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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2.9
209
5
16.3%
4
21.1%
3
19.6%
2
21.5%
1
21.5%

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June 10, 2008

Pros:

firmer skin, fewer wrinkles on forehead

Cons:

horrible, disfiguring swelling, longer down time. Now have cystic acne and red lines on face.

Highly overrated. Was initially going to have IPL to remove some "age" spots and sun damage. Was told I was a great candidate and for the same money, could have Active fx, which would give better and faster results. Was told to expect a "bad sunburn" and after a couple of days, the skin would "flake off." My face was so swollen that my friends did not recognize me. I also go an eye infection. My face oozed and was horribly painful for 3 days. When the scabbing came off my chin, it exposed pockets of pus. I have never seen anything like it. I was immediately put on anitbiotics. I now have cystic acne and have funny red lines on the side of my face. The doctor and staff at the medspa have been nice, but at the last visit I felt dismissed.
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June 3, 2008

Pros:

one small spot diminished on nose

Cons:

acne worsened dramatically since treatment, new spots in places where i was clear before (cheek, side of face, jawline)

risky! it sounds like it works for other people, but it certainly made my skin worse.
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March 31, 2008

Pros:

dries out skin effectively

Cons:

too expensive, somewhat painful, did not clear the acne

I had 7 lasers done over the course of 4 months. the treatment was only a little painful, something that can be tolerated. my dermatologist said my cysts decreased in size, but the majority of my acne is still there.
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January 19, 2008

Pros:

Brown age spots are much lighter.

Cons:

Expensive. Texture of skin looks worse. Crepe paper. New wrinkles around mouth and eyes that weren't there before.

Paid for 4 treatments for a total of $3400. I've done two, and I don't think I'm going to finish the other two, because I think it's making the wrinkles and texture of skin worse.
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December 9, 2007
It was my second intensive treatment, the machine kept cutting out and I wonder if this was a factor or had the machine been put on the wrong frequency because a few days later I ended up with the most awful eruptions - I had never had acne this bad before - pustules upon painful pustules and I remained like this for three months of the summer of 2005 - working with a bandaged chin and no social life! Two years down the line I am now experiencing another bout of terrible eruptions in one of those very sites - I am on 2000mg of antibiotics presently, bandaged chin again. I know this laser damaged my skin and intend to get it checked out. If the pain and the unsightly looking afflicted area bad enough I have concerns that there could be more sinister effects of this treatment. Whatever you do - stay away from the N-light laser treatment - please!
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September 23, 2007
I finished my course of treatment a while ago and have to say that there is no improvement in my skin at all. I feel that I have wasted my money, and that my desperation for clear skin has been exploited. I have more spots than I had before the treatment, and they have spread to areas of my face that used to be relatively clear. I would recommend that people think very carefully before trying n-lite, as it is a lot of money for very little result. I suspect that the clinic relies on the effectiveness of the Jan Marini products that it prescribes and that the n-lite is a con. I was suspicious of the products at first as they were quite harsh, but I have recently started to use them properly and have to say that they work quite well. You might as well just buy the products and use them, as I am fairly sure that the treatment itself is of no benefit whatsoever.
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September 13, 2007

Pros:

Had one week of clear skin after first treatment. But that was all.

Cons:

Expensive
Has made my acne worse than when I began
Use up a lot of time and effort travelling to and from appointments and made me very low after false hopes were dashed as skin became worse than before.

Alas! The bottom line is that I wish that I had read these comments about Nlite before i started with it!I have had three Nlite appointments at the Private Clinic. Before I had mild to moderate acne that wasn't awful but got me down.I just wanted to get rid of it permanently.The Private clinic in London seemed to offer this.I had a free consultation where I was told it would work-Not true. The Nlite has not made my skin clear but made it much much worse.Acne where i never had acne before - such as redness on my nose and lots of small incredible stuborn spots on my forehead and hair line.For the expensive price tag and amount of effort it was a big let down. AlsoIam becoming very suspicious of their methods.They use ur insecurities to get money out of you!plus i think they post +ve reviews of themselves.Alot of reviews on here are the same as on there web page which r all positive.I put a -Ve review on their web site and it got deleted!they promote a false 'miracle cur
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August 8, 2007

Pros:

Good results

Cons:

I don't think there are any cons, but it takes a couple of treatments to see results

Hi- I've finished my course of treatment for nlite which i undertook at the Private Clinic to improve my acne. I saw a significant improvement after only my third treatment (which The Clinic explained is usually how many it takes to see results. My acne has now cleared completely and I'm very happy with the results.
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August 2, 2007

Pros:

None

Cons:

Expensive Dosnt Work

dont bother trying it had two sessions a month apart and only made my skin worse now elevn weeks later its only gettin back to the way it was before the treatment please dont waste your money
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August 1, 2007

Pros:

None. Had it done in 2003 and no improvement whatsoever.

Cons:

I developed severe cystic acne afterwards. Then the doctor injected too strong a solution of cortisone in a giant cyst near my mouth, and as a result, ended up with a permanent dent. Downtown is about one month. No improvement, skin looks worse.

Improvement is little or none. Expensive procedure and devastating once you see no improvement like I did. My skin now has an orange peel texture and scars are more noticeable than before. If you wear glasses/contacts, you will need somebody to help you for the first couple weeks with the change of bandages, etc because you can't wear them. At the time I did this, I could not find testimonials like now. Had I been able to, I would have NOT had this procedure done. I look so bad that the doctor never even took my "after" photo.
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Finding a Doctor

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:

  1. Use the search feature on the American Academy of Dermatology website to look for board-certified dermatologists in your area, and filter the search results for doctors with a special interest in treating acne.
  2. Read online patient reviews of any dermatologists you are considering and ask people you know whether they have any experience with these dermatologists.
  3. Do your research and go to your first appointment with questions prepared.
  4. Listen to what your gut feeling tells you once you see a dermatologist in person. If you are not completely comfortable, try a different dermatologist.
Find a Doctor Using The American Acacemy of Dermatology Website

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Only a select few plastic surgeons specialize in acne scar revision surgery. Be certain to find a provider who specializes in acne scar repair and who is passionate and experienced in this area.

Be sure to:

  • Look at before and after photos, the more the better, especially patients with similar scarring to your own.
  • Be realistic about results. Look for improvement, not a cure.

Questions to ask a potential scar revision specialist:

  • Are you board certified? Be certain that they are board certified.
  • How long have you been performing these procedures? Normally, the more experience the better, however, some younger surgeons may be more on top of the latest procedures.
  • Can I speak to some of your other patients? Ask for references for several patients who had similar scarring and speak to them about the process and their satisfaction with results.

Red flags:

  • Their story changes: As you discuss different treatment options, if they tend to change their mind easily, or agree with whatever you say, consider this a red flag. A confident, experienced surgeon will possess strong, unwavering opinions.
  • Your gut tells you "no": Trust your gut. If you just don't feel that the doctor is the right fit, trust that and move on. On the other hand, if you feel they are the perfect specialist for you, trust that feeling.
Find a Doctor Using the American Society of Plastic Surgeons Website