Acne is among the most frequent reasons for visits to aesthetic professionals. Because of the visible nature of acne, more and more people are seeking treatment to address lesions, inflammation, and scarring. There is no set-in-stone solution and many factors need to be considered when treating this skin concern, however let’s look at some of the most promising treatments for acne.
Light Therapy
The redness and swelling that can occur with acne is caused by a type of bacteria that can be killed by exposing skin to different types of light.
Light emitting diode (LED) light therapy is growing in popularity in aesthetician offices due to its results and convenience.
Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) with HEALITE II by Lutronic is the therapeutic use of incident light to photomodulate cellular function, improving healing times, relieving pain, subsiding active acne and promoting skin rejuvenation. HEALITE II harnesses the properties of 830/590, 633 and 415 nm light via Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology, properly delivered and concentrated, treating confidently without possibility of physical trauma or thermal damage.
IPL
IPL has the added advantage of reducing the production of sebum and acne-causing bacteria. It is able to target multiple layers of skin at once in a non-invasive manner, allowing patients to get right back to their everyday life immediately after treatment. And as IPL is generally done over the course of several sessions, it is easily adaptable for many patients based on the severity of their acne.
Lumecca IPL delivers up to 3x more energy in the 500-600nm range that is specifically designed to seek out certain pigments in the skin – redness, discolored patches and dark spots from acne scarring.
Microneedling
Microneedling treatments are among the more promising alternative options for treating acne. These procedures are popular for skin rejuvenation, but microneedling can now also be used to treat acne scars.
Because acne is affected across ethnicities and microneedling is colourblind, it is a commonly used treatment when it comes to acne scarring.
Microneedling causes controlled micro-injuries that stimulate the body’s natural wound-healing process. These micro-injuries trigger your immune system to remodel the scar tissue, while keeping the overall structure of the skin intact.
SkinPen®, the first FDA-cleared microneedling device, has clinically proven to improve the appearance of facial acne scars and our recommended microneedling device.
RF
A more recent technique for the treatment of acne scars is non-ablative radiofrequency (RF) that works by passing a current through the dermis at a preset depth to produce small thermal wounds in the dermis which, in turn, stimulates dermal remodeling to produce new collagen and soften scar defects.
Our weapon of choice in this category is in fact a microneedling-radiofrequency device: Morpheus8 by Inmode. This is a premier device assists with skin remodeling and due to the depths of penetration under the surface of the skin, it helps to reduce or shrink the sebaceous glands.
Depending on the level of acne and scarring, a series of treatments can reduce scar appearance and in some cases get rid of acne.
Chemical Peels
Chemical peels have the ability to improve the appearance of skin for people with mild acne.
Depending on the patient’s situation, we recommend the following iS CLINICAL treatments:
Fire and Ice Treatment is a clinically active treatment system designed to rapidly and safely resurface the skin, reducing fine lines and wrinkles, smoothing, softening and encouraging cellular renewal.
Exfoliating Clear Skin Treatment is an advanced treatment application designed for gentle exfoliation with soothing and healing benefits for oily, congested, acne prone or otherwise problematic skin.
Foaming Enzyme Treatment is an effervescent treatment features active foaming agents for light and effective exfoliation for all skin types, leaving the skin clear and glowing for days.
Topicals
Cosmeceuticals can be significantly helpful in reducing acne because of their ability to target the area within the pilosebaceous unit where acne begins.
Green tea is a common ingredient in cosmeceuticals designed for acne because of its anti-inflammatory, soothing qualities. Antioxidants are also extremely helpful in addressing acne because of their anti-inflammatory properties. They can help calm the inflammation of acne, allowing the body to clear and cleanse the skin and put a stop to the inflammatory cycle.
Our go-to acne regime include the following iS CLINICAL products:
Active Serum
Cleansing Complex
Pro-Heal Advance+
Extreme Protect SPF30
Although above options have proven to improve acne, this condition remains complex, broad and there is never a clear break-up from acne. In-depth research should be done continuously and follow-up visits from acne patients are essential.
Contact us to know more of any of the above devices or skincare options.