What is acne?

Acne is a disease of the pilosebaceous units (PSUs), which are sebaceous glands connected to a canal, called a follicle, that contains a fine hair. These units are most numerous on the face, upper back, and chest. The sebaceous glands make an oily substance, called sebum, that normally empties onto the skin surface through the opening of the follicle, commonly called a pore. The hair, sebum, and keratinocytes that fill the narrow follicle may produce a plug, which is an early sign of acne. The plug prevents sebum from reaching the surface of the skin through a pore. The mixture of oil and cells allows bacteria Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) that normally live on the skin to grow in the plugged follicles. These bacteria produce chemicals and enzymes and attract white blood cells that cause inflammation. When the wall of the plugged follicle breaks down, it spills everything into the nearby skin – sebum, shed skin cells, and bacteria – leading to lesions or pimples.

How we treat acne at Sanctuary Medical Aesthetic Center (SMAC):

Our complete acne treatment program has three goals:
1.    Heal existing lesions
2.    Stop new lesions from forming
3.    Prevent and treat scarring

We use different treatments depending upon the type of acne present  and previous treatment regimens. Many patients who have come to SMAC have failed other treatment regimens.

Our comprehensive treatment programs may include:

•    Medications such as antibiotics and, in very severe cases, Accutane
•    Skin care including prescription and over-the-counter topicals
•    Light based therapy including red light therapy
•    Photodynamic therapy such as Levulan
•    Laser treatments to shrink sebaceous glands and to kill bacteria
•    Laser treatment for acne scarring.