AESTHETIC TREATMENTS
Laser & BBL acne treatment
Intense pulsed light and laser are effective ways of treating acne, but each method has limitations. By combining BBL and laser treatments, we target all the main components of acne lesions.
- Blue light to eliminate acne bacteria
- Deeper laser pulses to target overactive sebaceous glands
- Fractional laser to stimulate skin regeneration and reduce acne scarring
Acne is a skin condition that can significantly affect quality of life. The multiple ways of managing it include diet, skincare, topical treatments, hormonal treatments, antibiotics, and other oral treatments. Some anti-acne medications can have unwanted side effects.
Light-based treatments such as BBL and laser can treat active acne with minimal side effects and additionally reduce acne scarring.
For people with severe cystic acne, the preferred treatment may be oral medication, which only specialist dermatologists are allowed to prescribe. In these cases, we are happy to refer you to one of our dermatologist colleagues.
Forever Clear BBL
Forever Clear is a treatment regimen involving three passes of intense pulsed light at different wavelengths to target different aspects of acne.
- The first pass uses blue light to eliminate acne-causing bacteria in pores.
- The second pass uses yellow light to reduce inflammation and acne-associated redness.
- A third pass uses infrared light in rapid, gentle pulses to stimulate skin cell turnover, reducing the appearance of small existing scars and enhancing the benefits of the first two steps. (Note: In some cases, we use a laser instead of this step.)
Nd:YAG laser
Our laser treats acne in several ways:
- The laser penetrates the skin to the optimal depth to target overactive sebaceous (oil) glands selectively. Destruction of these glands may reduce the risk of developing new acne inflammation.
- The warmth generated by laser treatment accelerates the healing process and stimulates collagen remodelling, an important step in the long-term treatment of acne.
- Fractional laser (an optional step) creates multiple zines of micro-damage in the skin, breaking up collagen associated with acne scars, and stimulating development of new healthy skin.
Combination treatment
In combination, our acne treatment protocol comprises:
- Active acne treatment: Nd:YAG lasers can directly address active acne lesions, while BBL Forever Clear complements by reducing bacteria.
- Scarring and texture Improvement: BBL combined with Nd:YAG can improve overall skin tone, texture, and wrinkles, benefiting acne scars as well.
This comprehensive approach tackles acne from multiple angles – treating active lesions, reducing inflammation, and enhancing skin health.
By offering a combination of treatments – laser, BBL, LED light therapy, medications and skin care advice – we can provide optimal tailored treatments for various acne presentations and patients.
Treatment protocol
For best results, we recommend 4-6 sessions. A maintenance session may be required every 3-6 months after that.
To maintain skin health, persisting with an effective skin care regimen is essential. As part of your acne treatment consultations, we advise on evidence-based, cost-effective products.
MBBS, MA (Virtual Comm), Grad Cert Hlth Info, Grad Dip Comp Inf Sci
How to prepare
Get better results and reduce downtime by following these steps.
Avoid unprotected sun exposure on the area to be treated. Wear sunscreen and a hat if your face will be treated.
Don’t apply fake tan or take supplements that promote tanning.
Don’t apply any of the following to your face (or other treatment area):
- Tinted make-up, moisturiser or sunscreen.
- Topical products containing retinoids, tretinoin, vitamin C, AHAs, BHAs.
- Perfume or essential oils.
If you are taking medication, check the list at Dermnet and if you are taking any of these medications, ask your prescribing doctor if it’s safe to stop taking it for 2-3 days before your laser procedure. If not, contact us, and our doctor or registered nurse will provide advice.
In the morning, wash your skin using a gentle, non-soap cleanser.
Don’t apply any skin products to the area other than low-irritant sunscreen with no pigment.
Please don’t apply make-up on the day of treatment.
After your treatment
For the first few days, you need to manage discomfort and inflammation. Following that, avoid sunlight and skin irritants for several weeks.
Side effects and warnings
Both laser and intense pulsed light can damage the eyes. Glasses or goggles must be worn at all times. Intense treatments can cause skin irritation and redness, bleeding, burns, blisters or bruising. Before administering a treatment likely to cause such side effects, we will advise what to expect and provide information about aftercare. Laser and BBL treatments may lead to hair loss in the treated area. Darker-skinned people may experience increased skin pigmentation after BBL and laser treatment.
These treatments are not recommended for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Cold sores are a known side effect of surgical, laser and IPL treatments. You can reduce the risk by taking antiviral medication before treatment, or immediately if you notice the onset of cold sore symptoms after your treatment.
More infoBruising is common after procedures involving bleeding. It appears as a blue or purple patch under the skin and gradually changes colour and fades over 1-2 weeks.
More infoRedness, swelling, blisters and sores are often a common result of aesthetic and skin cancer treatments. In most cases, they can be managed easily and settle gradually over the following weeks. However, it’s important to notify the clinic if you are very uncomfortable or concerned about your reaction being abnormal.
More info
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