acne laser treatment

Acne affects more than 80% of the population at some time in their lives and even high profile celebrities like Cameron Diaz and Kate Moss have been seen with less than perfect complexions. We offer a treatment that can help make your acne damaged skin look like that of a move star!

Intense Pulsed Light IPL is a fantastic treatment for mild to moderate active acne. It can be very effective at calming overactive oil glands and removing any bacterial infection, particularly when used with specialist skin care regimes.

Consultation Procedure

Prior to any treatment Dr Johnson will provide a full consultation. The consultation identifies your expectations and provides a complete explanation of the treatment process and likely outcome. A medical history is taken to confirm suitability for treatment and if you wish to proceed a written informed consent is obtained and a test patch is performed to confirm that there will not be any skin reaction to the treatment.

How is the treatment carried out?

You will be asked to put on goggles to protect your eyes. A layer of chilled gel is applied to the area to cool the skin and guide the light. The light applicator is placed onto the skin and a short pulse of light is released. The applicator is then moved to the neighbouring area and the process is repeated until the whole area is treated. The chilled gel is removed and the area is moisturised. Each pulse of light treats a large area of skin and so the duration of the treatment is very short.

Am I suitable for treatment?

Almost everyone can be treated, apart from very dark skinned or tanned individuals. Pregnant women or people taking the acne treatment Roaccutane should not be treated.

How does the treatment feel?

The light energy is absorbed by the skin, and heats it up, creating a sharp, short-lived pinprick sensation. No anaesthesia is required, other than cooling the skin, and most patients describe the discomfort as moderate and acceptable.

What should I expect after the treatment?

Redness and a slight warming sensation are normal after treatment. A cooling pack will be applied to the skin to ease these symptoms. It will be necessary to avoid sun exposure or use a high protection sunscreen for 2 weeks after the treatment.

Is it safe?

The treated area can become quite red immediately after treatment. However, most patients experience no side effects and the redness usually disappears within a couple of hours. Very rarely the skin may become lighter or darker, or a small blister may form. It is possible that some hair loss will occur in the area treated, and it could be permanent, so men should consider this possibility before agreeing to treatment of their beard area.

How long does each treatment take?

A typical treatment session will take in the region of 30 minutes. Typically Intense Pulsed Light treatment is combined with glycolic acid facial peel treatments or microdermabrasion for maximum results.

How many treatments are necessary?

The number of treatments necessary varies from person to person, but typically 6 Intense Pulsed Light and 6 Glycolic acid peel treatments will result in significant improvement, depending on the severity of the condition. Intense Pulsed Light treatments should take place fortnightly, with glycolic acid peel between treatments.

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Key Treatments