Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States. Though it predominantly affects teenagers, acne can occur at any age. Typical over-the-counter acne medications don’t offer long-lasting results because they don’t target the root cause of acne and scarring. We offer personalized acne treatments to help you achieve smooth, acne-free skin for life.
What is Acne?
Acne, also known as acne vulgaris, is a long-term skin disease that occurs when hair follicles are clogged with dead skin cells and oil from the skin. It is characterized by blackheads or whiteheads, pimples, oily skin, and possible scarring. It primarily affects areas of the skin with a relatively high number of oil glands, including the face, upper part of the chest, and back. The resulting appearance can lead to anxiety and reduced self-esteem.
Types of Acne:
- Comedonal Acne: This type of acne is caused by excess oil and dead skin cells plugging up the pores. It is characterized by blackheads or whiteheads.
- Inflammatory Acne: This type of acne is characterized by redness, swelling, and pus-filled pimples. It is caused by bacteria getting trapped in the pores
- Cystic Acne: This is the most painful type of acne. It is characterized by large, red, and pus-filled pimples. Cystic acne is caused by hormonal changes, genetics, and bacteria.
Persistent Acne Scarring
Acne scars are the end result of acne. Scars form when the deeper layers of the skin are damaged. Persistent acne breakouts damage the deeper layers of your skin, leading to acne scars that don’t fade away. When you’re young, acne scars heal quickly because your body produces a high volume of collagen. But as you grow older, your ability to produce collagen decreases by 1% every year, so your acne scars don’t heal quickly, leading to permanent scarring. Treatments such as RF microneedling help stimulate collagen production and promote healthy, smooth skin.
Types of Acne Scars:
- Atrophic Scars: These are depressed regions on the skin with a pitted appearance. When the skin can’t heal properly because of compromised collagen production, you develop atrophic scars. Some of the most common types of atrophic scars include ice-pick scars, boxcar scars, and rolling scars.
- Hypertrophic Scars: These are lifted from the skin’s surface because of excess collagen production during the recovery process after an injury. They look like small bumps on the skin and have a bubble-like appearance, and they’re usually the same size as the original pimples.
- Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation: These are the discolored marks left after your acne is cured or treated. After acne breakouts, your body triggers a healing process that may lead to excess pigment production, which can lead to hyperpigmentation. This may lead to dark spots on your skin.
Laser Skin Resurfacing for Acne Scars
Laser skin resurfacing is a common treatment for acne scars. Laser skin resurfacing uses concentrated beams of light to target damaged skin cells. The light from the laser destroys the damaged cells, causing them to peel away over several days and weeks. This reveals new, healthy skin cells. Laser skin resurfacing can be done using two types of lasers: ablative lasers and non-ablative lasers.
Ablative lasers remove the top layer of skin, and non-ablative lasers target the deeper layers of skin to stimulate collagen production and heal atrophic scars. Our medical providers will select the appropriate type of laser based on the type of acne scars you have. The end goal is to remove the damaged skin cells and stimulate collagen production to improve skin tone/texture.
Medical-Grade Skincare for Acne
Many different factors can contribute to the development of acne. The most common include excess oil production, clogged pores, acne-causing bacteria (p.acnes), and inflammation. Since acne can be caused by numerous underlying factors, acne treatment must also be personalized. Our nurse practitioners and medical providers carefully assess your skin quality, discuss your symptoms, review your medical history, ask about your medications, and determine the root cause of acne breakouts.
After a thorough evaluation, our nurse practitioners offer medical-grade skincare products to combat the root cause of acne. Medical-grade skincare products treat acne by reducing oil production, clearing clogged pores, and reducing inflammation. Our skincare products clear the dead skin cells and debris from your pores, following which they regulate excess sebum production. They also contain ingredients that kill the acne-causing bacteria, thus helping you achieve and maintain acne-free skin.
Why Choose Apex Health & Wellness?
Apex Health & Wellness is a boutique medical spa and primary care facility specializing in cutting-edge aesthetic treatments. Our nurse practitioners carefully examine your skin, discuss your goals and concerns, review your medical history, and understand the root cause of your acne breakouts and scarring. After a thorough evaluation, they curate a personalized treatment plan to help you achieve smooth, acne-free skin. Please schedule an appointment to explore your acne treatment options in Medford, OR.
