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If simple hygiene and over the counter treatments are enough to treat mild cases of acne, a more drastic solution may be required for persistent, stubborn acne that does not respond to available treatment or which has the potential to result in scarring.

People with severe or persistent acne may wish to turn to alternative treatment methods. A dermatologist is qualified to advise a patient about treating acne with laser therapy or even surgery.

You must evaluate any acne treatments, such as surgery or laser therapy, which you might be considering. For example, you will want to fully understand how many treatments will be required, the costs of treatments, as well as any possible side effects. The right treatment for one person may not be the right treatment for the next person.

Laser treatments and surgery can be used to treat acne scarring but you also want to use treatments that will reduce the recurrence of acne as well. This can make the entire process of selecting the right acne treatments quite complex and confusing.

Laser Treatments for Acne

Laser technology has changed the way health care practitioners treat many health issues and acne falls into this category. Today, treatments that were unavailable for stubborn acne only a few years ago are not only available but quite affordable.

Treatments using lasers involve using carious wavelenghts of light aimed directly on the effected area. The wavelengths pulse as they contact the skin and destroy over-sized sebaceous glands and even acne lesions. Laser therapy can remove the outer skin layers to encourage new cell growth as a means of scar treatment.

The skin care professional will set the laser correctly to properly treat the acne-affected area. There are few side effects associated with these treatments, although they can be slightly uncomfortable. On the other hand, the treatments do not involve lots of messy creams or ingesting prescription medications.

There is much debate about how effective laser treatments are for acne. Even on treatment can make a difference in the skin appearance of some patients. Some patients experience side effects such as redness, burned skin that may last for a week or more and uneven skin appearance if the laser is not applied consistently. People with dark skin may experience skin discoloration after having acne treatments using a laser.

Surgery for Acne

Surgery for the treatment of acne can involve opening and draining clogged matter from the acne lesions. Blackhead and whitehead treatments do not require actual surgery. Instead, a nurse, dermatologist, or esthetician uses a small blade to open the lesion and remove the matter inside.

Severe cysts associated with acne may require excisional surgery. This is a more involved surgical process by which deep acne cysts can be removed. This surgery is avoided when possible because it tends to cause scarring.

If you have acne that does not respond well to treatments available over the counter, when paired with good skin care; do not despair. The laser treatments for acne can prevent your having to suffer annoying, painful acne blemishes or live with lifelong scars from these blemishes.

If you are suffering from acne, you might find it important to know that acne comes in different forms. The most common form of acne is what is known as ‘acne vulgaris’ which breaks out when the pores of the skin become partially blocked by oil and dead skin cells. Bacteria that is generally found on the skin surface then spreads on the area, resulting in pain and inflammation. In some cases the resulting pimples are accompanied by pus and oftentime a blackhead. The blackhead is not actually dirt, but merely a change in the pigment of the blockage.

While acne is often believed to the partly hereditary, there are other factors that can precede its onset. Among these is hormonal activity such as the menstrual cycle. Stress may also cause the dreaded zits due to increased production of hormones from the stress glands. Anabolic steroids also have the same effect, as medications containing halogens, lithium, barbiturates or androgens. A more severe form of acne called Chloracne is caused by exposure to high levels of chlorine. This type of acne is very severe and long lasting.

While acne normally heals over time by itself, it can take a long time, sometimes as long as a decade. If left untreated, acne may cause bad scarring of the skin. Scars are often a result of squeezing the pimples until they bleed.

Experts strongly warn against squeezing pimples because this can force the pus deeper into the skin. This deep-rooted infection can cause scarring and even cyst formation. It would be easier in the long run to prevent these scars than to treat them.

If you should squeeze a pimple for some reason, it must be done with caution with emphasis on cleanliness of your hands and items you might be using. Hands must be washed with disinfectant. If you plan to use a sterile needle to pierce a pus-filled pimple, the needle should be sterilized by passing it through a candle flame two or three times.

Some mature women have what they think is acne, but it may be the less common acne rosacea. It is similar to look at, but the skin is usually flushed and becomes thickened. People who blush easily are the most likely to develop this condition. Acne rosacea is frequently stress-related and is a potential threat to the vision, so a correct diagnosis is imperative. It is possible for the two forms of acne to co-exist. Another condition that can be mistaken for acne is keratosis pilaris.