Bigappleskin.com

THE BLEMISH BATTLE: PRO VS FAUXAre you no longer a teenager, but stil battling annoying breakouts while also fighting the signs of aging. A smal consolation, but the good news is you are not alone. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 40 to 50 million Americans have acne at some point in their life, and it is the most common skin problem in the US. “Acne is always caused by hormonal imbalances, usual y too much male hormone (testosterone) or not enough female hormone (estrogen) in a person’s system,” says New York City-based dermatologist “Even if the levels of those are in the normal range, an abnormal male to female hormone ratio can affect the skin.” Red, inflamed bumps form when pores clog with p.acnes (bacteria that live on our skin) or excess oil gets trapped in hair follicles. Topical retinoids—Retin A, Adapalene, Tazarotene—and products with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide are usual y the first line of defense when it comes to treating acne. Retinoids increase cel turnover and de-gunk pores as wel as help smooth fine lines and wrinkles; salicylic acid exfoliates and disintegrates the oil and dirt in pores and fights inflammation; and benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria that cause acne.
For moderate to severe cases of acne, topical and oral antibiotics are often prescribed, which kil bacteria and ease inflammation; however, once you go off oral antibiotics the acne issues often come back.
Over the past few years, derms have been favoring the use of high-tech lasers and light therapies to help treat the underlying causes of acne. “Not al laser systems are equal y effective,” says Hel man. “Some laser and other light-based techniques aim to eliminate p.acnes. These treatments do not work for the long term, since the p.acnes organism returns to the hair fol icles and continues to cause pimples.” Hellman prefers the Pulsed Dye Laser (PDL), which targets redness and inflammation, and after just a few treatments gets rid of acne for the long term. “Once the blood vessels specific to those pimples are treated and gone, those spots do not flare up anymore,” adds Hellman. “I prefer lasers to oral medications, since they only aim at the skin, and do not pose any potential harm to other organ systems in the body.” Prices for PDL or light therapy treatments can vary depending on the size of the affected area, but expect to pay about $400 per session.
Often times, once you get rid of acne, you are left with scarring. Sublative rejuventation laser treatment— andgnificantly transform acne scarring by heating the deep layers of the dermis with bi-polar radiofrequency to increase collagen production and smooth deep acne scars with minimal downtime. Prices range from $500 to $1000 per treatment.
There’s an abundance of good over-the-counter acne fighters these days, many containing quality ingredients that do not dry the skin; however, if your acne does not get better after a few weeks of using the product, it’s best to go see a dermatologist.

Source: http://www.bigappleskin.com/binbag2.pdf