Acne is one of the most common skin problems in teenage life, often resulting in scarring.

There is much misinformation about the causes of acne, ranging from poor diet to inadequate cleansing of the skin. In fact acne is caused by a combination of genetic and hormonal factors leading to increased oil production by the sebaceous glands in the skin.

There are many treatments available for acne including:

1. Antibiotics
Antibiotics taken by mouth or applied to the skin, are helpful for acne. However resistance to antibiotics may occur in the long term.

2. Glycolic acids
Glycolic acid washes, gels and peels are useful for treating active acne. On the other hand, glycolic acid creams may aggravate acne, and should be avoided (as the cream base blocks the oil glands).

3. Vitamin A derivatives
Oral Vitamin A derivatives are useful for more severe forms of acne, and produce long lasting improvement. These treatments have a number of side effects, many of which are dose related. Topical Vitamin A derivatives are also useful, but can initially cause irritation.

4. Other Creams
Other creams (eg- benzoyl peroxide, and salicylic acid) are also useful.

5. Microdermabrasion
This is a non-invasive procedure that helps with mild acne and scarring. Aluminum oxide crystals are rubbed onto the skin under negative suction pressure removing the top layer of the skin, and “opening up” the acne lesions, stimulating the healing process. Several treatments are needed to obtain the best results, and can be combined with glycolic acid peels.

6. Hormones
Hormone therapy such as the oral contraceptive pill may be useful for hormonal acne.

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Acne Scarring Treatments

Acne may leave scars and marks, which may be temporary or permanent. There are a number of treatments which can improve acne scars.

1. Microdermabrasion More about Microdermabrasion...
Microdermabrasion is useful for mild acne scarring, especially for the red or brown marks. It is less useful for pitted or depressed acne scars. Several treatments are usually needed. Following treatment there is usually mild redness, which lasts for a few days. Microdermabrasion can be combined with glycolic, salicylic and lactic acid peels for improved results.
 

2. FRAXEL Laser Treatment Find out more about Fraxel Laser Treatment...
FRAXEL Laser Treatment produces thousands of tiny but deep columns of laser light into your skin, known as microthermal treatment zones. The laser beams penetrate deeply into the acne scars leading to new collagen formation, which in turn fills out the acne scars. At the same time the surface layer of the skin remains intact and unaffected. This "fractional" treatment allows the skin to heal much faster than older laser procedures.  Improvement in acne scarring with the Fraxel is considered to be better than any other laser procedure. Fraxel is suitable for all skin types.
 

3. Pulsed Light Therapy More about Pulsed Light Therapy...
Pulsed light therapy is a non-invasive treatment, which is useful for improving red or brown acne scars. Usually 2-5 treatment sessions are needed to achieve optimal improvement. Following treatment the scars are redder or darker for 5-7 days before lightening occurs.
 

4. Filling Agents More about filling agents...
Injection of filling agents can be useful for some depressed scars but not for pitted scars. Filling agents may be temporary or permanent. These agents are safe, but in rare instances allergic reactions or infection can occur. The end result can be an improvement in skin contour.
 

5. Laser Resurfacing More about laser resurfacing...
Laser resurfacing is commonly used for acne scarring. Usually the Erbium YAG laser or CO2 laser is used, and the top layers of the skin are removed. New skin forms after 7-10 days, while improvement in the acne scars occur over the following 3 months.

Laser resurfacing is a relatively invasive procedure requiring 10-14 days off work, followed by redness, which lasts at least 6-8 weeks. Because it is not possible to Laser down to the level of the acne scars, improvement is limited to approximately 40-50% improvement. Results can be further improved with the use of filling agents. There are a number of risks associated with laser resurfacing including changes in the skin pigment and scarring.
 

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