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

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February 8, 2009

Pros:

???

Cons:

Hurts and Expensive!!

I had my first treatment 3days ago and im really worry it will not work!! Im worried because i feel that this is my last chance of being happy! my skin is on my mind 24/7 and its ruining my life!!! so far skin seems totally the same.. i atleast wanted a swollen face to show it was doing something!! Also think i've been conned as i went to the pivate clinic in harley st also and its very expensive!!
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February 4, 2009

Pros:

It works!!!! Also helps old scars fade a bit faster.... starts working after the first session...No down time..

Cons:

Laser feels like a rubber band snapping against your face. It hurts most across the forehead and at $500 per session, it can get pricey depending on how many treatments are needed

I HAD cystic acne. It was painful and unsightly. I only went for one smoothbeam treatment and my skin has cleared up. I typically get one pimple a month now...im sure if i went back and paid another $500 i would never break out again but it seems unnecessary. I had bad acne for 6 yrs .....$500 and 30 mins out of my schedule is worth the results....if u have bad scarring u may want to consider chemical peels...
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January 30, 2009

Pros:

hyperpigmenation less by 5-10% after the 1st tx

Cons:

small white rashes and itchy

i had my 1st tx last jan.15 on my neck and upper arms and everything well but after 2 weeks, i had small white cysts probably milia. this is probabaly the response of my skin which is hypersensitive after the laser tx. and im not gonna continue my other 3 treatments since im afraid it will even get worse. my advice for those who have filipino-asian skin, better go to a derm doctor that specializes on your skin type/race.i will just continue with my derma sweep microdermabrasion eventhough it has minimal results, at least it will not cause more harm to my skin. fraxel is the trend right now but wait till everyone is happy with it.
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January 14, 2009

Pros:

Decreased the "pea" sized bumps under my skin along the jaw line. Comparable in price if you consider all the things I've spent money on trying to rid my acne... proactive, mirad, microdermabrasion etc.

Cons:

Not the results I expected considering it a rather extreme procedure. My face seems somewhat more irritated than before I tried Smoothbeam. [side note] I also purchased over $120 worth of Skinceuticals products.... not doing much so far. Anyone else?

In the last year I've stopped taking birth control pills thinking it was making my skin break out, only to realize my skin got WAY worse without the pill. I researched Smoothbeam laser treatment and decided to do it. I got an alright deal; 5 treatments for $500. I've had 2 so far, about 3 to 4 weeks apart. So far I've noticed a bit of improvement as there are way less bumps along my jaw line, but as for the more surface acne on my chin it seems worse. Is there truth to the "it has to get worse before it gets better?" Previous to starting these treatments I would use the tanning bed to get control over my break outs, after my counseltation with the dr. I swore never to tan again; I'm tempted though as I've barely noticed any results so far....
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January 6, 2009

Pros:

Very Quick, Minimal Pain, No downtime Real potential for shrinking oil glands, reducing acne and helping improve/correct acne scars

Cons:

None so far. Do not let price be a deterrent for you.

Like others, I have suffered with acne for over 17 years. From the time I was 13 till present, I have been to at least 10 different dermatologists over the years, and have taken every type of acne medication ever offered. Many years of oral antibiotics, dozens of prescription face creams and face washes, two courses of accutane with no improvement. I thought that I was just an unfortunate person that would have to deal with severe acne and terrible scars my whole life. Two weeks ago I decided to have smoothbeam laser treatment and I must say that I can see the difference after the first treatment. Where nothing has worked in the past, this seems like a potential miracle for someone like me. I am very excited and anxious to have the 2nd treatment done and I will most certainly post a follow up message. Skin alot less oily, and my scars just look different to me already. I would urge all to try Smoothbeam and not wait.
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December 30, 2008

Pros:

Leaves your face really smooth for a couple of days.

Cons:

Even with the numbing cream, it hurts like hell, especially where you have a pimple. I also didn't notice it getting rid of any pimples. Your face is really red afterwards and, if you don't wear sunscreen, you can get brown marks.

This procedure is too expensive for what you get. I had about 6 or 7 treatments. I like the way my face feels afterwards - smooth and soft but, it didn't do anything for my acne (my face only had 1 or 2 small pimples at that time), didn't prevent new acne from forming and did not decrease the size of my pores, which is why I tried the procedure in the first place. Bottom line - at a cost of $400 each time, totally not worth it.
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December 16, 2008

Pros:

No side effects

Cons:

Costly but worth it, uncomfortable treatment

I've had acne since 13, now 23, like most of you I tried everything short of accutane. Antibiotics were the only success story for me until now. First couple of treatments I was disappointed and started to worry if I wasted my money (again!), broke out mildly before the third treatment. I would say I'm now 80% clear, I still get spots but they're far smaller and heal quicker. I had my treatments at the skin health spa in selfridges, the staff are perfectly pleasant but bottom line is they are selling you a product, and you get that feeling. But if you've done your research and want to try it who cares! Had initial 3 treatments for £400 (this includes a glycolic peel and extractions before each laser) and I'm having a 4th done at reduced price of £100. After 4th I will have the top ups. I also bought the products to go with, they're Jan Marini and I think they help with pigmentation. So far it's worth it, as long as the maintenence treatments that follow
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December 2, 2008

Pros:

My skin is soft. Some blotchiness/redness is gone. Some brown spots are gone. I had some broken blood vessels, which are almost completely gone.

Cons:

I have rosacea, and the last fraxel laser treatment I had made it worse (I had 3). I also had clear skin for the most part before my treatments, but now I feel like I'm constantly battling pimples. My skin is more sensitive now, too.

I paid a lot of money for disappointing results. I did do a lot of research before I did this. I went to a dermatologist that specializes in laser treatments. If you're thinking about doing this, keep in mind you may just end up trading some skin problems for other kinds of skin problems. I wouldn't do the fraxel again, just the pulsed light laser to even out my skin tone and get rid of some sun damage.
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November 26, 2008

Pros:

pain, get someone to drive you home so that you can have something to help with the pain during the treatment. I paid 500.00 for the Active FX and had "agressive" treatment.
I was told that it does get better over a year... we will see.

Cons:

downtime, itch and pain for a week, oh and a lot of showers with the water running down my face.

I hope to see the skin color blend a bit better. I may still be 'red' in certain spots that make me look uneven for now. It did pull a lot of sun damage, some of the wrinkles are already smoother... but, I still wait for my face to heal completley. I have a lot more acne and also hope this will go away.
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November 23, 2008

Cons:

Down time has been over a week, where my doctor stated I could return to work in 3 to 4 days, Not. Have one more week off work, not sure what to do after that. Red/burning/smell/pimp's/ pain... not worth the money or the time so far.

Don't do this.
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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.
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