Acne Medicine :
Your resource for acne information
Physical Treatments for Acne
Physical treatments can be useful for moderate to severe cases of acne where the risk of scarring needs to be addressed.
Whether it's inflamed pimples, or deep painful cysts that characterize your acne, it is important to seek the care and advice of a dermatologist early on and for as long as necessary. Together you may reduce the risk of permanent scarring with an acne treatment specially formulated for your condition and skin type.
Chemical Peels
Dermatologists sometimes use light chemical peels of glycolic acid mixed with other chemical agents to loosen blackheads and minimize acne papules (inflamed comedones that are firm, pink, and tender to the touch).
Comedo Extraction
Comedo extraction, or more simply put, the removal of whiteheads and blackheads, can be beneficial in certain cases. A dermatologist uses a sterile instrument to extract the comedones. It is also common for estheticians to extract comedones as part of a facial treatment.
Do not try this at home where you run the risk of staphylococci, streptococci and other bacterial infections as well as an increased probability of causing permanent scarring.
Drainage and Surgical Extraction
When cysts do not respond to medication, it may become necessary to drain and surgically extract them. The procedure reduces the pain that can be generated by larger cysts and decreases the chances of scarring.
This "acne surgery" is performed under sterile conditions in the dermatologist's office.
Light Therapy (laser) Treatments
In some cases a dermatologist may determine that light or laser therapy is appropriate. These therapies can be useful in treating hard-to-reach areas such as the back.
However, these expensive treatments may only target P. acnes, the bacteria that causes acne and not the other factors that contribute to the condition such as sebum production (oily secretion of the sebaceous glands) and skin cell shedding. The long-term effectiveness of these treatments has not yet been proven.
Laser therapy does play a useful role in the treatment of existing scars. A superficial application of laser energy can resolve irregular surface scarring. Another form of laser that allows for deeper penetration tightens the underlying skin tissue and can plump out depressed scars.
