Laser or Light Therapy for Treatment of Acne
Featured on Aesthetics Practice Today - AdvanceWeb.com
February 1, 2013:
Written by Mina Grasso
Earlier this month I discussed using a combination of over-the-counter and prescription topical solutions for treatment of acne. In patients with more severe cases of acne, oral antibiotics and chemical peels may be used in addition. Laser or Light Therapy may provide improvement in clearing acne when these other treatments have failed. I highly encourage continuing the use of topical acne solutions while undergoing laser or light therapy. It’s difficult to predict how patients will respond to these various treatments. Most see improvement, but results cannot be guaranteed. Usually a series of treatments are required. The following technologies have been successful in our practice.
Acne Light (Omnilux Blue and Red Light)
Blue light is the most commonly used. It targets P. acnes
Red light can be added in the regimen to help reduce the inflammation of acne.
Combining the two has been very effective for most patients. There is no downtime using either light alone. One 20-minute session of each light per week for 4-8 weeks is recommended.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
A photosensitizing drug such as ALA – aminolevulenic acid is applied to the skin and left to incubate for period of 30-60 min. (incubation period may vary in other practices). During this incubation period, ALA is absorbed by rapidly growing cells such as precancerous cells and other cancer cells and has recently expanded with great success in the treatment of acne. After the incubation period, the skin is exposed to a light or laser source that activates the chemical absorbed to destroy P. acnes and will reduce the size and activity of the sebaceous glands. Patients must be advised to avoid sun exposure for 3 days. They will redness and exfoliation for 3-5 days but will result in faster resolution of acne.
Coolbreeze/CoolTouch Laser – 1320 nm
PhotoRejuvention – Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Spectra Acne Laser Toning – Q-switched Nd:YAG 1064
V-Beam Pulsed Dye Laser – 595nm
Thermage Monopolar Radiofrequency
Patients will experience reduction of non-inflammatory and inflammatory acne lesions using one or a combination of the laser and light technologies above combined with their topical acne regimen.
These laser and light treatment have unique qualities depending on the wavelength and parameters used, but have overlapping benefits. Most patients notice a marked improvement in their general skin condition due to collagen stimulation. They can experience pore size and sebum reduction as well as reduction of redness and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) from acne inflammation. Using a series of one or a combination of these laser and light technologies have improved our management of acne and acne scarring without causing any surface damage.
Combination Topical Skin Care for Acne
Featured on Aesthetics Practice Today - AdvanceWeb.com
January 17, 2013:
Written by Mina Grasso
(Obagi Clenziderm)
Teens and adults suffer from acne due to hormone fluctuations and stress. Some feel diet may play a role. These factors stimulate sebaceous glands that causes the oil production that the P. acne live on. Most patients have tried a variety of over-the-counter acne remedies before they get to our clinic.
Acne can range from mild blackheads and whiteheads (comedonal acne) caused by pores blocked by sebum and skin cells.
Inflammatory acne usually presents with redness and inflammation under blocked pores. The most severe form of acne is cystic acne. Cystic acne usually is painful related to a deeper bacterial infection most commonly by propionibacterium acnes. Cystic acne may lead to disfigurement and result in residual scarring and the goal would be to treat as soon as possible to avoid further scarring.
Over-the Counter Remedies
For milder cases of acne, various soaps, washes, toners and cleansers have been effective. Two of the most common are benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide acts as an antibacterial treating propionibacterium acnes. Salicylic acid is a keraolytic agent that softens and exfoliates the outer layer of skin, the stratum corneum, and helps prevent clogging of the pores with sebum and skin.
Prescription Acne Skin Care
Azelaic Acid solution can be useful in treating mild comedonal acne. Patients usually do not complain of irritation with use of this product.
Topical Antibiotics such as clindamycin, erythromycin and sodium sulfacetamide have been effective against P. acnes.
Topical Retinoids work to reduce outbreaks by modulating cell turnover, which prevents inflamed skin cells from clogging pores. It reduces the frequency and severity of acne breakouts. Side effects such as increased sensitivity to sunlight, dryness, redness and peeling need to be discussed. These side effects can be managed to improve compliance with treatment.
Combination Topical Therapy
Antibiotic resistance is always of concern. Combining topical antibiotics with benzoyl peroxide has been one approach to reduce antibiotic resistance. In addition, combination therapy using clindamycin or erythromycin with low dose benzoyl peroxide has proven to be more effective than clindamycin or erythromycin alone, in some studies. Combining topical retinoids enhance the penetration of topical antibiotics and improves treatment outcome. Later this month, I will address added benefits to combination therapy using laser and light technologies.
Best Day Spa / Masseuse / Hair Stylists
Featured in Inland Empire Magazine
January 03, 2013:
Posted by Nicholas Rodgers
Thank you for voting us Best Day Spa in this years Inland Empire Magazine's Best of the IE readers' poll. Also, we appreciate your recognition of Erica Bustillos and Devin Graciano as Best Hair Stylists, as well as, Raedean Kreiner as Best Masseuse. All of us strive to provide you a great, quality experience and we thank each of you for your votes.
Anti-Aging Remedies for the Eyes
Featured on Aesthetics Practice Today - AdvanceWeb.com
November 29, 2012:
Written by Mina Grasso
The skin around the eyes is one of the first places that reveal a person's age. The delicate skin under the eyes that contains less subcutaneous fat becomes thinner with age. The unsightly age-related changes include dark circles, "bags" or swelling and puffiness, crepy skin under the eyes and "crows' feet." Patients often complain that they frequently get comments that they "look tired."
Every year, millions of dollars are used to conceal dark circles and wrinkles around the eyes. Patients can be educated in key ingredients that have been studied to remedy some of the physiological conditions that create the appearance of dark circles and wrinkles while improving aging skin.
Heredity is a component in the rate of aging around the eyes, but external factors that trigger inflammatory processes such as sun exposure and smoking or irritants can increase production of enzymes that break down cross-linked collagen fibers in the skin that compromise the flexibility, strength and thickness of the skin. Dark circles and puffiness may be caused by poor hemodynamic properties with fine capillaries or reddish-blue blood vessels that appear more visible under the compromised thin translucent skin.
The appearance of dark circles can be reduced using Dark Circle Eye Cream, which contains a combination of vitamin K, arnica, a complex of soy and rice peptides, yeast protein and hyaluronic acid. These products work synergistically to reduce dark eye circles and puffiness while restoring a youthful tightness to the eye area.
Patients who still have great fear in the use of neurotoxins like Botox and Dysport or who want to enhance and prolong their results after injection of these neuro-toxins can benefit from nature and neuro-chemistry combining neuro-peptides and active botanicals united to combat wrinkles.
Reduction of crows' feet, frown lines and other dynamic wrinkles has been shown to occur using a fusion of neuro-peptides and active botanicals found in Super Peptide Eye Serum which contains high concentrations of these scientifically proven peptides to boost and extend Botox and Dysport results.
This complex of peptides and botanicals found in Super Peptide Eye Serum has been shown to reduce wrinkle depth 50%+ while increasing skin tone (firmer, lifted skin). It has proven to stimulate cellular turnover creating a more youthful, refreshed appearance. |
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