I am 17 and i had systic acne for last year and it was horrible, i went on accutane and it cleared up in about 6 months, but then i had deep acne scars. Over this last summer i had the laser resurfacing done and it was red for weeks and i didnt really see a lot of improvement, after consulting my dermantologist she told me that it can take up to a year to see its full results and its been about 8 months and it looks really good (scar wise). It is still red because im using tazorac to continue to fill in the scars. I have had three additional V-beam treatments and just had one a week ago today, they help with the redness and help stimulate the skin to grow into the scars. The hard thing about laser treatments is that they take a couple weeks till you feel like you can go out in public again. But you just have to remember that when it does heal it will look great i do suggest The laser resurfacing, Tazorac to help with pimples and smoothness, and V-beam treatments. Oh and by the way for anybody that has had acne and was on acutane did you feel depressed when you were on it? I did peace guys

I live in LA, and there are places you can go to get cooltouch for about $175/treatment. Cool touch helps clear the acne. There are places you can go to get V-Beam for $250 -- V-Beam reduces redness. I recommend getting cooltouch or smoothbeam for acne reduction and V-beam to clear redness. LA laser center has good prices.

Also pads with salicylic acid kill bacteria, fade red marks and clean pores. I like sensitve skin stridex or oxy.

I tried the fraxel for the first time, and it made me break out in a rash of pussy zits all along my jaw line. Consequently, that rash left me with indented scars. I never had acne scars on my jaw line before -- so I'm upset.

As for enlarged pores, clinique has a makeup called pore minimizer that really works.

Update. To those who have just tried the fraxel laser and think it looks o.k., just wait until the swelling goes down. I found that my face looked worse than it did before. I am, however able to recieve some of my money back. Please do a lot of research before letting someone use this laser on you. It has not been in use very long. The treatment is also very painful.

I had laser resurfacing 10 mths ago for 100% sundamage and I swear by it. The 1st week was not nice and then I broke out with colesores over my skin even taking anti coldsore tablets. But here I am 10mths later and very happy sundmage, freckles and wrinkles all gone and I am 47 so very pleased. Only problem I do have is that I have come back paler almost white. I am fair but this is white. I do spray tanning but this does not seem to tan my face. Its like the pigment has gone tooo and I cannot use fake tan as it will not work. Does anyone have any suggestions.

Ok, I made a comment on the dermabrasion rating section about my experience with dermabrasion and said I would post back and let you know what my experience is with laser. So here it is: I had my first Fraxel treatment which was preceded by a subcission a couple of weeks before. The laser process isn't exactly comfortable but easier than dermabrasion. My experience was that I needed four days out of the public eye due to swelling. I used ice packs for first two days. After that it was like a mild sunburn and then a tanned look. I went into this knowing that I would need multiple treatments since there is only 15-20% deep treatment occurring with each session but am I happy after the first? YES! There is improvement. Aside from improvement on the scarring, general overall pore size seems smaller, the skin texture is better and the spidery veins on my nose are greatly improved. Maybe because my skin is older I'm seeing greater improvement than when I dermabraded as a 20 year old but I'm definitely happier with the results than when I was younger. Perhaps my expectations have been tempered with so much disappointment over the years but really, I just plain think this worked better for me. I'm keeping the "how well it works" rating in the mid range until I see if it keeps getting better. I'll post to let you know the continuing saga.

I have had acne and done everthing for Accutane to Laseer. I I have had 8 smoothbean and ALS treatments and my skin has not yet cleared up. I still have depressed scars that are deep. It was supposed to prevent cytsic acne blemishes,but I have worse blemishes. I wished I had not done the prodecure because I could have saved $8000.00. I think its best to see several doctors who care. Don't go to Dr. Katz. Expensive places are more into money than the patient. So I have just given up.

OK....I am a doctor who does N-Lite quite often. One session will never work for anybody. It takes at least 3 sessions over 12 weeks to get maximal response. Even then, it is very technique dependent.Certian meds should be avoided and certian meds can be added to augment the response. It does not work for the Nasolabial folds, but is great for the crow's feet. Overall, N lite is 20% less effective than Fraxel, but it is painless, cheaper, and the 20% difference can be made up with other techniques done at the time of treatment. Hopes this helps!

I have posted a while back about my latest step to combat cystic acne, oily skin, damaged skin and other problems on my face. I am 39 and never had a problem until i got to be 17/18 years old. I tried all treatments known to mankind and still at 39 i was not happy with my face look. I did 3 weeks ago a mix with Vbeam and levulan chemical to get rid of the red, broken vessels and so on. The result is quite good I have to say. I did not expect such a long downtime I believe my dermatologist office failed explaining in details that I will have to take off work for a week! but my skin oily problem has been reduced 65%. Yes a lot of break outs happened as the crap comes to the surface of the skin but I was patient and use proactive to keep it manageable. My skin has mostly cleared up and the pores reduction are significant. the red is mostly gone leaving a health glow. I followed a recommandation left on this site about the website [link removed] and find a terrific product copper pertide which seems to reduce the acne even more, make the skin looks even better. I have been testing it for the past few days only as I wanted to keep my good skin and I am already thrilled by it. I also use a 30 sunscreen that is non greasy and does not promote acne. My clients have been asking me for the past 10 days what is different about me, how great I look, asking me if I am in love or what. They can't figure out the change but they all told me i looked great. I do have scars but if you have a glowing skin and a little bit of make up no one sees it. I use only my sunscreen with powder antishine, mascara, blush and pencil. Nothing else! so pleased but won't repeat it unless absolutely necessary. This is traumatic and should be consider only if you are extremely tired of putting up tons of make up or you are ready to tackle the bull by the horns. if you are not motivated, try the website they have peels, different products that seem to be the latest on the acne market. I don't work for them by the way so you can trust my testimony. I just had a good experience with what I got from them. This posting is a bit long but wanted to share my experience. good luck!

Hi, I have dealt with acne since I was 13 years old. I finally used accutane and now I don't have active acne anymore. But I have acne scars and would do anything to have my skin look smooth and perfect. I used thermage and paid $2200 which was completely worthless. I wish I hadn't paid the doctor (liar) who told me I would get a 100% result. Anyways, I used Galaxy too which didn't really help (another $1200).

i have suffered from acne since i was 13, 17 years now. i have been lucky enough to have parents that could afford the best doctors and treatments. unfortunately insurance does not help people who can't afford these treatments. i have been on every medication even accutane 3 times. believe it or not the first and only thing that has ever cleared up and kept my skin clear is proactiv. i can't tell you how amazing it is, it is the answer. i had seen it on tv many times it wasn't until i was suggested to try it by my dermo in new york city that i first bought it. i go to the best practice in nyc dr. patricia wexler's office, major celebrity's go here, so i knew if they said use it i should. it works and it is inexpensive. my dermo's office even sells it that's how much they believe in it. now my next journey is the fraxel laser to try and remove scars. if only insurance companies would recognize acne as a major disfiguring and emotionally devastating disease more people could be helped.