Sunday, December 24, 2006

Treating Acne with Laser or Surgery

By Rose Lindy

If you have a mild case of acne you will probably find success in treating it effectively by keeping the area clean and applying a topical product that contains benzoyl peroxide to help clear up the blemishes. If your acne is more severe you may want to consider some alternative treatment methods. Your dermatologist will be able to discuss different treatments currently available including treating acne with laser therapy or acne surgery.

If you are considering laser therapy or surgery as part of your acne treatment then you need to fully evaluate each of these processes. Consider the number required treatments, costs and side effects. You also need to select make sure that whatever process you select is designed to reduce the presence of acne, not acne scarring. I mention this because it does get confusing and you should know what to look for.

Acne Laser Treatment

Laser treatment has very few side effects, is simple, just a bit uncomfortable and does not involve the use of prescription medication. That is why it is such a popular and preferred method of acne treatment. This is how acne laser treatment works. Varying wavelengths are aimed directly at the affected area. The wavelengths pulsate against the skin working to destroy overly-large sebaceous glands and acne lesions. Inflammation and redness surrounding the acne lesions is reduced by the lasers. The outer layers of skin that are damaged are also removed to promote new cell growth. The laser technician who works on you varies the intensity of the laser, this is need to treat the area effectively. Lasers help to reduce the inflammation and redness that surrounds acne lesions.

As with most things laser acne treatment is the focus of considerable debate. Although even one treatment can dramatically improve your skin's appearance, there are some side affects to consider. Some of these side effects are red, burned skin that lasts for weeks. You may also notice an uneven appearance of the skin if the laser is applied inconsistently. Dark-colored skin may have discoloration with laser treatment. So those are some of the side effects you need to be aware of when deciding if laser treatment is right for you.

Surgery for Acne

The process of acne surgery involves draining the clogged pores by making an incision into the affected area. A small, pointed blade is used to open the comedone and gently work the material out using a comedone extractor. Because this process is not technically surgery, it may be performed by a nurse, esthetician or dermatologist.

A more involved process is called excisional surgery. This is used on severe acne cysts to drain and remove them. Because this treatment is so much more involved and also more risky, it is not normally used and is definitely not a preferred method. You always want to try and use the least invasive method of treatment available for any condition you may have, including acne. Because this is a more extensive process it should never be performed anywhere except in a sterile environment with a properly trained professional. This sterile environment will control the spread of bacteria to minimilize the risk of infection.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rose_Lindy

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