Lasers
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Laser therapy is thought to work by inhibiting the activity of skin oil (sebaceous) glands, killing acne bacteria, and reducing inflammation.

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Laser therapy is thought to work by inhibiting the activity of skin oil (sebaceous) glands, killing acne bacteria, and reducing inflammation.

It is usually performed about 5 times in 2 to 4-week intervals.

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September 5, 2009

Pros:

Clear beautiful skin with no long term side effects
Diminshed lines and wrinkles
Not covered under my medical insurance but an eligible expense under a FSA or Medical Saving Account with letter of medical necessity from your doctor

Cons:

Cost ($300.00/treatment)
Pain and swelling , increasing as intensity is increased.
Can cause hyperpigmentation on darker skin tones - I am a fair skinned blonde so I haven't experienced that side effect

I LOVE this treatment! I am 46 years old & had severe acne as long as I can remember. I went to an old school derm that had me on various antibiotics for around 5 years with mixed results - one would stop working & then it was on to the next. I finally changed doctor. I started with Accutane, but I only got thru 50% of the treatment & had to stop due to severe dry eyes. My doctor then suggested Smoothbeam. I have had 6 treatments so far & have not had a breakout in months! The first treatment was a walk in the park - used a mild numbing cream & didn't feel anything - no big deal I thought. However, as the strength was increased I experienced increased redness & swelling. The tech ices my face during the treatment & I now ice it for a day or 2. Yes, it's extremely painful - I am now using superstrength numbing cream.But I am off medication for the 1st time in years and my skin has never ever been better. I will continue this on a maintenance basis - every 3 mths.
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July 10, 2009

Pros:

I feel better in myself, can see a big improvement in skin.

Cons:

painfull, takes ages to see a difference, gets WORSE before it gets better.

I have had 5 Nlite sessions as it stands, the first 1 wasnt any good, it was at the private clinic, Harley st.. they wiped my face with a baby wipe, literally wizzed the laser over my skin then out the door only to stop and spend massive amounts on Jan Marini products!! Then they called a day before my 2nd treatment and said they had sent the machine away and i couldnt have it for 2months! Needless to say i got a refund and spend half the money at selridges. they wash your face properly, put an acid peel on, took time with the laser and spend time on your face after it to sooth the skin. I have had 4 treatments there and i see Aimee as she is amazing, she really care's about your progress. I ONLY SAW IMPROVEMENTS after the THIRD treatment (so really my 4th!!!) but although i still have marks on my face and the odd spot i feel totally different in myself, im happier. i also gave up on Jan Marini n now use Dermalogica.. its so much better! stick with it just dont expect miracles!!!!
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May 23, 2009

Pros:

Not as painful as you might think, no down time

Cons:

None at all!

I am not one for pain...going into this procedure this morning I was terrified of the pain and aftermath...every comment I have read on this site didnt make it easy for me to walk in the office calm...My doctors were extremely nice and welcoming, the pain that I was expecting was not pain at all..the best way to describe it is small splashes of hot water on your face...it kind of felt good, my face was not red at first, but about three hours later I looked like I just left the beach....looked like a natural sunburn, The redness is gone now..only lasted five hours...I am back to my normal self and waiting for what is next. I am allowed to wear my make up first thing tomorrow..and I was told to keep lotion on my face and exfoliate as soon as my face starts to peel. As long as I do that, my doctor said nobody will know but me! I am to see him again in a month and looking forward to it, and my new face.
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April 15, 2009

Pros:

Little redness after treatments, skin is less oily too.

Cons:

Hurts a little, and not much of an improvement.

For the pain and cost, I do not think the laser treatment is a good investment.
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April 14, 2009

Pros:

has definitely cleared up my cheeks, acne has seemed to migrate down to my chin now, so now i am following up with some chin treatments.

Cons:

cost

For me the smoothbeam has worked wonderfully. The sting of the machine is only slightly annoying, considering how embarassing acne cysts can be, the smoothbeam is nothing in comparision. the texture of my skin is smoother, even some of my fine line wrinkles have diminished along with some of my old darkened marks from previous pimples. i had to have about 5 or 6 treatments on my cheeks and so far 3 on my chin, but my acne is pretty severe. don't know how long it will last, time will tell. for me the only down side is the cost, but compared to how depressed i feel well my skin is swollen and infected, i'll take the smoothbeam and try my best to budget for it.
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April 13, 2009

Pros:

Seems to be working already

Cons:

None, other than staying away from the sun

I just had my first YAG laser treatment about 2 weeks ago (followed by a mild TCA peel last week) and I am already noticing an improvement in my skin. I like the fact that my doctor is using mild peels and a "gentle" laser procedure so that I don't have to have a long recovery period. Takes a long time but I can tell it's going to be worth it.
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April 6, 2009

Pros:

- redness disapered completely
- i had like 20 % the acne i had
- acne keeps getting better and better.

Cons:

the laser hurts like hell :)

i made my 4th treatment 2 weeks ago, this treament it's suppost be done 4 in 4 weeks, or so, so the skin cells can heal from the internal burn. I started four monts ago, its rewarding. i started to see results in the second or 3 mont. Every mont i see less pimples appearing, In the next monts my acne will be gone, i am sure of that. OBS: its kind funny... cuz my skin still super oiled!! how does this happen? the treatement is to make ur oil glands produce more oil, but i still have the face oiled. This kind makes me wonder?! since the acne gets better and better but the skin still super oiled.
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April 5, 2009

Pros:

I just had my first treatment done this morning... so far I think it is going well (although it may be too early for me to really say). My face feels tighter and looks smoother already.

Cons:

It hurt like a bizzatch, even with numbing cream. Especially on the sides of my cheeks next to my hairline. I couldn't feel it much on my chin or my forehead though. But beauty is pain, and you have to tough it out or you'll never ever see results

I can't wait to see what my skin looks like after a few more treatments. I've tried everything there is to try including many pills and almost every topical, and one other laser, and my acne has been winning the war for many many years. I can't believe I'm actually optimistic.
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April 3, 2009

Pros:

It really tightened my skin and it looks much younger.

Cons:

It made my pores shrink at first then I got many bumps and clogged pores and white heads and now my skin is very rough and bumpy and my pores are back. I had co2 lasering 6 weeks ago.

I would do it again because my wrinkles are gone in most places but I wish I would have known about the acne before I did it.
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March 13, 2009

Pros:

Acne cleared up alot , less black heads and acne scaring improved

Cons:

Expensive!

Well I started my treatment at the Cottage surgery in Dudley , they're the most recommended acne treatment place in the West Midlands with celebrity customers who come there. Two years ago I started & my acne was very severe with cists and large , deep scaring & lots of blackhead particularly on my nose & redness. After the 1st treatment you could see a huge difference in my skin & after a one a month session for 6 months my skin was almost perfect , had a few pumpkin peals to help get rid of scars and now continue to have one treatment every 2 months just to keep my skin looking as nice as it does now , no scarring , no acne , no redness , my skin is perfect and you would never of know I had ever had acne. I would 200% recommend it to people , especially the Cottage surgery. they have people as far as the Isle of man & London as customers because they're so renound for their treatments. & they're not money grabbers.
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The right dermatologist can make a big difference to your patient experience and the success of your acne treatment plan. Here are the steps to find a dermatologist who is a good fit:

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