As many as 50 million Americans suffer from acne, the most common skin problem in the United States. While several drug therapies can help today, some have unwanted and even dangerous side effects that can put a patient’s health at risk.
At Sanctuary Cosmetic Center in McLean and Dulles, Virginia, Soheila Rostami, MD, FAAO, FAACS, and Joseph K. Davidson, MD, FACS, offer innovative AviClear™ acne treatment, the first FDA-cleared energy device designed to treat all types of acne — without medication. If you have stubborn acne, here’s how AviClear could help.
Acne begins in your hair follicles. Each follicle contains tiny glands that produce an oily substance called sebum. This substance helps keep your skin moist, supple, and healthy.
Sometimes, the follicles get clogged with excess oil, dead skin cells, and other debris. Bacteria that normally live on your skin get trapped inside the follicles, feeding on debris and multiplying in the warm, protected environment.
As the bacteria multiply, they cause an inflammatory response in your skin, leading to pimples, whiteheads, and blackheads. Hormones can exacerbate the cycle, which is why acne is so common during puberty when hormone levels fluctuate, often dramatically.
Acne can range from mild to severe. Very severe acne can wind up leaving scars. Early treatment is important for reducing flare-ups and preventing scarring.
Traditionally, acne treatment has centered on topical medicines combined with ongoing and often increasing doses of medications, but AviClear works differently. The AviClear system uses laser energy to focus on individual hair follicles, treating acne at its root.
The device uses a specific wavelength of laser energy designed to selectively target the sebaceous glands responsible for acne breakouts. During your treatment, you may feel some gentle warmth in the treatment area; however, a special cooling component protects your skin and keeps you comfortable without local anesthetic or numbing cream.
Treatment sessions take about a half hour, and we recommend a series of three treatments spaced 3-4 weeks apart for the best results. A complete treatment cycle takes about 2-3 months on average. Afterward, you can expect fewer breakouts that are shorter and less severe, as well as an improvement in your skin’s appearance and texture.
AviClear can treat any type of acne, including mild acne and severe cystic acne. Unlike other laser therapies that only work on specific skin tones, AviClear works regardless of skin tone, and it can safely be used in teens and adults.
Accutane is a popular treatment for many people with persistent or severe acne. While Accutane can be effective, it comes with some serious downsides.
Unlike AviClear that’s designed to specifically target the oil glands in your hair follicles, Accutane is an oral medication that acts systemically. That means its effects can extend far beyond your follicles and your skin.
In fact, Accutane is associated with some serious complications, including:
While some side effects clear once therapy is over, other rare complications can be long-lasting or even fatal.
AviClear is a drug-free treatment without dangerous side effects. In fact, the only side effects you might notice are a mild and temporary redness or swelling in the treatment area and possibly a mild acne flare-up immediately after treatment.
Acne can have devastating physical and emotional effects, but fortunately, today, there are safe and effective treatments that can help even the most severe acne breakouts. To learn more about AviClear and other acne treatments we offer, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Sanctuary Cosmetic Center today.
