Acne & Acne Scarring
State-of-the-Art Treatments for Smoother Skin
You don’t have to live with acne or its physical and emotional scars. State-of-the-art treatment options offer effective solutions for smoother, clearer skin. Dr. Key is a board-certified dermatologist who has treated thousands of patients of all ages and skin types. He has been on the leading edge of innovation in cosmetic dermatology and is an expert in lasers, microneedling, light, and radiofrequency energy to quickly and painlessly treat acne and acne scars on the face and body.
Available Treatments
At Key Laser Institute, we offer several different laser treatment options to treat both acne and acne scarring. The best treatment for your needs may depend on your skin type, acne type, or lifestyle. Learn more about the various treatments for you by scheduling a consultation with our accredited team.
Causes of Acne and Acne Scars
Acne is caused by buildup of bacteria in the pores of the skin, causing an inflammatory reaction. Often, acne is caused by things on the skin like oil, dirt, dead skin cells, or makeup, but it can also be tied to factors like hormones or stress. In fact, for some patients, stressing about breakouts can even worsen acne.
Acne scars are a product of acne breakouts. When you experience acne, the skin responds by creating scar tissue, called collagen – this process is not perfect, which means it may sometimes result in an acne scar. Sometimes, it creates too much collagen, which results in developing acne scars that are raised above the skin. If the skin creates too little collagen in response, it can result in sunken acne scars (called atrophic acne scars). In either case, interfering with the wound healing process or trying to pop or alleviate severe acne can make acne scars permanent.
Types of Acne and Acne Scars
Acne lesions can come in many different forms, but the type of acne most likely to cause scarring is cystic acne. Cystic acne is a type of severe acne where a small cyst forms deep under the skin, swelling and damaging nearby skin. Other types of acne such as pimples, papules, nodules, blackheads, and whiteheads are common.
Several types of acne scars exist, all of which are caused by the development of scar tissue after a breakout. These include:
- Ice pick scars
- Boxcar scars
- Keloid scars
- Rolling scars
Acne scars can also be pigmented, appearing reddish or darker versus the surrounding skin. Others may have a lighter appearance – these are called hyperpigmented and hypopigmented scars respectively.
How to Treat Acne and Acne Scars
Active Acne
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to make acne a thing of the past, and face the future with clear, bright and smooth skin? Lasers can’t cure acne, but can make a big difference, especially when nothing else has worked. The energy based treatment choices, such as IPL, Gentle YAG, and CoolBreeze can shrink sebaceous glands, stimulate the growth of new collagen, shed congested pores, prevent acne scars, and target and destroy acne-causing bacteria.
Acne Scarring
We know that bad acne scarring can cause extensive emotional distress. Both your skin and your self-confidence can be improved dramatically with a treatment plan that fits your lifestyle and budget. Treating acne scars is all about stimulating collagen to heal the skin from within. Depending on the severity of your scars and depth of scarring, a treatment plan that is best for you would be chosen.
For more surface scarring, the laser energies need to be in the upper and mid layers of the skin. PicoSure FOCUS treatments are a great choice and are often used in combination with CoolBreeze. For more textural porous scarring, Fraxel treatments may be best chosen for you. Deeper scarring needs greater depth of collagen building. Our GENIUS, or Fractional Carbon Dioxide laser resurfacing, may be your best treatment choice. Ask us how injecting your own Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) cells can play a role in greater healing of your scars. Subcision, TCA Cross, and as well as Bellafill injections can all play a part in your treatment program.
Am I a Good Candidate for Acne and Acne Scars Treatment?
If you’re looking for a way to treat acne and remove acne scars, you may be a good candidate for many of our treatments. Many patients have tried unsuccessfully to treat it at home, which leads them to seek out professional treatment. Acne and acne scar treatment can help your skin heal and prevent further breakouts so you can begin to enjoy smooth, acne-free skin.
What to Know About Acne and Acne Scars Treatment
During a consultation, our team will review your health history to ensure your treatment plan will be appropriate. Some treatments require you to stop using retinols, so we will go over your at-home skincare regimen in detail. After treatment, you can expect some redness and sensitivity. Our team will provide a detailed aftercare regimen based on your skin type and needs. Treatment for acne and acne scars is often an ongoing process and requires multiple treatments for best results. It also goes hand-in-hand with discovering the underlying causes of acne and adjusting to prevent further skin damage and breakouts.
Schedule a Consultation
Our expertise in regenerative medicine will get you on a path to smoother, healthier skin. To learn more about acne scarring and acne, contact our Portland, OR office today.