Acne & Acne Scar Treatment

For acne scar treatment, please see ProFractional Treatment.

How can lasers treat acne?

At Clinique Esthetique we use two modalities:

Broadband Light, BBL as it is called, uses light therapy with a special cutoff filter. The blue end of the light spectrum has specific properties to kill the bacteria that is responsible for acne formation, i.e. Propionibacterium acnes. This treatment can be done every 2-3 weeks till improvement in acne is seen.

Thermascan uses 1319nm laser to effectively improve the treatment outcome. This laser penetrates just deep enough to reach the sebaceous glands and delivers heat and shrinks the glands, thereby reducing the bacterial population. This 1319nm laser, when judiciously combined with the BBL treatments, produce significant reduction in the number of acne lesions.

How many treatments do I need?

The effective treatment regimen includes Thermascan laser to be used twice a week till response is noted and then it is tapered off gradually. When BBL treatment is interposed every two weeks, the efficacy of the treatment is augmented significantly.

How soon will I see results?

The results are seen within 7-10 days and significant reduction in acne will be appreciated in few to several weeks.

How long do the results last?

The continued improvement is based on several factors including hormone levels, type of skin care , makeup ingredients, just to mention a few. With comprehensive management of acne using the laser and light therapy, along with proper skincare, the results last a long time.

Are the acne laser/light treatments painful?

The Broadband Light therapy, BBL, feels like a snap of a rubber band. If the treatment feels uncomfortable, the laser consultant will make necessary adjustments in the setting to make the treatment experience a pleasant one.

Thermascan, or 1319nm laser therapy, feels more like very gentle pin pricks with a sensation of warmth. No pain is experienced in this treatment.

Are there any side effects?

Because of the excellent cooling system and built-in safety features in the Sciton laser equipment, delivered by very knowledgeable laser consultants, the side effects are extremely rare. In fact, one of the positive effects is stimulation of new collagen, the keeps the wrinkles at bay!