Acne can be one of the most frustrating conditions to deal with, largely because so little headway has been made in figuring out what influences its development, what doesn’t, and why some people are more susceptible than others. There have been plenty of facts and fiction swirling around this pervasive skin condition for decades, but no silver bullet that prevents it in the first place.
What has progressed leaps and bounds is our ability to fight acne once it develops, using innovative laser technology that relies on light to battle acne-causing bacteria. Here at Dermatology of Boca, we’re equipped with the latest laser tools in the quest for better skin, including the ExcelⓇ V and Laser Genesis™ systems from Cutera®. Armed with this cutting-edge technology, we’re helping our patients in Boca Raton, Florida, regain clear skin again.
To learn more about how our laser treatments can target the bacteria in your acne directly, read on.
As we stated upfront, acne is a terribly frustrating condition, because there have been decades of myths about the condition, such as the roles hygiene and nutrition play. It turns out that it doesn’t matter how sweaty or dirty your skin gets or how many cookies you eat — if you’re not prone to acne, you’ll sail through these questionable habits with nary a blemish on your skin. Conversely, if you diligently wash your face every day, twice a day, and eat nothing but healthy foods, you can still break out.
What we do know is that acne is influenced by several things, including genetics, bacteria, hormones, clogged hair follicles, and overactive sebum glands (oil glands). Some of these risk factors can cause acne, while others simply contribute to it.
As medical researchers continue to look for a magic bullet when it comes to acne, we think we’ve come fairly close with our laser treatments.
Light-based laser technology is fast gaining acceptance as an effective way to tackle moderate-to-severe acne outbreaks. Using special red and blue lights, we target the acne-causing bacteria in your skin without harming the surrounding area.
In a process known as photodynamic therapy, we apply a special substance to your skin that causes the production of light-absorbing molecules in abnormal skin cells. When we apply the light-based technology, these cells absorb the energy, which destroys them, as well as the bacteria. This therapy works best in fighting inflammatory acne, which is good news for those who are plagued by this stubborn and uncomfortable condition.
On top of destroying the bacteria, the laser treatment does double duty by also shrinking your pores. This aspect of fighting acne is important, because if you have overactive sebaceous glands that produce excess oil, your pores can become clogged, trapping dirt and debris inside. By delivering laser energy into the area, we encourage your skin to rebuild itself, thereby shrinking your pores, which reduces the chances for clogged pores and subsequent acne.
When it comes to a timeline, every person is different, so we need to take a look at your acne during a consultation in order to come up with an appropriate treatment plan. Most of our patients undergo several treatments for inflammatory acne. The treatments themselves are noninvasive, and there’s no downtime associated with them.
Your results will be gradual, as we methodically destroy the acne-causing bacteria and encourage healthy new skin to grow.
If you’d like to explore how our light-based laser technology can help you get rid of acne, please give us a call, or use the online booking tool on this website to set up your first consultation.
