Acne blemishes are a troubling condition for many - young and old alike - often marring an otherwise beautiful complexion. Though a difficult condition to care for, several options exist to treat acne and acne scarring.

Acne Treatment

If you have seen your dermatologist and exhausted all the traditional treatments, we may be able to help. At Rejuvena, we typically treat acne with mild acid peels, a combination of topical acids and the Elōs acne light system, or the Vibradermabrasion/Seda system. We may recommend a change in skin care regimen or the addition of an antibiotic to augment your procedures.

Topical acid peels at Rejuvena Cosmetic Medical Center include glycolic acid of several strengths, as well as combination mandelic/lactic acid. To get acne under control, it is usually recommended that you have weekly treatments for varying numbers of weeks, and less frequent treatments to maintain your new acne-free skin. Levulan (levulanic acid) is a more aggressive acid used in conjunction with Elōs.

The Elōs system blends advanced technologies, including bi-polar radiofrequency and targeted-spectrum light energy to attack the bacteria that cause acne, help control over-production of oils by the sebaceous glands and promote healing of damaged skin. A ten treatment series is usually suggested to help clear the skin of blemishes-- two treatments a week for five weeks.

The Vibraderm/Seda treatments aim at breaking the acne—inflammation—hyper-pigmentation cycle. Vibradermabrasion is a crystal and suction- free ermabrasion system that utilizes a diamond tip paddle. The hand-held paddle oscillates at a very high speed to exfoliate your skin and encourage collagen growth with no downtime. Weekly or less frequent treatments are recommended. Seda products are used in conjunction with these treatments to clear the skin more quickly and completely.

Acne Scarring Treatment

Acne scars form wherever acne advances to the point of injuring the dermis or deeper tissue. These injuries arise as an inflammatory response to sebaceous follicles becoming plugged with oils, bacteria and dead cells. The result is the formation of a scar – that discolored fibrous tissue with abnormal collagen function that replaces our healthy skin. Successful treatment of a scar requires both the removal of damaged epidermal tissue and the stimulation of new collagen to improve the region's tone and texture.

At Rejuvena, we treat acne scarring with Vibraderm, with or without the Med-Lite photo-rejuvenation procedure (namely, the "Rejuve"), or the Fraxel SR1500 (Fraxel II) non-ablative skin resurfacing laser. The Med-Lite Rejuve procedure requires a minimum of six treatments spaced approximately three weeks apart. It utilizes rapid laser firing and photo-acoustics to stimulate breakdown of the scar tissue and formation of new collagen fibers to decrease pitted scars and pigment changes.

Fraxel ll laser resurfacing removes damaged tissue and induces the formation of new collagen. This laser creates microscopic, but relatively deep, “wounds”. It actually removes damaged tissue gradually while stimulating collagen reformation at a deeper level than is possible with photo-rejuvenation systems. The healing time is minimal. The number of treatments required depends on the degree of scarring but ranges between six and ten treatments. Fraxel is FDA approved for treatment of acne scars. It is the first resurfacing procedure that is appropriate for all skin types. Fraxel can produce results that have a profound impact on appearance and self esteem.

Dr. Hardt can design a comprehensive treatment program to address your current condition, as well as a plan for blemish prevention and overall skin health.

At Rejuvena, we do not charge for consultations. To schedule your free consultation, please email or call us at (405)842-1100.