How To Prevent And Get Rid Of Acne Scars For Good
Because my acne was severe, I had a full-face treatment for four months. In total it has cost 1,200, but has been worth every penny. For more information on N-Lite call: 0800 298 9694. THE GREEN PEEL The Green Peel is the first herbal ‘facial peel’ medically developed to use on acnescarred skin. Many chemical peels are too harsh, but this is gentler and does not contain harsh irritants. It consists of a blend of natural herbs including horsetail, ribwort, marigold, Micheline McAteer what she looked like before aloe vera, chamomile and various algae. The intensity of the peeling can be regulated individually by the amount of pressure applied and the duration of the massage. Removal of the outer layer of the skin stimulates the growth zone of the skin to produce new cells. Michelin McAteer is a 34-year old single reflexologist from North London. She says: It was my early teens when I first developed acne. My father used to have it, too. By my late teens I had used all the usual creams and washes but it persisted. By my mid-20s, I was on frequent courses of antibiotics. They would clear it up temporarily but it would return within months. I was always self-conscious about my face. And as I grew older I started to experiment with make-up and foundation to cover the marks. This helped and boosted my confidence, but it has also become a crutch for me. Even now I never leave home without my foundation and my greatest wish is never to have to use it again. Last year, I went back to my doctor because my acne has been getting gradually worse. I have since been on two different courses of antibiotics but I refuse to take any more because I feel too many are bad for me. A colleague told me about a new peel that could be used on acne. Most peels are chemical and so it’s advised that they are not used on acne-scarred skin. But this one was different. The treatment felt grainy and was rubbed over the skin for 20 minutes. About half-way through my skin started to prickle and become sensitive and warm. Two thirds of the way through my face felt hot, and the rubbing action was starting to become quite painful. My skin felt tender afterwards and hot for up to 24 hours. I imagined my face was bright red but, in fact, it had a nice glow and looked healthy and slightly plumper. For those 24 hours my face was very sensitive as I had to cleanse and http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=172367 apply more after-care products. By the third day it felt a lot better and my facial skin had started to peel. After a week, my skin was clearer than in years and the scarring noticeably less. That treatment cost 250 and I intend to have two more, over the next six months. My acne isn’t gone yet, but my skin is smoother and less blotchy after just one treatment. For further information on the Green Peel call: 020 7937 2882. CLEAR LIGHT LASER The Clear Light Laser is a new therapeutic UV laser that can effectively clear more than 60 per cent of acne lesions in four weeks, say the manufacturers. The light triggers the proliferation of naturally occurring porphyrins, pigment-forming compounds, which attack and destroy the acne bacteria and help repair the skin. Nicola Worthington is a 29-year old housewife from Dagenham, who is married with three children. She says: I developed acne when I was 19 and have had it on and off ever since. It got considerably worse after I had the children. I developed a habit of putting my hands over my cheeks when I talked to people, especially men, because I was so aware of it. I have taken various antibiotics and had even tried the contraceptive pill Dyanette for the acne but nothing has cleared it up permanently. After an unsuccessful visit to a skin specialist, I finally contacted the Acne Support Group which put me in contact with a dermatologist at the Woodford Clinic in Essex where I was introduced to Clear Light. The treatment took about 40 minutes and throughout it felt like my face was being slowly heated up, on a powerful sunbed. It wasn’t painful although it was uncomfortable. It wasn’t until the third treatment that I started to notice a difference. My skin remained hot and felt slightly burnt for up to 12 hours afterwards, at which point it cooled and tightened. Once this had happened I could see my skin starting to smooth out. The redness died down and I was left with a clear rosy glow instead of looking grey and bumpy. The scarring was visibly improved although under a harsh light I can still see my scars. But under normal lighting and with normal make up my skin looks about 50 per cent smoother and less puckered. The treatment cost 50 for one session and I think I will need six.
There is a major difference between acne marks and scars. People with darker skin often see post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation — marks that appear brown. Those with lighter skin often develop post-inflammatory erythema — which show up as purple or red marks. Acne scars are deep indentations that are usually caused from picking at a blemish (though not always). They take much longer to remove and and can only be erased with laser treatment. Atrophic scars appear as indentations in the skin. One type of atrophic scarring commonly seen as a result of acne is often referred to as an ice pick scar, which appears more deep than wide. Hypertrophic scars appear as thick, raised bumps on the surface of skin. “A true acne scar is when your body takes that healing process one step further and is not able to actually form the collagen the normal way. All the enzymes that are in the area of the acne lesion http://www.clearclinic.com eat away at things like collagen and elastin,” explained Dr. Bowe. “In the case that the inflammation is so great, the collagen and elastic tissue is not able to regenerate completely, or it does in a sort of disorganized or pathologic and not healthy fashion, and you’re left with a scar.” So http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-156088/Do-latest-acne-cures-really-work.html you have a pimple. What is the best way to lessen your chances of marking or scarring? Dr. Jennifer MacGregor , a dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology in New York City, recommends getting your acne under control from the start. That may seem obvious, but Dr. MacGregor believes it’s important to take the time to go into a doctor’s office and get prescribed the best and safest products for your skin type. “I’ve seen a lot of people who use too many abrasive products at home and a lot of people who get things off eBay or things at the health food store,” said Dr. MacGregor. “Those products have a variety of things in them that can cause inflammation and irritation.” If you have cystic pimples, Dr. MacGregor recommends calling your dermatologist and popping into the office for a quick visit to receive a cortisone injection (a steroid hormone). The shot will reduce inflammation drastically, thus lowering the chance of you being tempted to pop the pimple and create a deeper mark. “For my patients, it doesn’t even require a full appointment,” said Dr. MacGregor. “The injection melts away the pimple in 24 to 48 hours.” What if you can’t make it to a dermatologist? MacGregor believes the best thing to reduce the chance of scarring is to use on-the-spot treatments in moderation. “I suggest soaking the blemish at night and warming it up a little bit to loosen up the pus and then doing a spot treatment with a mild benzoyl peroxide,” she said. Her favorite on-the-spot treatments include sulfur masks with 2.5 benzoyl peroxide and Neutrogena’s On-the-Spot Acne Treatment . Well, the pimple’s gone, but there it is… the mark. How do you get rid of it fast? If you have darker skin, that brown mark is going to be there for about six months before it starts lightening up. But we know you want it to go away faster. Dr. Bowe suggests using an at-home product with glycolic or salicylic acid to exfoliate the skin and help bring those dark skin cells to the surface. Or you can go to a dermatologist and get a glycolic acid peel to lighten up the dark spots. She also touts natural remedies to help brighten up your skin. Soy, kojic acid (a pigment lightening agent derived from mushrooms) and even licorice have been shown to remove dark spots. While those with darker pigmentation may resort to brightening creams to help remedy their situation, Dr. MacGregor said you should proceed with caution. She strongly advises avoiding any cream that contains hydroquinone, an ingredient used in most brightening creams. “Hydroquinone can cause grey pigmentation where the skin actually turns grey,” she said. Both doctors recommend the use of retinoid skin products for both kinds of acne marks. These creams brighten and heal the skin. For an over-the-counter solution, Dr.
The Thinking Blog 