Acne Treatment

Acne vulgaris, known simply as acne, is among the most common skin diseases in the United States, affecting nearly 85% of people at some point in their lives. It tends to be worse during adolescence, but adult hormonal acne is common in women between the ages of 20-50. Acne appears in the form of blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, scaly or red areas, and lumps under the skin called nodules. Acne and acne scarring may cause a significant reduction in quality of life, depending on the individual patient.

Acne is related to changes in the hair follicle and oil glands in our skin. The causes of acne are multifactorial and can include:

• Clogged skin pores
• Hormonal changes
• Genetic factors
• Excess oil production by the skin’s oil glands
• Medications
• Environmental factors such as humidity or pollution
• Inflammation caused by bacteria

Acne breakouts appear most commonly on the face but can also appear on the chest, shoulders, upper arms, and back.

The mainstay of treatment has been topical medications such as over-the counter washes and creams. More severe acne can be managed by prescribed topical medications, oral antibiotics as well as dermabrasion and chemical peels. Other options now include light based and laser therapy such as IPL and now the SPECTRA™ laser available at Inkfree, MD. Whichever treatment modalities are used, it is important to note that there is not a cure for acne but it can be controlled and dramatically improved.

The SPECTRA™ laser provides one of the most gentle, efficacious and cost-effective treatments for acne. It both treats the immediate symptoms, the redness and pustules of active acne while helping to control re-occurrence. The heat from the laser dries up the ongoing outbreaks by decreasing the sebum production which is the primary cause of acne. Additionally, it kills the bacteria curing the active infection, shrinks large unsightly pores, and gently exfoliates the skin. All this with no downtime!

During alternating acne treatments, a light layer of carbon lotion is applied to the skin. The laser is then passed several times over the face to warm and then remove the lotion along with a fine layer of skin. The heat kills the bacteria and helps to shrink the sebaceous gland. The exfoliation also has the added bonus of stimulating collagen production which will help to reduce pore size and improve the overall appearance of the skin.

Acne is not a condition that can be cured, though it tends to improve with age and hormonal changes. Generally, we recommend a minimum of 6 treatments to reduce the appearance of redness and scarring and to decrease any pustules and nodules. Laser treatments are not permanent and therefore maintenance treatments are required to control outbreaks. This is part of our recommended ongoing skin care regimen, which includes the incorporation of skin care products and lifestyle adjustments.

Individual Acne treatments range from $99 – $149. We offer discounted pricing for children (18 & under), As with most of our treatments, significant package discounts are available. Acne treatment packages are available in quantities of 5 or 10 treatments. Since there is no cure, effective treatment of Acne is an ongoing process. We have priced this treatment accordingly and will make every effort to ensure that your goals are achieved as affordably as possible.

We often have specials available for this treatment, so please check our Specials page frequently.

If you are in the Houston area and would like to discuss your acne treatment options, please call Dr. Adaeze Okeke (Inkfree, MD Laser Clinic) at (832) 478-5669 to schedule your free consultation.