ACNE TREATMENT PRESENTATION

Acne Introduction

Nearly all individuals during their teen years are affected to some extent by acne. Acne even affects some people well into adulthood, making it the most common type of skin condition. Acne affects both men and women and most commonly occurs on the face, neck, back, chest and upper arms. Although it is generally not considered a serious health condition, it may cause embarrassment and even scarring of the skin in severe cases. Even if you are affected by severe acne, there is good news! There are a variety of different treatment options available to treat acne that will help restore a smooth, healthy glow to your skin.

Understanding the Skin Anatomy

Before you learn how best to treat your acne, it is important that you understand the basics of your skin's anatomy and how acne occurs. Your skin is composed of two layers known as the epidermis and the dermis. The epidermis is the skin’s primary defense against the environment. The dermis is primarily composed of collagen and elastin fibers, which provide the skin with structure, support, and elasticity. Blood vessels and nerves run throughout the dermis. The blood vessels transport blood, which supplies important nutrients to your skin and the nerves allow you to perceive sensations like pain, temperature, and touch. Your skin has many pores, which are actually small openings in the skin from sweat glands, hair follicles, and sebaceous glands deep within the dermis.

Where Does Acne Occur?

Acne results from clogged pores. What you may not know is acne generally occurs in sebaceous glands that are attached to hair follicles—not sweat glands. The greatest number of sebaceous glands is found on the face, neck, and back, which is why acne commonly occurs in these regions. Sebaceous glands are special glands attached to the hair follicle. Together, the hair follicle and sebaceous gland are often referred to as the pilosebaceous follicle. Sebaceous glands produce an oily substance known as sebum, which helps make your skin waterproof and prevents it from drying out.

What Causes Acne?

You have probably heard that things like chocolate, soda, and greasy foods like pizza can cause acne. While this may be true for very select individuals, physicians do not generally believe this to be the case. Acne is usually caused by a combination of factors including a build up of dead skin cells, excessive sebum production, and bacterial overgrowth. As these factors become more severe, so too does the acne. What starts out as mild acne may progress into moderate or severe acne, depending on the conditions in your skin. Let's take a look at how these different stages of acne develop.

Whitehead and Blackhead Acne

Dead skin cells are continuously shed from the walls of hair follicles during a process known as keratinization. Under normal circumstances, the skin cells do not build up and the sebum is secreted onto the skin's surface. However special conditions can promote an increase in keratinization. If too many skin cells build up in the follicle, they may actually block the secretion of sebum, which causes a plug to form. This plug is what is commonly known as a blackhead or a whitehead, which are mild forms of acne. Blackheads generally appear as small, black holes on the skin's surface. When the follicle is not completely blocked, it opens slightly and the top of the plug turns black, which is what you see as a blackhead. In contrast, whiteheads generally appear as small, skin-colored bumps beneath the skin's surface. The follicle opening is completely blocked with sebum and dead skin cells, which is what you see as a whitehead.

Papules - Red, Raised Bumps

Acne formation gets even more complex. In response to hormones known as androgens, like progesterone and testosterone, the sebaceous glands produce more sebum. This is why acne usually starts to occur during puberty and why women may experience more acne at the onset of menstruation. When excess sebum is produced in already blocked pores the follicle becomes inflamed. Further inflammation can be caused by bacterial overgrowth as well. Together, this causes a papule to form, which is a red, raised bump on the skin.

Pustules - White, Yellowish Pimples

Continual sebum production and bacterial overgrowth increase the inflammation around the follicle even further. Like a dam that cannot hold any more water, the follicle may eventually rupture, spilling its contents into the skin layers below. When this happens, pustules form. This is because your body sends white blood cells to the area as an immune response. These white blood cells along with other debris create pus, which is what gives pimples their white or yellowish center.

Nodules and Cysts

In cases in which inflammation becomes even more severe, nodules and cysts may develop. Nodules are large, round bumps that originate deep beneath the skin’s surface. They are typically caused by severe inflammation and infection within the dermis. Although similar to nodules, cysts are usually filled with pus. Both of these types of acne may be long lasting and painful. In addition, nodules and cysts may lead to acne scarring and generally only respond to intense forms of treatment.

The Laser Acne Removal Process

For years, traditional oral and topical acne treatments have not treated the main cause of acne... overactive, oil producing sebaceous glands. Frustrated patients have long been searching for alternatives to the traditional acne treatment methods, which have been known to cause side effects. Now, the laser offers a long-term solution by directly altering the structure and function of the sebaceous glands, which drastically reduces acne lesions without significant side effects.

The laser creates a mild thermal injury just below the skin's surface, which alters the structure of the sebaceous glands. This allows for effective, long-lasting acne clearance. As the laser penetrates into the skin, heat is generated in and around the sebaceous glands in the upper layers of the skin. An integrated dynamic cooling device also emits a cooling spray, which protects the skin, thus minimizing the acne and acne scars.