Chemical Peel Vs Laser to Remove Acne Scars

Question

I'm very fair,but don't sunburn I've been fighting acne since I was 18 and am now 23, I used to have such beautiful skin and would not have to wear make-up, this has affected my confidence immensely.  I eat healthy, exercise and all that jazz, but wear make-up to cover the acne which doesn't help. Please doctors what are your suggestions to a SAFE and reliable treatment? Not concerned about cost or traveling distance within bay area. Thank you for reading.

David Hansen, MD · Answer

Blu U treatments and various topical meds and /or oral meds will clear up the skin over the next 2 months then doing some chemical peels or other scar treatments will give an improved skin .

	Sincerely,

	David Hansen,MD

Sanusi Umar, MD · Answer

The first thing to do is to get your acne under control. The Specra laser interacts with a photosensitive lotion that is applied to your skin. This process clears out blockages in your pores, kills bacteria and reduces the activity of oil secreting glands. The Spectra laser gives comparable results to chemical peels. It is safer and more predictable as well.

	Acne scars result from inflammation that is due to the presence of bacteria. This inflammation is regarded by your skin as an injury. To compensate for this and heal itself, the skin produces a disorganized and thickened configuration of collagen fibers which make up the acne scar tissue. The Fraxel Dual system is very effective for the treatment of acne scars. The 1550nm wavelength of this system heats cells in the dermal layer which is beneath the surface of your skin. This heating process stimulates the process of creating healthy normal collagen which gradually replaces the scar tissue.

	Here is a video of a patient who had Spectra done for her existing acne and Fraxel Dual for her acne scars.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Do a little home work. You need to see a dermatologist who is comfortable working with isotretinoin (Accutane). Treatment of cystic acne does not start with this drug. However, dermatologist who are comfortable with its use are generally more devoted to treating this condition. This is a pretty scary drug and therefore it is only used after all other measures fail. There are a number of excellent treatments that can be very effective. You are making the right choice to seek help for this so that the inflammation from the acne dose not severely scar your face.

Stephen Prendiville, MD · Answer

Based on the photos, I think it is important to differentiate between active acne and acne scarring. It appears that your issue is more the former than the latter. I would definitely consult with a well respected Dermatologist in your area for a treatment regime that works best for you. There are many different options from topical antibiotics, Retin-A and other topicals to IPL and blue light based therapies. The diversity of treatments available speaks to the difficulty frequently encountered in treating acne. When treating acne scarring, I generally recommend a treatment plan involving the fractionated CO2 laser or Dermabrasion over chemical peels.

Elizabeth F. Rostan, MD · Answer

A good regimen for acne control is an essential first step. Vbeam pulsed dye laser can really help reduce the redness associated with previous acne lesions. We often combine Vbeam with PDT (photodynamic therapy)/Blu light. This combination helps acne as well as the red scars and redness. I am confident you can find a great dermatologist in the bay area that can help with both aspects - medical and cosmetic- of your skin condition.

Jo Herzog, MD · Answer

Emily, I think that the best approach would be to start with a good dermatologist. The forsy step will be to clear up any active acne that you have. This might take months but can be done. After that, can work on any scarring. You are still beautiful and will be where you want to be with a little bit of help.

Chemical Peel Vs Laser to Remove Acne Scars

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