Clear Clinic Skin Care Blog

15May

Which is the Best Acne Scar Treatment?

Posted in Acne Scars, Uncategorized by Clear Clinic. | Leave a Comment

There is often confusion as to which acne scar treatment is better, the Fractional CO2 Laser or the Fraxel re:store Laser. Both lasers are fractionated, meaning that healthy skin is left between the treated areas for safer treatments and faster healing times. Both the Fractional CO2 Laser and the Fraxel re:store are resurfacing lasers, meaning that they stimulate the production of new, healthy collagen to fill in the scarred surface of the skin.

Then what is the difference between the Fractional CO2 and the Fraxel re:store acne scar lasers?

Ablative vs non-ablative: The Fractional CO2 Laser is an ablative laser, which means that the energy disrupts the surface of the skin. The Fraxel re:store is non-ablative, so the laser’s energy penetrates the skin without ablating the skin’s surface.

Downtime: The Fractional CO2 Laser, because it is an ablative laser, has 3-6 days of downtime; the skin may look crusted after the treatment, so most patients hide out for a few days. The Fraxel re:store laser has only 2 days of downtime; since it is non-ablative, patients may apply makeup in the days following the treatment.

Frequency of treatments: For most patients, the Fractional CO2 Laser acne scar treatment is a one-time treatment. For patients who can tolerate a few days of downtime, this is ideal, since only one treatment is necessary. The Fraxel re:store laser requires 4 treatments, for most patients. The Fraxel re:store treatments are performed approximately one month apart.

Dr. Schweiger explains that, “During your visit to the Clear Clinic, we will further discuss the specifics of both treatments. Depending on skin type and the type of acne scars present, some patients may respond better to one treatment than the other. Though sometimes patients choose between the Fraxel and the Fractional CO2 Laser simply because one fits better into their schedule. Both treatments yield excellent improvement of acne scars. Patients with pitted acne scars see between 50-70% improvement of their acne scars.”

Click here to read more about acne scar treatment.

14May

Top Acne Mistake: Not Washing Your Face in the Morning

Posted in Acne At Home Treatments by . | Leave a Comment

ashing your face at night is a no-brainer. We know how important it is to remove makeup and any dirt and debris that has undoubtedly landed on your face during the course of the day. But did you know that washing your face in the morning is equally important? Especially if you are following an acne regimen.

During the course of the night, your skin renews itself. During that renewal process, your skin releases toxins and sebum which can lead to more breakouts. Plus the fact that you need to wash off any acne treatments you applied the night before, allowing your day time treatments to work better. Speaking of daytime products, it’s very important to include SPF in your daytime ritual, even if you suffer from acne.

14May

New Treatment Approved for Acne

Posted in Adult Acne by Clear Clinic. | Leave a Comment

The treatment of acne is multifactorial, meaning that many different factors leading to the formation of acne must be addressed. There are three main categories of acne treatments:

In-office laser and light treatments for acne: This includes treatments such as Photodynamic Therapy, Red and Blue LED Light and the Isolaz Laser Acne Treatment. These treatments combine to clean out grime from the pores, decrease sebum production, reduce the p. acnes bacteria that lead to acne and decrease inflammation.

Oral acne medications: These are pills, such as antibiotics, anti-androgen medications, isotretinoin and oral contraception. These medications all work in different ways to treat acne aggressively. Oral medications are usually reserved for patients with moderate acne or those patients who have not responded to topical medications.

Topical acne medications: Topical medications are often very effective in the treatment of acne. The most common topical acne medications are benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, aczone and retinoids. The vehicle (ie. cream, foam, gel) that the acne medication is housed in can make a big difference in terms of its efficacy and usability. Vehicles are used to drive the acne medication deeper into the pores, in order to help the medication to work better. Vehicles are also selected for their tolerability and elegance; ideally a medication will be in a vehicle that is pleasant to apply, while not being irritating to the skin.

The search is on for different formulations of acne medications that will provide further options for our patients to use. Just this week, the FDA approved a new acne medication from GlaxoSmithKline. This new medication, Fabior, is a tazarotene foam that can be applied to any acne prone areas. Tazarotene, a retinoid acne medication, has previously only been available in the medication called Tazorac, which comes in a cream and gel form. Fabior will be the first prescription retinoid foam available for acne treatment.

11May

How to Treat Adult Acne

Posted in Acne Scars, Adult Acne by Clear Clinic.

Adult acne can be very frustrating. Many patients who never had acne in their teens experience acne during their adult years. There is no universal “best treatment for adult acne;” each patient must be treated for their unique type of acne. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Many patients experiencing adult acne can benefit greatly from laser and light treatments, such as the Isolaz acne laser and Photodynamic Therapy. When used in combination, the Isolaz laser and Photodynamic Therapy provide antibacterial activity, clean out the pores, lighten red marks left behind after acne, and decrease inflammation.”

In addition to the in-office laser and light treatments for acne, adult acne patients can benefit from at home treatments. Devices such as the Clarisonic Brush and the Tria Blue Light can be used as part of the daily home acne regimen in order to prevent adult acne from flaring. Prescription medications, such as oral antibiotics and topical retinoids, are also an effective part of adult acne treatment regimens. For adults and children both, it is important to see a dermatologist as soon as acne begins to flare. When treated early, acne can be managed before marks or scars are left on the skin.

Click here to read more about treatments for adult acne.

10May

Acne Skincare Mistake: Overdrying Your Skin

Posted in Uncategorized by Clear Clinic. | Leave a Comment

It’s a common misconception that drying out your skin will help clear up your acne. But what really happens is your body produces more oil to compensate for the lack of oil it feels on your skin. Our bodies are pretty smart like that. So what you’re really doing by zapping all the oils on your face is contributing the breakout problem. Oils can actually be good for the skin–they help hydrate and protect it. When you have acne-prone skin, the trick is to find a lightweight moisturizer that is non-comedogenic and apply it twice a day after you cleanse your skin.

10May

What is the Best Filler for Acne Scars?

Posted in Acne Scars, Uncategorized by Clear Clinic. | Leave a Comment

Acne scars form as the skin repairs itself from the insult of inflammatory acne bumps. These atrophic (“pitted”) spots on the face can be quite frustrating, as they can’t be covered with makeup and don’t resolve on their own. Many treatment options exist for improving the appearance of acne scars. The most dramatic and permanent treatment option is Fractional Laser Resurfacing treatment, with either the Fractional CO2 laser or the Fraxel Re:Store. Microscopic holes are poked in the skin, which stimulate the production of new collagen. This makes the texture of the skin much smoother permanently; since the improvement is reliant on your own collagen, the improvement is permanent.

Another popular treatment option for acne scars is the injection of dermal filler into the scar. While this treatment usually provides only temporary improvement, many patients like that the results are instantly noticeable. Fillers for acne scar treatment last between 6-12 months and wear off slowly. The most popular fillers used for acne scars are Restylane, Juvederm and Perlane. Radiesse is also sometimes used to fill in deep acne scars. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “There is no ‘best’ filler for acne scars. It is important to use the filler that your dermatologist is most comfortable injecting. ”

Click here to read more about acne scar treatments.

9May

Blue and Red LED Light for Acne

Posted in Laser Acne Treatments by . | Leave a Comment

With all of the laser and light treatments available for acne, choosing the most appropriate treatment can be daunting. The Isolaz acne laser, Photodynamic Therapy, and Blue and Red LED light therapy are all effective treatments. Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Laser and light-based acne treatments are most effective when combined into a regimen of a few different treatments. We often recommend a series combining Isolaz acne treatment, Photodynamic Therapy and Blue and Red LED light therapy in order to address active acne and prevent future acne in the most complete way. Acne is multi-factorial, so it is important to address all of its causes.”

Sometimes the acne specialists at the Clear Clinic may recommend a single treatment for your specific skin type. Blue and Red LED light is often used in this manner. Blue LED light is anti-bacterial, while Red LED light is anti-inflammatory and helps to reduce redness left behind after old acne lesions. The combination of Blue and red LED light treatment is sometimes used to calm active acne and help to heal inflammation on the skin, especially when patients cannot tolerate any downtime. Blue and Red LED light does not cause any downtime; it is the ideal treatment in the days leading up to a big event.

9May

Actress AnnaLynne McCord Reveals Her Acne

Posted in Teenage Acne by Clear Clinic. | Leave a Comment

Beverly Hills 90210 star AnnaLynne McCord shocked her fans with a revealing picture of herself on Twitter without any makeup. The biggest shock was that the beautiful blond actress has acne. She Tweeted: “I woke up this morning and decided I’m over Hollywood’s perfection requirement. To all my girls(and boys) who have ever been embarrassed by their skin! I salute you! I’m not perfect – and that’s okay with me!”

For McCords legions of young fans, the photo was a huge relief, as millions of teenagers suffer from acne breakouts. “This was a very brave step to take,” agrees Dr. Schweiger. “Acne can be very embarrassing and depressing for those who have it. It should make everyone feel a lot better about themselves to know that even a beautiful TV star does not have perfect skin.”

If you suffer from acne, it’s important to know that there are many different treatment options out there. With the help of the dermatologists at Clear Clinic, we can lead you to the proper treatment and help you in managing and treating your acne.

8May

Are Cortisone Injections Safe?

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Cortisone injections are the most effective “spot treatment” that exists for getting rid of inflammatory acne lesions quickly. A small amount of an anti-inflammatory medication, called triamcinolone, is injection directly into the pimple. Since pimples are essentially inflammatory reactions to the p. acnes bacteria, the anti-inflammatory properties of the injection reduce the appearance of the pimple quickly. It usually takes 24-48 hours for the full effect of the cortisone shot to be realized, but most patients see some improvement by the 24 hour mark.

Dr. Schweiger explains that, “Steroid injections, commonly referred to as cortisone injections, are the best method of reducing the appearance of an inflammatory acne lesion quickly. However, there is a small risk of atrophy with each injection. At the Clear Clinic and Schweiger Dermatology, we use a very dilute concentration of triamcinolone, in order to reduce the risk as much as possible. This is not something that we see often, but the risk does exist. When performed by a dermatologist or dermatology PA who specializes in acne, this risk of steroid atrophy is extremely low. Cortisone injections remain the best method of reducing the appearance of an acne lesion quickly.”

Click here to read more about cortisone injections for quick treatment of acne.

8May

Acne Product Review: Yes To Tomatoes Acne Daily Pore Scrub

Posted in Acne At Home Treatments by . | Leave a Comment

It’s tough to decide which acne products to spend your money on. At Clear Clinic, we tell our patients to stick to products that contain the proven acne-fighters salicylic acid, sulfur, benzoyl peroxide, tea tree oil and rescorcinol. The new Yes To Tomatoes acne treatment products use salicylic acid to target acne. We are big fans of this line because of its clean and gentle ingredients. As we’ve mentioned, exfoliation is an important step in every acne regimen. The Acne Daily Pore Scrub uses salicylic acid along with ground mango and bamboo seeds to help rid of dead skin cells, which is crucial for fighting acne. It also contains organic tomatoes, which have anti-inflammatory properties and claim to control sebum production.

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