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Many men and women who have had cystic acne during their lives
are often left with deep, depressed
scars that give the skin a crater-like or orange-peel appearance.
These scars are a result of collagen and epidermal damage and
do not go away without treatment. Frequently acne scars also
retain a red appearance that cause them to be even more noticeable.
Acne
and acne scars have some of the most profound negative psychological
effects of any skin condition. Acne scar improvement most often requires special combinations of treatments.
Some will respond well to a collagen-building laser, while others will need a combination of lasers such as Fraxel and Vbeam. Smoothing and sculpting the scar
with the use of lasers, chemical peels, fillers or micro-surgical
procedures dramatically alter the appearance of acne and other
scars.
Each "scar profile" can be improved, whether the scars
are dense, isolated, red, "ice-pick" or the more common
crater shaped. Smoother clearer skin with vastly diminished
scar appearance can be achieved with a wide array of highly
effective treatments.
Acne
Scar Treatments
Non-Invasive
Lasers
SmoothBeam: A non-invasive
way to treat acne scars. Non-invasive lasers do not cut or
remove the skin surface. Instead, their action occurs underneath
the outer layers of the skin. Because the laser works at
a deep level, you won't experience any pain or peeling. By stimulating
the dermis with the laser's thermal beam, scars are gradually
filled in by your body's own collagen.
The Smoothbeam
laser employs a revolutionary, patented process with DCD (Dynamic
Cooling Device). This device first deep-cools the area of skin
to be treated with a short blast of cryogen spray which protects
the epidermis. This is instantly followed by the laser beam
which targets the upper dermis. This combined cooling/heating
process protects the outer layer of skin while allowing the
heat to reprogram the collagen-building process within the deeper
layers of your skin. The scars are then filled in from the
"inside out" by the production of this new collagen.
Multiple treatments are necessary to stimulate the collagen
and minimize the acne scars.
Smoothbeam
is an excellent "active acne" treatment. Double
benefits of greatly reducing active acne lesions - which
prevents future scarring - and scar reduction are
provided in the same treatment.
VBeam: Taking the Red out of Acne Scars
The "red" left behind in acne scars is a result
of tiny broken capillaries at the site of the healed acne
lesion. This redness is more common to "newer" acne
scars and is hard to conceal, making the evidence of acne
more pronounced, even after it has healed. Lasers which target
these broken capillaries cause the small vessels to coagulate
and be reabsorbed by the body. This effectively removes the
redness.
V-Beam (Pulsed Dye Laser) is commonly used for the
treatment of red acne scars, stretch marks and keloids, which
are thickened scar tissue. It is also useful in treating the
redness and broken vessels in the skin caused by Rosacea.
The V-Beam laser usually requires three to five treatments.
Because the VBeam uses a similar cooling and deep heating
process to that of the SmoothBeam (though the target is the
broken vessel) the treatment is well-tolerated and protects
the outer surface of the skin.
The combination of
V-Beam and Smoothbeam lasers are commonly used during the
same session to improve acne scars. There is no down-time
for either Smoothbeam or Vbeam laser treatments. Procedures
are nearly painless...the laser pulse feels somewhat similar
to the light "snap" of a rubber band.
Photo
Source: Candela Laser
SmoothBeam
Targeting of Collagen-Producing Dermis
The blue area is the
DCD-protected epidermal layer
The red area is the targeted
collagen-producing upper dermis
VBeam
Protective Cooling and Target Treating
The blue area is the
DCD-protected epidermal layer
The yellow beam selectively
targets the broken vessels
(Source: Candela Laser)
Dermal
Fillers: Restylane, Collagen or other filling-material
injections are also used for the treatment of acne scars. The
scar is first lifted and then filled with these products. This
procedure is great for patients with severe scarring caused
by acne, chicken pox, or scars from previous surgeries. This
is a quick procedure performed in our office that causes little
discomfort and minimal downtime.
Restylane link
Juvederm link
Collagen link Cosmoderm
link
Chemical
Peels: work well for mild to moderate acne scarring
and also help even out the skin’s tone. A physician-strength
peel, such as the Blue Peel or High Concentration Salicylic
Acid Peel is used. These chemical solutions are applied to the
skin causing a reaction similar to sunburn. After the skin completely
peels over several days, new, smoother skin will replace the
damaged skin. Chemical
Peel link
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Ablative
Lasers
Ablative
lasers are reserved for the
most serious scarring. Because they remove outer layers of skin,
recovery time is longer, but results are permanent and affect
the skin at the deepest level.
Erbium:Yag:
This laser emits short bursts of energy that allows for
precise sculpting of the scar. Recovery times are now faster
and the redness that accompanies laser is now also shorter.
Erbium
link
The latest CO2 laser, Fraxel Re:pair:
For lifting deeper scars. It produces more heat than the Erbium:
Yag laser, allowing energy to penetrate deeper into the skin
to tighten the skin’s collagen. When the collagen is tighter,
it causes the scars to lift and look smoother. Recovery time
takes 4 to 7 days.
Fraxel CO2
Laser link
New Fiber
Fractional Laser
Fraxel Restore:
The Fraxel laser is a hybrid system using a fiber laser. It
is unique in that it does not remove all the top layer of skin
at once. Treatment areas are miniature "dots'. This allows
the skin to heal almost overnight with very minimal downtime or
side effects. Most patients only experience slight reddening
similar to a sunburn. Fraxel Re:store is delivered in a series of
treatments.
See Dr. Pilest's Patient in Progress
Fraxel Re:store Laser Link
Surgical and
Micro-Surgical Procedures
Punch
excision surgery is an option for individuals
with deep “ice pick” scars that have not improved with laser
surgery. In this procedure, the scar is surgically removed and
a patch of skin from elsewhere on the patient’s body is placed
into the space, the wound is then closed with stitches.
Subcision
is a procedure that involves using a needle to get underneath
the scar disconnecting the fibers under the scar that are holding
the scar down and keeping it indented.
Silicon
gel pads are an option for patients who are not good candidates
for the above procedures due to the current or recent use of
Accutane or a tendency to get keloids. Silicone gel pads are
similar to bandages in that they can slightly reduce the appearance
of scars but seem to work best on fresh scars.
During
your office consultation you will be provided with a detailed
plan of the treatments that will benefit you most. Please Contact
Us for a consultation appointment or with any questions
you may have.
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2008 © Total Dermatology is one of Southern California's top laser dermatology centers offering
laser treatments for
sundamage,
pigmentation,
acne and acne scars
and
Fraxel CO2 laser for 3 in 1 skin rejuvenation. A Nonsurgical Nose Job is possible with simple injections of Radiesse.
Dr. Pilest, a Board Certified dermatologist and one of Orange County's most
popular cosmetic dermatology specialists, offers patients in Orange County a wide variety of
wrinkle fillers such as
Restylane,
Juvederm,
Cosmoderm and Cosmoplast,
Radiesse (also known as Radiance), and
Sculptra. Dr. Pilest treats patients from the Newport Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills,
Tustin, Mission Viejo and Orange County area as well as cities throughout California, the United States and abroad.
He is recognized as a master level injection specialist and is a national
teaching faculty member for Bioform Medical. Dr. Pilest is well known for his
expert treatments in managing
Rosacea,
acne, and
hyperpigmentation.
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