Clear Clinic Skin Care Blog

22Oct

What Acne Treatments are Covered By Insurance?

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Treatment of acne is important; without prompt treatment of acne, permanent scarring can develop on the face and body. It is important to know what acne treatments are covered by insurance when choosing an acne treatment plan. There are excellent in-office treatments, such as Photodynamic Therapy and Isolaz, that work quickly – however, these treatments are not covered by insurance plans. At Schweiger Dermatology, we understand that sometimes its important to stick with what is covered by your insurance plan. Every plan is different, so we recommend checking with your insurance regarding specific medications and deductibles. In our experience, the following acne treatments are covered by most insurance plans:

Prescription medications: Most prescription medications, such as topical and oral antibiotics, are covered by insurance. For patients without prescription coverage, we compound some of our own medications, that often end up being less expensive than some insurance copays.
Cortisone injection: Cortisone injections flatten out acne cysts within 24 hours. These tiny shots are covered by most insurance plans and same day appointments are available for last minute acne flares.
Acne consultation: Clear Clinic acne visits are covered by insurance. Meet with a dermatologist or specialized dermatology physician assistant to determine the best course of treatment for your skin type.

Click here to learn more about treatment options for acne that are available at the Clear Clinic in Manhattan. The Clear Clinic has both uptown and downtown locations to make your visits convenient.

Click here to schedule an acne consultation at the Clear Clinic in NYC.

19Oct

When to Come in for a Cortisone Injection

Posted in Acne At Home Treatments, Acne Tips, Clear Clinic by capacitr. | Leave a Comment

A new pimple seems to always come up at the most inopportune time – just before a big date, an important meeting, or a well-deserved vacation. Fortunately, there is no need to simple ‘live with’ the pimple. At the Clear Clinic, we can perform a cortisone injection to flatten out the pimple within 24 hours!

Dr. Schweiger explains that, “If you have a new inflammatory acne bump, not a blackhead or whitehead, that is bothering you, you can let our receptionist know that you would like to be squeezed in for a quick cortisone injection. If the pimple is big enough to bother you, it can nearly always be injected with a little antiinflammatory medication. We have other treatments that can be performed, such as acne extractions, for acne that is not appropriate for a cortisone injection.”

During a cortisone injection, a medication called triamcinolone is injected with a tiny needle directly into the pimple. There is no downtime after the treatment, and all patients return to work or social engagements right away. After 24 hours, the antiinflammatory effect of the medication has taken place, and most pimples will flatten out in this time.

Click here to learn more about cortisone injections at the Clear Clinic in NYC.

19Oct

Acne Treatments for Darker Skin Tones

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Special care must be taken when treating acne in patients with darker skin tones. Acne causes inflammation on the skin, which can often result in the production of excess pigment, called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Additionally, it is important to visit a clinician experienced in treating patients with skin of color, as laser and light based acne treatments often need to be adjusted to be suitable for darker skin types. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Nearly all acne treatments are helpful for patients with darker skin tones, but special care must be taken in order to address the unique concerns of darker skin types. Pigmentation is a much greater concern, as patients with skin of color form areas of excess pigmentation on their skin much more easily.”

Medications, such as Finacea (azeleic acid) and Tazorac (tazarotene), not only treat acne, but they simultaneously lighten areas of excess pigmentation. Patients with skin of color who are experiencing acne can often benefit greatly from these medications. Additionally, laser and light-based treatments can be very helpful for patients with acne, as they can often produce a faster and more dramatic result than prescription medications alone. Treatments like LED light, Isolaz acne treatment, and Photodynamic Therapy can safely be performed on patients with darker skin tones, as long as proper precautions are taken. Chemical peels are another helpful way to treat acne in skin of color; many chemical peels can safely be used for acne treatments for darker skin tones, and will also help to improve hyperpigmentation.

Click here to learn more about acne treatments for darker skin tones.

18Oct

How Retin A Helps Acne and Acne Scars

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Retin A, along with its relatives (Differin, Tazorac, tretinoin, Atralin, and Ziana), is one of the most commonly prescribed medications for the treatment of acne. Not only does it treat acne, but it improves the appearance of acne scars. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Retin-A treats acne and improves acne scars by similar mechanisms; basically, Retin A regulates and speeds up skin cell turnover. For acne, this means that the debris in the pores that attracts acne bacteria is sloughed off in order to prevent the formation of acne. This also prevents and treats the formation of non-inflammatory acne, or blackheads and whiteheads, on the skin. For acne scarring, the collagen in the skin is produced more rapidly, which can improve the texture of acne scars.”

Retin A should be used in the evening, as some formulations are inactivated by the sun. Because the medications can be drying, a pea size amount is sufficient to cover the entire face. We recommend starting with use only three nights each week, and increasing to nightly application as tolerated. Moisturizer can be applied before and after Retin-A and other retinoids, in order to provide moisture to the skin and prevent the drying effect.

Retin A is often used in combination with other acne medications, such as antibiotics and benzoyl peroxide, in order to treat and prevent acne in the most effective way. In-office laser and light-based acne treatments are also useful to improving acne, and they can yield results more quickly than prescription medications.

Click here to learn more about using Retin-A for acne and acne scars.

18Oct

How to Shrink Large Pores

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Enlarged pores can be difficult to disguise with makeup and can make your clear skin look rough and imperfect. Pore size is largely genetic, though there are a few treatments that can be utilized to make your pores smaller. Dr. Schweiger notes that, “To shrink large pores, there are two treatments to consider. Laser Genesis and the Fraxel laser treatment are both excellent options for shrinking enlarged pores. Depending on your skin type and the other needs of your skin, we may recommend a series of one treatment or the other treatment, though we sometimes recommend a series that combines both the Laser Genesis and Fraxel laser treatments.”

The Laser Genesis uses a 1064nm short-pulsed non-ablative laser to stimulate the production of collagen in the skin and shrink pore size through rejuvenating the healthy skin cells. There is no downtime after Laser Genesis treatments, and the tone of the skin (including difficult to treat redness) can be improved through a series of Laser Genesis treatments.

The Fraxel laser is a non-ablative erbium glass resurfacing laser, which uses microscopic columns of laser energy to penetrate the skin’s surface, without breaking the barrier of the skin. The result is collagen production in the skin, which leads to smoother skin and smaller pores on the face. After Fraxel treatment, you will appear to have a bad sunburn for 2-3 days, though you will feel fine during these post-treatment days. A series of Fraxel laser treatments will not only shrink large pores, but can improve the texture of the skin, as well as decrease excess pigmentation in the skin.

Click here to learn more about how to shrink large pores.

17Oct

Microdermabrasion and Acne Scars

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Microdermabrasion is an in-office treatment that uses diamond exfoliating to remove the superficial layers of the skin, in order to improve the texture and tone of the skin. Microdermabrasion takes fifteen to thirty minutes, and requires no downtime after the treatment. Most patients benefit from a series of treatments, though even just one treatment can help to remove dead skin cells that contribute to the dull appearance of your skin.

While microdermabrasion is not the most aggressive or effective treatment for acne scars (Fractional CO2 Resurfacing and Fraxel Laser Resurfacing produce much more dramatic results), microdermabrasion can help to improve shallow acne scars and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (the brown spots left behind after acne bumps clear.) By exfoliating the most superficial layers of the skin, collagen production is stimulated and the superficial skin cells are sloughed off. Besides manually removing the upper layer of acne scars and hyperpigmentation, microdermabrasion stimulates the skin cells to repair themselves, which leads to some improvement of acne scars.

Dr. Schweiger explains that, “For some types of acne scarring, we will sometimes recommend a combination of microdermabrasion and other treatments, like chemical peels or the Fraxel laser. Microdermabrasion can also be helpful when treating comedonal acne, or blackheads and whiteheads, as it removes the debris that is clogging up the follicles and leading to their unwanted bumps on the skin.

It is important to see a skilled professional for microdermbrasion treatment, as poor treatment technique can result in worsening scars. Medical aestheticians at the Clear Clinic are trained in performing microdermbrasion for superficial acne scars.

Click here to learn more about microdermabrasion.

16Oct

FAQ About Acne: Do I Have Acne?

Posted in Acne Scars, Acne Tips by . | Leave a Comment

I get 1-2 pimples per year on my face. Is that still considered acne?

Yes, even a few pimples are considered acne.

When is it necessary to see a dermatologist if you have acne?

If you’re asking yourself this question, then it’s time to see a dermatologist. There is no threshold that you must pass in order to see a dermatologist for the treatment of acne. Even patients with mild acne can usually benefit from prescription acne medications and being under the care of a good dermatologist. Early treatment of acne can prevent long lasting scars in the future and can immediately help you feel better. Once you know you are on the right track to getting rid of your acne, it can do wonders for your self-esteem.

These questions were submitted by Clear Clinic patients for the upcoming Clear Answers book.

16Oct

Ask the Acne Expert: What is the Best Treatment for Ice Pick Acne Scars?

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Ask the Expert:

Question: How can I treat ice pick acne scars?

Answer: First off, an ice pick acne scar is one that is marked by a deep pit and then sharp borders. Unfortunately, this particular type of scarring will not just go away on its own. You will need to see a local NYC-based dermatologist in order to address any ice pick acne scarring issues. At our New York dermatology office, we frequently treat patients suffering from this type of scarring with a Fractional CO2 Laser.

During the Fractional CO2 Laser resurfacing process, the laser basically pokes tiny microscopic holes in the surface of the skin. This type of treatment is what is known as ablative; meaning, the surface of the skin is disrupted by energy. This in turn stimulates increased collagen production, thus helping to fill in the pits and soften the sharp edges surrounding.
Generally speaking, ice pick acne is a very localized issue and so we often treat this using the F.A.S.T. method. What this does is to focus on only the areas of acne scarring rather than on the entire face. This enables a NYC certified dermatologist to use higher levels of laser energy. Patients see a dramatic improvement as far as the appearance of the scars.

We’ve also used a TCA (trichloracetic acid) peel with the CROSS technique. The TCA gets dabbed directly into the ice pick scar. While this method is a bit older than that of the Fractional CO2 Laser, we do still use it successfully on many of our New York patients.

16Oct

Ask the Acne Expert: Is Accutane Right for Me?

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Accutane doesn’t have to be a scary experience. In reality, when used appropriately, Accutane can be life changing! For patients who experience severe recalcitrant acne (meaning, severe acne that does not stay clear when using other medications or treatments), Accutane is sometimes the last resort and the treatment that FINALLY clears up your acne for good!

Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Accutane is the only prescription acne medication that not only decreases the bacteria that causes acne, but also decreases sebaceous gland production of sebum. Other medications do not address both of these acne-causing factors. Although there are potential side effects of Accutane, we rarely experience serious side effects and we spend a significant amount of time reviewing what to watch out for.” Most patients try and fail numerous medications prior to starting Accutane therapy. Commonly tried medications include retin-a, Tazorac, Doryx, Solodyn, spironolactone, Acanya, and Epiduo. Many patients also try in-office laser and light-based treatments, including Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) and the Isolaz acne treatment. For patients who do not respond to any of these treatments, Accutane is often a great treatment option.

A typical course of Accutane lasts for six months, during which no other medications are used. The most commonly seen side effect of Accutane is dry skin, which can be managed with excellent moisturizers. Accutane is taken one to two times daily. It is important that all patients taking Accutane be enrolled in the iPledge system, which helps to familiarize you with potential side effects of the medication and aims to prevent females from becoming pregnant while taking Accutane.

Click here to learn more about Accutane for acne treatment.

15Oct

Success in Treating Acne with PDT

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Acne has been treated with Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) for many years; this is a mainstay of our acne treatment regimen at the Clear Clinic. Success in treating acne with PDT has been well-documented clinically. Our experiences back this up; our patients who undergo PDT for acne see fast and effective results after just a few treatments. However, until recently, studies had not proven that PDT was a superior treatment to the LED light (that is used to activate the medicine in PDT) alone. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “A recent study compared Photodynamic Therapy to LED light alone and found that Photodynamic Therapy was more effective at treating acne than simply LED light. The combination of a photosensitizing medication and LED light to activate it was a much more effective acne treatment than only light.”

PDT works by using LED light to activate a photosensitizing medication called aminolevulinic acid (or ALA.) The ALA is applied to the skin and allowed to absorb for a set amount of time. After absorption, our patients lay under a blue LED light for 5-30 minutes. The light activates the ALA and allows the effects of the LED light to be more dramatic. LED light can be anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, but only PDT decreases sebaceous gland activity, which therefore decreases sebum production in the pores. Excess sebum attracts p. acnes bacteria, so this process not only kills p. acnes bacteria, but takes away the excess sebum that p. acnes bacteria thrives on.

Click here to read more about PDT at the Clear Clinic.

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