Acne

Our office is pleased to evaluate acne in patients of all ages. This is a common skin condition that affects not only teenagers, but also men and women into their adult years. Acne is a complex skin disorder related not only to blockage of the pores but also to excessive oil production within the skin, compounded by the presence of acne-producing bacteria. Our treatments are multi-faceted, with a choice of many prescription products which aim to reverse or offset some of the abnormalities listed above.

We also offer a number of procedures which can be very effective in the treatment of acne. Microdermabrasion is a gentle procedure without any down-time, performed every two to three weeks in the office. It encourages more rapid turnover of the epidermal cells and is very effective for comedonal acne, as characterized by blocked pores. While some patients have closed comedones or whiteheads which appear more smooth and raised in outline, other patients have the more classic blackheads, otherwise known as open comedones.  

The second type of procedure that we offer for our acne patients is Chemical Peels . The patient has a choice of topical solutions applied to the skin to encourage exfoliation and normalization of the follicle. Chemical peels also have the potential to even out the color or pigmentation of the skin. Many patients like a milder chemical peel that uses either Glycolic or Salicylic Acid or a TCA solution. After the procedure, the patient experiences several days of redness and peeling to the skin, not unlike a healing sunburn, but without the painful discomfort. As with Microdermabrasion treatments, it is best to have a series of chemical peels performed every two to four weeks over a couple of months. 

An exciting new treatment for our acne patients uses energy from a laser light source. We now offer Pulsed Dye LASER treatments which have been found to effectively kill acne-causing bacteria within the pore. Fewer bacteria means less breakdown of fatty molecules within the oil gland and pore, thereby decreasing the number of red or raised papular lesions. LASER treatments have only minimal discomfort and no down-time so there is no unsightly wound or crusting to the skin.

Also, our LASER can be combined with a topical solution, known as Levulan, as part of a procedure known as PDT or photodynamic therapy. The painless Levulan solution is applied to the skin one hour before the laser treatment and greatly accelerates the ability of the laser to kill acne-causing bacteria deep within the pores. This has the added benefit of shrinking the size of the sebaceous oil glands and evidence is mounting that this procedure may lead to a prolonged clearing of acne lesions. In summary, our Laser can be used either alone or in combination with topical Levulan to improve acne.

Lastly, patients with severe cystic lesions of acne often do very well with a four to five-month course of oral isotretinoin, formerly known as Accutane. Dr. Mowbray has treated hundreds of patients with isotretinoin and he would be pleased to talk to you about this drug, if you have failed other types of acne treatment.  

Please give our office a call to set up an appointment so that we can evaluate your type of acne and decide the best plan of action to achieve the clear complexion that you have been looking for.