.

Zinc: another powerful antioxidant, zinc helps protect the immune system and can ward off allergies, colds and viruses. Zinc is an important mineral that has helped control pimples and improving overall health. It can lead to clear skin and fewer breakouts, just add more nuts, whole grains and eggs to your diet for an ample supply of zinc.

Pros and Cons of Laser Acne Treatments

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Not all acne results in the formation of scar tissue. Most acne patients who show evidence scarring have had either moderately severe or severe acne. Often these people resort to laser acne treatment. It is an effective acne treatment because the laser beam is able to seal, cut and vaporize skin tissues as well as blood vessels. And the laser beam can treat each acne lesion in a unique way according to severity and age of the acne lesions.

Laser therapy can be used for several skin conditions, helping to remove age spots, wrinkles and skin discoloration. It can also be used to treat acne and help to destroy acne-causing bacteria that can accumulate deep within the skin’s surface. Laser therapy is, in general, relatively costly. The other treatments of laser like topical laser therapy, or laser resurfacing, is less expensive than fractional laser therapy, but its results are not always as satisfactory as the laser acne treatment.

There are several advantages of this therapy over other types of acne therapy and can help treat both mild and extreme cases of acne. While laser acne treatments offer several benefits, they also have some drawbacks that may encourage you to seek other types of acne therapy along with your treatment.

Advantages:

1. Quick and relatively painless procedure – some laser treatments such as blue light therapy can be completed in under 15 minutes, and are also relatively painless.

2. Complete destruction of acne-causing bacteria – acne-causing bacteria can be difficult to treat  but with laser treatments, it can destroy bacteria that multiplies deep within the skin’s layers.

3. Reduction of oil production over time – the lasers can damage oil-producing glands so that they naturally produce less oil, reducing acne breakouts and making it easier to manage acne overall.

4. Reduced episodes of acne inflammation – inflamed skin is often the result of overproduction of natural oils and bacteria, a laser can destroy both of these triggers effectively within few days.

Disadvantages:

1. Excessive dryness – the blue light therapy can cause skin to dry out and become less responsive to topical creams, lotions or gels.

2. Redness and discomfort – intense laser treatments can create irritation deep within the skin’s surface which results in mild pain and discomfort. It creates redness on the skin’s surface too, but the effect subsides within few days.

3. Swelling of the skin – lasers are powerful enough to destroy cells and create damage to deep layers of the skin; this can result in swelling that makes skin especially sensitive for a period of time.

Treatments available for Vitiligo

Sunday, April 19th, 2009

Vitiligo is a common skin condition characterized by areas of hypo or De-pigmentation on the ski surface due to destruction or loss of melanocytes. These are areas where the normal pigmentation of skin is missing or deficient. These spots can be many or few, they may be tiny or cover the body. The spots normally appear on both sides of the person’s body in approximately the same place and they do not itch or hurt. While vitiligo is not a serious or life-threatening disorder, it has an impact on the social and psychological well-being of its victims. Many become embarrassed because of their impaired appearance, others experience a dramatic drop in their self esteem.

The exact cause is unknown. There is no cure available for vitiligo at present. However, there are various medical and surgical treatments available to produce re-pigmentation of the lesions to an extent up to 10 to100%.

What are the treatments available?

1. Medical Therapy
2. Photo Therapy
3. Laser Therapy
4. Surgical Therapy

Medical Therapy:
Medical management of the disease follows a conventional, proven, safer but slower line of approach. The options  include

  • Topical steroid therapy and/ or Topica Tacrolimus
  • Systemic steroids have side effects if used long term
  • Intralesional steroids are safer

Photo Therapy:
Photo chemotherapy is taking of oral psoralen followed by exposure of vertiginous patches to sunlight or artificial light sources. Photo therapy is using light energy without psoralen. Current therapies include

P-UVA - Ultraviolet -A light with psoralen
UVB - Ultraviolet B light
NB-UVB - (311 - 313 nm) this narrow band UVB therapy useful for generalized vitiligo

Targeted photo therapy:
NB-UVB is delivered to the skin through a fiber-optic in very high dose.

Laser Acne Treatment New Jersey - ISOLAZ Treatments for Acne

Friday, April 10th, 2009

Now there is a viable solution in controlling acne even in its chronic stages. For laser acne treatments, New Jersey the Beaura Spa at Parker Center offers its patients this unique and revolutionary FDA approved treatment in the form of intense pulse light therapy called ISOLAZ. This painless laser therapy achieves amazing results, in some cases immediately, by utilizing a vacuum process combined with light for deep pore purification. Patients report a notable reduction of redness and active blemishes within 24 to 48 hours along with smaller pores and a general improvement of skin tone and texture.

Isolaz works by purifying skin from the inside out, extracting dirt, oil, blackheads and bacteria from deep beneath the surface. The penetrating light destroys acne-causing bacteria painlessly. This innovative purification process reduces oil production, diminishes skin discoloration and improves texture. Isolaz can be performed on a lunch-time break with absolutely no down time.

Topical numbing applications are not necessary as the treatment is painless. A mild warming sensation is often reported. Normal activity, including make-up can begin immediately afterwards. Although some clients report improvement after just one or two Isolaz treatments, several treatments may be necessary in order to gain control of the condition, and then maintenance is recommended.

This gentle, effective treatment is offered in a relaxing, non-clinical environment in the Beaura Spa where an array of rejuvenating, customized treatments for skincare is available. There is no need to suffer with acne any longer.

Acne rosacea - A common yet mysterious skin problem

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Acne rosacea is a skin condition that affects mostly middle-aged, fair-skinned adults. It is most common among 30 to 60-year-olds. Although it is diagnosed in women slightly more often than in men, men tend to have it in a more severe form. Rosacea is very common; estimations suggest that about 14 million Americans may have it, although not always so severely that treatment is required.

Despite being common, acne rosacea remains mysterious. It runs in cycles of flare and remission, but does not appear to be auto-immune in nature. It can lead to the appearance of pustules that clear up with antibiotic use, but it is not a specific bacterial infection that can be cultured and identified. Some research points to two microbial infestations, but research on these factors remains inconsistent and inconclusive. Because the cause or causes of this condition remain elusive, its treatment is limited to addressing symptoms only. Acne rosacea is considered to be a manageable, but not curable, condition.

This idiopathic disorder has no permanent cure, and so is treated palliative. Patients are taught to recognize their specific triggers, and to avoid them when possible. Acne medication like Acutance is often prescribed. If mites are suspected, patients may be counseled to try the same skin cream recommended for scabies infestation. Photodynamic therapy (combining oral medication with careful doses of UV radiation) works for some patients. Laser surgery or dermabrasion may help the appearance of the skin and mask telangiectasias. Plastic surgery may be considered for a person with advanced rhinophyma. However, none of these interventions are considered to be a permanent solution for acne rosacea.

Treatment for Acne Scars

Sunday, April 5th, 2009

This depends on numerous factors.  Difference in location, intensity, and number of scars are all playing significant role in determining the right laser treatment for the patient.  These treatments mainly work by using various wavelengths of radiations with different intensities. All these factors are modulated depending upon latest situation to contour the damaged tissue.  This scar treatment also helps to improve the adjoining redskin marks by nearly healed acne lesions.

Smooth beam is an advanced multifaceted non ablative laser therapy for acne scarring which usually targets and heats up oil producing sebaceous glands. This in turn reduces the sebum secretion preventing new acne formation. The heating effect induces the production of new collagen in patient’s skin, which thus softens and fills out the deep scar marks from within by lifting them to normal condition. This laser uses a groundbreaking patented technique along with DCD (dynamic cooling device). This appliance first super cools the affected area with a blast of cryogen spray which is right away followed by laser beam. This combined cooling and heating effect triggers the natural collagen production in the acne scar affected area without causing any harm to our skin.

A number of laser treatments might be necessary to influence collagen formation and healing up acne marks up to the satisfactory limit. Doctors usually opt for three to six sessions at an interval of three to four weeks. However, patients might experience some sort of discomfort associated with this laser technique and therefore use of topical anesthetics is highly preferable before the application of this treatment. Instead of showing so much of improvement in scar removal treatment, this laser might impose some mild side effects which could easily be cured with the supervision of your dermatologist. A few other non ablative laser therapies are also available. Among them yellow pulse dye laser and N-Lite are quite familiar. All of them principally trigger collagen formation and tightening of dermis, treating scars, reducing the redness, and finally bringing up a normal, aesthetic, and presentable look of your skin.