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19 Yrs Old, Cystic Acne and Pretty Bad Scarring - Cooltouch Laser, Los Angeles, CA

ORIGINAL POST

My acne just spiraled out of control in these past...

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WORTH IT$400
My acne just spiraled out of control in these past fews months so I knew I had to take action and FAST. I went to Dr. Rahimi, who came very highly recommended everywhere I searched. I am so glad I did! He explained in detail the treatments he thought would benefit my skin and gave me a range of options to choose from. I was drawn to Cooltouch since it would help with my acne as well as my embarrassing scarring. BEST DECISION EVER! My huge cystic acne is GONE! My face is softer than it has been in a very long time ;) I am so happy I found Dr. Rahimi and just in time!
After he treated my face with the cooltouch laser, he performed an extraction and gave me a semi aggressive glycolic peel - every step carried out carefully and as gently as possible. I saw results as early as the next day! He said my face would be completely recovered by Saturday with no new acne bumps and everything turned out exactly as promised. I am very pleased with my Cooltouch experience and although I am most definitely not rich, I will be saving up for future treatments for the well-being of my skin which in my opinion is completely worth it. I am now a bit more confident in my own skin and I am now positive that in the hands of Dr. Rahimi and his team, my skin will only see better days.
Maybe when I'm done with my journey I'll share some pics with all of you, if anyone is interested ;)

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A. David Rahimi, MD

A. David Rahimi, MD

Board Certified Dermatologist

4.8 | 84 Reviews
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Replies (17)

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January 11, 2015

Oh how wonderful for you, cystic can really be a battle to fight. I would love to see some photos, please do share :) Did you skin feel dry after they glycolic peel?

January 12, 2015
My face is on the the oily side so yes, my face did feel a bit drier than usual and a bit rough for a couple of days. But moisturizing took care of that and I could apply make-up on with no problem (I prefered to wait until the follwing day to put make-up on). But in after a few days my face felt fresher and softer than ever ;)
January 12, 2015
I think I'll be back in a month for another treatment (which includes Cooltouch laser, an extraction, and a glycolic peel) for better results.
March 29, 2015
I know Dr. Rahimi. He shared an office with, in my opinion, the most talented plastic surgeon who gave me back my life after my assault years earlier that resulted in a disfigured nose. Dr. Richard Arison is no longer with us, but he was absolutely the best. Dr. Rahimi is a doll...he removed a big lipoma on my husband's back & scar is slight. Dr. Rahimi learned a great deal from Dr. Arisohn...you're in very good hands! Glad u have him!
March 29, 2015
Sorry...Dr. Richard Aronsohn!!! OMG...watching UK game now & can't believe I misspelled his name after what he has done for me. I so apologize to him...he was an angel to me.
April 2, 2015
That's awesome, thanks for sharing that! ;)
April 3, 2015
So glad you're healing well. My son went thru horrible acne...Accutane was only thing available, but it worked for him. Keep us posted on here!
April 11, 2015
After your son got off Accutane, did the acne return? Treatment with Accutane lasts about a year, right? Its not a long term thing. Was the one year enough to get rid of the acne for good? I hear mixed review about Accutane and other oral medications for acne, some say it prevents acne even once youre off and others say that the acne returns once youre off the meds. its definitely different for everybody, but itd be great to know how it was for your son. I have been thinking very seriously on starting oral meds to keep clear
April 3, 2015
Amazing. Can I ask what is your plan for scarring I have exactly the same been there for years as well red marks from cystic acne thanks
April 3, 2015
My plan is to have Mixto laser done with Dr. Rahimi. You can see his before and after here on realself and they are pretty impressive (take a look at DRaGZ). And even those who haven't uploaded a picture have said that they are very satisfied with the results. He is the only.one I can trust with that kind.of laser. It requires a max of 2 weeks of downtime.
May 6, 2015
Thank you what did you use for the hyper pigmentation? My redness has been there months
May 7, 2015
Well it was probably mostly due to the two treatments I had which included Cooltouch laser and glycolic peel. But I think my daily regimen helped greatly as well. I wash my face with a cleansing brush (not those.super expensive ones; I used one you can find at a local pharmacy) with three cleansers: 1) Cetaphil, I cant say enough about how this product has transformed my skin 2) Aveeno Skin Brightening Daily Scrub, helps even tone 3) Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash (pink grapefruit) Occasionally if I feel I need it ill use Clearasil which works WONDERS. I stay out of the sun and use a daily moisturizer with sunscreen which has helped enormously. Dont get discouraged, you'll find what worksfor you. It took me a while but I found a routine that works and I am sticking to it. I occasionally do face masks with aloe vera or oatmeal with lemon and honey, but i try not to get too crazy. ;)
April 10, 2015
Wow, great results! You must be thrilled :-)
April 11, 2015
I am really happy. Acne is so hard to fight and its so easy to get discouraged when it gets bad. But with support from a doctor like Dr.Rahimi, you feel like there is a solution, that it can get better. I have to be patient but the results so far have been wonderful, better than I could have ever expected.
UPDATED FROM page25
2 months post

Acne: Gone, now its time to focus on the scars

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The Cooltouch laser treatment performed by Dr Rahimi was a success! My acne is finally gone! Here are some before and after pics....The before is the worst it ever got. So beware.
But as you can see, 5 years of cystic acne has left its mark. But i have hope that in the near future all of that will all be in the past and I can finally have great looking skin. With DrRahimi and his team I know i am in the best of hands.

Just got my second Cooltouch laser treatment today. Im feeling good. We'll see in a couple of weeks how my skin doe . ;)

Replies (17)

March 29, 2015
Have you ever had a complete endocrine work-up? Have you ever considered Spiranolactone to treat the acne?
April 3, 2015
I haven't actually, but I want to. Dr. Rahimi gave me a list of options to treat my acne, one of them being oral medication and I dont know why it kind of scares me. But the laser has been a success so far: 4 months acne free! But next time I see my primary doctor, I'll have to ask about that.
April 7, 2015
Understanding the nature of your acne outbreaks is critical to long term management of this problem. Such things as an endocrine problems can be at the root of stubborn acne. A problem such as PCOS (poly cystic ovarian syndrome) can result in acne issues through out the life of an afflicted female. The acne comes about owing to an abundance of androgen production, which is very irritating and at the vortex of cystic acne. your doctor, preferably an endocrinologist, can determine if your androgen levels are too high through a blood test. If so, Spiranolactone can be difficult to adjust to initially, but once this occurs, your acne is greatly relieved. Fortunately, unlike Accutane, it is well tolerated over a very long period. It wouldn't seem something like acne would be so complicated, but it actually is. This is because there frequently are complex underlying issues. Good luck & stay clear!
April 11, 2015
You're absolutely right. The topical treatments have worked wonders and I have stayed clear but I definitely feel that I must look deeper for the root of the problem and verify whether there is a hormonal issue or not.
April 11, 2015
Im looking for something safe that can be used long term and its great to know there are other options that have worked for others. Like Spiranolactone. My fear is that once I'm off the meds (if i choose to start) the acne will return full force
April 13, 2015
It might. However, Spiranolactone is well tolerated by most patients and can be safely taken over many years. The initial phase, while the body adjusts, can be a little tricky.
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April 3, 2015

Your skin is looking really great. Thank you for keeping us updated.

April 30, 2015
You can start by doing some of your own detective work. I understand your aversion to drug therapy, but if something is amiss, you are better off concluding this early on. Underlying hormonal issues are very complex. Some cases of "hormonal related acne" are owing to poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). If you experience irregular periods, mild to severe hirsuitism, acne and weight management issues you may have PCOS. Such women may experience problems with glucose management as well. There are several androgenic/testosterone related hormones that are evaluated in a blood test: DHEA and DHEA-S are among them. While acne can have many causes, it is often a symptom of an underlying problem. i'd urge you to examine whether the acne is a symptom of something broader. I don't mean to scare you, actually the reverse. If you do have an underlying endocrine disorder treatment will allow you to resolve the acne issue for the rest of your life.
July 5, 2015
Youre absolutely right. I hadnt taken any steps to find out whether what was affecting my skin was a hormonal issue or due to an endocrine disorder because I felt that there were things that I was not doing (AND things I was doingg) that I could change to better my skin (e.g. diet, exercise, sleep, stress, etc.) All.of those lifestyle changes helped enormously. The topical treaments and lasers have sped up the process iimmensely and made my skin healthier than it has been in years but I want this to last. to have healthy skin and to resolve my acne ptoblem once and for all I need to be healthy and balanced on the inside
July 5, 2015
Im actually waiting for the test. But the ddifference now is that Im not frustrated anymore. I know theres room for improvement and I'm optimistic. I have come very far and I hope to continue to better my overall health. Thank you truly for your insight and tips , it helped me take that step I once hesitated to take
September 29, 2015
your skin looks amazing , keep up the good work
October 23, 2015
Thanks, that means a lot!
UPDATED FROM page25
3 months post

Still Clear After 2 Cooltouch Treatments

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Im still acne free which I am extremely grateful for!!! ;) the hyperpigmentation has been fading slowly but surely. My face is healthier than it has been in years, and my family and friends have taken notice ;) however, my scarring is still present  which becomes more evident under certain harsh lighting . it makes me want to do.more in the near future (Mixto CO2 Laser) for the betterment of the texture of my skin , but for now I am super happy with how smooth it feels and how my skin tone keeps evening out!

Replies (5)

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July 9, 2015

Hey there, your skin looks great -- how are you doing, still clear of any breakouts? Has the hyper-pigmentation faded more?

July 10, 2015
Yeah, my face is pretty clear. The bright red and dark brown scars I used.to have have faded inmensely; they have become a lot more subtle. I do have scarring that would require resurfacing but Im super happy with how far my skin has come.
July 10, 2015
IEver since I was 13-14 Ihave always had at least 5 huge cystic pimples on my face at all times. There were times when there.was A LOT more! It was painful and frustrating. Now that im clear i feel liberated. And if i have a breakout its minor and manageable and no longer frustrating or disheartening
August 14, 2015
How has the oil production of your skin reacted to the cool touch laser? I also had cystic acne but now have it under control and I'm looking to do the procedure for oil control purposes.
August 14, 2015
Yes! I used to have extremely oily skin and it just aggravated my acne like crazy. And that's what the Cooltouch does: it shrinks the oil glsnds, and from the first treatment i felt a huge difference. My face is not nearly as oily as it was before and because of that, my face has stayed clear from cystic acne. But it's not too dry either, id say for me its just rright. I have only had two treatments but my skin is better than i could have ever imagined. It even helped smooth out some of my acne scars. It promotes collagen ggrowth and makes your face feel fresh. For my more severe scarring though Id have to have more Cooltouch treatments or a more aggressive laser like Mixto. But hey, im glad to hear your acne is under control, for me that was the hardest part. Until i had the cooltouch done and sticking to the right facial care routine at home helped too. Careful with makeup products especially if you wear foundation. And Cetaphil face wash, its brilliant. Neutrogena scrub has helped tons too. Good on you for continuing to look out for the good of your skin now that your acne free. All the best to you