Acne treatments in southern Ontario.
Acne is THE most common troublesome skin condition. It does not discriminate by age or gender, and can have negative long-term physical and emotional effects on those who suffer from it. If you find it’s rare for a day to go by without experiencing a blemish on your skin, it may be time to work with a medical professional to help bring your skin back into balance. In this post, Nurse Natalie delves into the various treatment plans she created for her various acne patients. As there are different degrees of acne severity and accompanying scars, she tailored these plans to address each individual’s needs.
Nurse Natalie’s Acne Solutions
Concern: Mild Acne, Enlarged Pores and Pigmented Scars.
Products Recommended:
- Obagi Clenziderm Acne System
- SkinMedica Retinol 0.1
- Broad Band Light (BBL) Laser- 4 treatments
Treatment Plan:
For this patient’s skin concerns, the first step was pre-treating the skin with Clenziderm Acne System for 2-4 weeks. We then had the patient complete a series of Broad Band Light (BBL) treatments 3-4 weeks apart, while continuing to use Clenziderm system in between treatments. In this case, the BBL treatment helped correct the redness and inflammation of the skin as well as decrease the acne bacteria. It tightened the pores, improved skin tone/texture and decreased the number of breakouts.
Concern: Acne Scars (ice pick scars/rolling scars or divots) and Enlarged Pores.
Products Recommended:
- SkinMedica Retinol 0.1
- Obagi Clenziderm Pore Therapy Toner
- ProFractional Laser Resurfacing- 4 treatments
- Broad Band Light (BBL) Laser- 4 treatments
- Micro Laser Peel Superficial Resurfacing- 2 treatments
Treatment Plan:
Acne scars are one of the most common skin concerns I see. Often patients have suffered from cystic acne in the past, and while their acne is now under control, deep scars are often left on their skin. For this type of concern, I usually recommend ProFractional laser resurfacing every 8 weeks combined with skin care products, including Obagi Clenziderm Toner in the morning and SkinMedica Retinol at night, in between treatments.
There are situations in which I will recommend a patient combine BBL treatments with the ProFractional laser, as it enhances the results of the treatment. I will also combine MicroLaserPeel with ProFractional laser, depending on the depth and severity of the scarring, to make the procedure more aggressive to achieve optimal results.
I love combining these different procedures – BBL, MicroLaserPeel, and Profractional – together as they complement each other in a very effective way. Each procedure has its own benefits and when we treat a patient with this trifecta, the results are amazing!
Concern: Active Acne and Mild Scarring.
Products Recommended:
- Obagi Clenziderm Acne System
- AFA Chemical Peel- 2 treatments
- Broad Band Light (BBL) Laser- 4-6 treatments
- MicroLaserPeel- 1-2 treatments
Treatment Plan:
In my experience, I have found that the best way to address this condition is with an effective three pronged approach. Firstly, I begin by applying an AFA chemical peel on the patient, which helps to exfoliate the skin’s surface and purge any acne underneath. Next, after a short recovery period allowing the skin to fully heal, the patient begins a self-treatment with the Obagi Clenziderm Acne System.
The final stage of the treatment begins two weeks later with a series of BBL Acne treatments. The first two sessions are spaced 2-3 weeks apart. At this stage, I assess the patient’s progress, which is typically characterized by a visible reduction of acne lesions. Additional BBL treatments are then scheduled every 4 weeks to realize the clearest results. Once the active acne has been significantly diminished, I recommend 1-2 MicroLaserPeel treatments to address any mild scarring and improve the skin texture.
Concern: Maintaining Your Results.
Once the patient achieves their skin goals, I recommend a BBL treatment every three months. This helps maintain their newly rejuvenated skin in conjunction with their daily at-home products–the SkinMedica Retinol and Obagi Clenziderm Pore Therapy Toner–to maximize results.
In my experience, patients who opt to address their acne with these drug-free solutions improve the overall health, texture and vitality of their skin. Not only do they achieve clear skin, the laser and light treatments help to repair any accumulative sun damage, so patients get a head-start on correcting the first signs of aging too. If you’ve been suffering from acne, or you’d like to correct the acne scars that have been left behind, I would love to help you! Contact the clinic to book a consultation with me today!
