| Cystic acne denies personal privacy. It's like wearing a | | | | For example, in a study presented in the Journal of |
| billboard that yells, "Yes, something is wrong with my | | | | Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, scientists treated |
| skin!" Acne poses multiple cosmetic and emotional | | | | women suffering with severe acne with the |
| problems for women, and as researchers Christina | | | | LaserPeel (2940nm ebium: YAG laser). During the |
| Williams and Alison Layton found, transforming a | | | | investigation, patients received three laser sessions |
| nodule infested face into flawless skin takes time and | | | | over the course of three months and witnessed |
| a serious patient commitment. But no one wants to, | | | | satisfactory improvements in their inflamed acne |
| or should, have to wait indefinitely to "look better". | | | | lesions. |
| To ease the burden of cystic acne, a qualitative | | | | Likewise, investigators using a Glass laser (1540nm |
| study of women with acne presented in Canadian | | | | ebium:Glass laser) observed that this treatment |
| Family Physician found that many females get | | | | created an isotretinoin-like effect on the skin- it |
| cosmetic relief from supportive family members, | | | | shrank the oil follicle size. Moreover, patients noted |
| using makeup to cover acne lesions and trying self | | | | that the oil-reducing effect and minimal acne |
| help methods. | | | | incidences lasted for at last a year after the laser |
| When isotretinoin is not enough | | | | treatment. |
| Women may also soothe away acne pain using | | | | Even though laser treatments are pricey, it's hard to |
| isotretinoin, a drug released in the 1980s to treat | | | | put a price on dramatically improving the way you |
| severe acne that does not respond to three months | | | | look and feel. |
| of moderate acne medications. Since its arrival to | | | | Sources: |
| pharmacies, examiners have consistently tested the | | | | Angel, Sylvie; Dominique Boineau, Serge Dahan & |
| efficacy of isotretinoin. | | | | Serge Mordon. Treatment of active acne with an |
| Though isotretinoin stands as a superior acne | | | | Er:Glass (1.54 µm) laser: A 2-year follow-up |
| preventing agent, according to a recent historical | | | | study. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy; |
| review of isotretinoin published in Dermatology, | | | | December 2006, vol 8, no 4 , pp 171-176. |
| patients can experience cystic acne relapses after a | | | | Magin, Parker et al. Psychological sequelae of acne |
| course of treatment. For instance, if the first | | | | vulgaris: Results of a qualitative study. Canadian |
| prescription of isotretinoin is too low, patients may | | | | Family Physician, August 10, 2006; vol 52, no 8, p |
| endure severe acne again-sometimes within three | | | | 979-986. |
| months to a year after having used isotretinoin. | | | | Zaniewski, Michelle; Sukhbir Inder & Paramjit Basra. |
| Laser treatments to make the skin look better | | | | Erbium:YAG laser resurfacing in patients with inflamed |
| When oral medications do not provide cosmetic | | | | cystic acne. Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, |
| improvements fast enough, women can opt for | | | | December 2006; vol 8, no 4, pp 163-166. |
| in-office doctor treatments. Now, lasers are replacing | | | | Zouboulis, Christos. The truth behind this undeniable |
| quick-fix acne treatments like steroids injections that | | | | efficacy -Recurrence rates and relapse risk factors of |
| reduce the inflammation cystic lesions can induce. And | | | | acne treatment with oral isotretinoin. Dermatology, |
| unlike temporary injections, lasers seem to impart | | | | 2006; no 212, pp 99-100. |
| lasting results. | | | | |