Acne vulgaris, or acne, is a common skin condition that affects teens and adults of all ages. Contrary to popular acne myths, it isn’t caused by poor hygiene or eating chocolate and greasy foods, and it isn’t a skin problem that people must suffer through and allow to simply “run its course.” Acne is treatable, and a variety of treatment options exist.
All types of acne occur when pores, or hair follicles, in the face, neck, chest or back become clogged with excess oil, dead skin cells or built up bacteria. Some people may have naturally oilier skin and be genetically predisposed to acne, while others experience greater exposure to bacteria that causes acne.
Hormones certainly affect the skin and may also lead to the development of acne. The onset of puberty, pregnancy, menstruation and hormonal birth control methods may trigger acne breakouts. Some skin care product ingredients and possibly even dietary factors, such as intake of dairy products and high-starch foods, may promote acne as well.
The right acne treatment or combination of treatments is chosen based on a variety of factors, including the type and severity of the acne, as well as the face or body area and characteristics of the skin affected by acne.
The addition of acne peels, masks and light treatments such as the Omnilux, can be very effective. Blue light therapy is a breakthrough treatment that uses a blue light source to effectively treat acne. Recently approved by the FDA, blue light therapy is ideal for both teens and adults.
These acne treatments are quick, painless and noninvasive, and there is no downtime or side effects. Most moderate inflammatory acne can be cleared in as few as eight 20-minute sessions. Results are further improved when you add our acne clearing cleansers and lotions for use at home.
Once your active acne breakouts are successfully treated, additional acne scar and hyperpigmentation treatments may be performed to further improve the appearance of your skin. This may include laser resurfacing procedures, such as Fraxel Laser or SmartXide DOT Resurfacing.
