What is acne?
Acne is a common skin condition that results when the pores in your skin become clogged and infected. Oil, dead skin cells, and dirt can fill pores, trapping bacteria within them. Acne can appear as red, swollen bumps (pimples), or as whiteheads or blackheads. Sometimes acne can cause more severe, pus-filled abscesses.
What causes acne?
Many factors can contribute to acne. These include:
- Excess oil production
- Clogged hair follicles
- Bacteria
- Stress
- Hormones
Because hormonal fluctuations contribute to acne, it’s most common in teenagers and women of childbearing age. However, acne can occur in anyone, at any age, including infants and seniors.
What causes acne scars?
Severe acne can affect the surface as well as the deeper layers of your skin. If your body’s natural healing process isn’t able to repair the damage, permanent scar tissue can form.
What is PicoSure?
PicoSure is the only laser treatment approved by the FDA for treating acne scars. PicoSure has a unique method of delivering concentrated energy in short bursts. These energy bursts break apart the scar tissue into tiny pieces, which your body then reabsorbs naturally.
PicoSure is a Pigment correction treatment and removal of hyperpigmentation and melasma in Asian and type 4 and type 5 skin.
How many PicoSure treatments will I need?
The number of treatments varies depending on the size of your acne scars, your skin type, and other individual factors. Typically a series of treatments are necessary, spaced about 6-8 weeks apart. After your initial consultation, your experienced LA Skincare Center professional will design a personalized treatment plan to achieve the best results.
What should I expect during acne scar removal?
Each treatment takes about 10 minutes, and the procedure isn’t painful. You could feel a snapping sensation, like a rubber band against your skin. Most people find this to be tolerable, but you can request that a topical anesthetic is applied before your session if you are concerned about sensitive skin.
There’s no downtime following PicoSure treatments, but you might have some slight redness or discoloration in the treated area. This should subside within 24 hours. It’s a good idea to avoid direct sun exposure to the treated area for up to a week after your appointment.
To learn more about permanent acne scar reduction with PicoSure, call the LA Skincare Center office nearest you or make an appointment online today.
