We've got amazing solutions for acne... and if ours don't work, we will help you find some that will!
What is acne?
This is a really important question, especially if you have it! If you don't understand acne you will have a difficult time finding the right treatments, products, and prescriptions to help you "control" it. We use the word "control" because unfortunately there isn't a "cure" for it. The other problem with acne is that what works for one person doesn't work for another. That is the reason there are so many products and prescriptions for acne. In a class we once took they quoted a physician named Laura e. Skellchock as saying "The most dramatic results in treating acne are seen in the patients who understand both their disease and how their medicines work. A few minutes of education at each visit increases compliance and decreases potential problems." If you are experiencing ANY kind of breakout, you have acne. Many of our clients tell us that they don't have "acne" and then they start to talk about their "blackheads" and "whiteheads". We hate to tell you this but if you have blackheads, or whiteheads or any breakout even if it is once in a while, you have acne! Acne affects people of all nationalities and ages. It is hereditary so chances are that if your parents had it you probably will too. It is most commonly seen in preteens and teens but today we see so many adults that suffer from acne. Some of them even into their 60's. It is important to get it under control so that scarring doesn't occur. It isn't something that you should ever "let go" because once scarring occurs it is costly and heart breaking trying to find solutions to improve the skin's appearance. Emotionally acne takes its toll on individuals. Here are some of the common things we see in acne clients: Confusion about what products to use Frustration and anger Socially withdrawn Depression and anxiety Embarrassment and decreased self esteem Acne is caused by a hereditary factor called retention hyperkeratosis. This is when your skin cells do not shed off like they should. There are cells in your skin called corneum cells that form the lining of your pores (also called follicles) when they don't shed off they build up inside the pore causing follicular plugs or impactions. Sometimes the cells shed in clumps which increases the chances of your pore becoming clogged. The second component is hormones. Androgens signal the production of oil in your skin. The oil which is called sebum is carried by a duct into the follicle and on the surface of the skin by the sebaceous glands. Stress chemicals like cortisol can also trigger responses in the skin. In cases of acne you always have an over production of sebum which brings us to our third component; Sebum,it is made up of triglycerides, cholesterol, fatty acids, and waxes. The sebum can be very sticky and forms a glue that keeps the cells stuck in your follicle and on the surface of your skin. Because of this involvement of sebum you generally see acne in the places where sebaceous glands are most numerous like the face, chest, back, arms, shoulders and even the scalp. Living in the base of your pores is a bacteria called the p.acnes or Propionibacterium acnes. (There are other kinds of bacteria that can affect the skin as well such as s. aureus, s. epidermidis,) This bacteria cannot live if there is oxygen present. Unfortunately when your pores are clogged with sebum and dead cells oxygen cannot travel through the pores like it normally does. The bacteria loves to eat the sebum which brings us to our next problem; when the bacteria breaks the sebum down into fatty acids it can cause irritation and it also can create pressure in the pore causing it to expand and even rupture. When this happens the immune system kicks in and floods the area with white blood cells and the area becomes very red. When you see pus forming on the surface of your skin it is actually dead white blood cells that were destroyed while trying to fight the infection in your skin. When the infection becomes really severe a nodule can form, these can usually be felt by you and feel sometimes like a marble under the skin. Many clients say they hurt and last for weeks, as the infection grows cysts develop with large amounts of pus and the skin hardens around the infection. This is the body's way of trying to trap the infection. Another form of acne that generally affects older adult women is caused by surges of oil in the skin caused by hormone fluctuations. Acne can also be caused by products that irritate the skin and cause it to swell thus keeping the oil and skin cells trapped in the pores. This video isn't totally accurate but gives you a visual of what I was explaining above. Click to set custom HTML
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Oily, Congested, Clogged Skin. Acne Facial
This treatment uses epidermabrasion which may include a high intensity
treatment, and/or dermaplaning or dermafiling. It utilizes sonic cleansing, extractions, and various types of light resurfacing techniques to help clear up your skin in a jiffy. I also use high frequency to kill bacteria on the skin. Pricing depends on how much time is taken to do extractions. Problem: Acne or breakouts Duration: 30 minutes Benefits: Evens out overall skin tone, smoother texture, reduces acne breakouts, helps control oil Cost of looking amazing? $45 & up (Peels are priced according to strength) Skin Strategy: 8-12 weeks of treatments Cost of Strategy: Depends on duration and treatment plan 
Acne, Congested, Clogged, Oily Skin Facial
This epidermabrasion treatment features a medifacial
and utilizes sonic cleansing, extractions, and customized serums specifically geared toward acne. All of this is combined with our blue light therapy Acne is something that takes time to heal. So please don't expect overnight results. Acne treatments need to be done 1-2 times a week for several months for the ultimate results. We will discuss all your options with you during our consultation. Sometimes we also incorporate red light therapy with this treatment to combat the inflammation that arises with acne. Problem: Acne or breakouts Duration: 60 minutes Benefits: Evens out overall skin tone, smoother texture, reduces acne and some scarring, refines pores, lightens spots Cost of looking amazing? $75.00 Skin Strategy: 8-12 weeks of treatments Cost of Strategy: Depends on duration and treatment plan Simple & Short Version: Extractions are left out of this treatment Modified treatment only it's 30 minutes and costs $45.00 Aggravators of AcneIllegal Drugs
Climate (Sun, Humidity) Cosmetics (Foundations, some mineral powders, moisturizers) Food (Food that causes an immune response in the body) Pollution Smoking Halogenated hydrocarbons (motor oil, insecticides) PMS Ovarian Cysts Pregnancy Stress Physical trauma (sports helmets, chin straps, phones) |
CLICK HERE TO SEE PRODUCTS FOR ACNE SKIN TYPES
Medical Options
Many of my clients come to me after seeing a dermatologist, claiming they have "tried everything",
and with the help of the right home care products, peels, dermafiling, and other methods we are able to get their acne under control. Other clients come to see me and have never been to a dermatologist. Sometimes we do all the things I mentioned above and it is not enough so I will recommend they see a dermatologist so that we are using every method possible to fight the acne. Dermatologists should be involved especially when trying to control grades 3 and 4 acne. My treatments in conjunction with medical treatments can be very beneficial, especially because the client needs extractions, and noncomedogenic skincare products and makeup.
Many of my clients want to go the "all natural" route and do not want to use prescription topicals or oral medications. While I understand this and respect their opinion I do feel that when it comes to acne you must try everything you can until you find a solution. If you don't your skin could be scarred for life. So, if we try every method and product I have and I recommend you see a doctor because we need something stronger than please consider that option.
I talk a lot about harmful ingredients in products, but I bend the rules when it comes to acne and a few other conditions in the skin. I feel this way because sometimes the benefits outweigh the risks. Most of the time the products I carry consisting of all natural ingredients work really well. However, you must remember that it takes time to see results and you have to be realistic about that. Give your products at least 90 days. On occasion they don't work and then I recommend you use ingredients I don't necessarily like but I know could be just what you need to control your acne. In some cases stronger is not better when it comes to individuals with sensitive/acne. These individuals clear up when I use calming, soothing, ingredients instead of some of the harsher ones. Truly it is a game of trial and error.
So please keep an open mind and don't get frustrated. What you use at home to treat your skin is THE most important thing. You are treating it night and day. When you see me, I am "boosting" what you are doing at home. When you see a dermatologist, he or she is also giving you additional tools that can be very helpful in fighting your battle against acne. There is a solution and I will do everything I can to help you find yours.
To find a dermatologist in your area and to educate yourself more on the prescription drugs available to you, Click here.
Many of my clients come to me after seeing a dermatologist, claiming they have "tried everything",
and with the help of the right home care products, peels, dermafiling, and other methods we are able to get their acne under control. Other clients come to see me and have never been to a dermatologist. Sometimes we do all the things I mentioned above and it is not enough so I will recommend they see a dermatologist so that we are using every method possible to fight the acne. Dermatologists should be involved especially when trying to control grades 3 and 4 acne. My treatments in conjunction with medical treatments can be very beneficial, especially because the client needs extractions, and noncomedogenic skincare products and makeup.
Many of my clients want to go the "all natural" route and do not want to use prescription topicals or oral medications. While I understand this and respect their opinion I do feel that when it comes to acne you must try everything you can until you find a solution. If you don't your skin could be scarred for life. So, if we try every method and product I have and I recommend you see a doctor because we need something stronger than please consider that option.
I talk a lot about harmful ingredients in products, but I bend the rules when it comes to acne and a few other conditions in the skin. I feel this way because sometimes the benefits outweigh the risks. Most of the time the products I carry consisting of all natural ingredients work really well. However, you must remember that it takes time to see results and you have to be realistic about that. Give your products at least 90 days. On occasion they don't work and then I recommend you use ingredients I don't necessarily like but I know could be just what you need to control your acne. In some cases stronger is not better when it comes to individuals with sensitive/acne. These individuals clear up when I use calming, soothing, ingredients instead of some of the harsher ones. Truly it is a game of trial and error.
So please keep an open mind and don't get frustrated. What you use at home to treat your skin is THE most important thing. You are treating it night and day. When you see me, I am "boosting" what you are doing at home. When you see a dermatologist, he or she is also giving you additional tools that can be very helpful in fighting your battle against acne. There is a solution and I will do everything I can to help you find yours.
To find a dermatologist in your area and to educate yourself more on the prescription drugs available to you, Click here.