Blog: Skin Care Advice and Treatment Options

Acne

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:54:00 -0500

Q: I am having on-going active acne breakouts. What can I do to better control my acne?

A: In our office, we take a multifaceted approach to the treatment of acne. Our approach is designed to bring existing active acne under control, prevent future flare-ups of acne, treat acne scars, and leave our patients with healthy glowing skin. Depending on each patient™s unique needs, these four goals are accomplished by using a combination of medications, lights, lasers, facials, and peels. These treatments work best when they are used in combination. Treatment plans are always customized and are developed based on what each individual patient needs to most effectively treat their particular case of acne. Severe acne is treated more aggressively than mild acne.

Potential treatments for acne include topical medications which are applied to the skin, mild lasers and lights, photodynamic acne treatment, skin peels, facials, and occasionally oral medications.

Various lights and lasers are effective for acne. Blue light treats acne by reducing the number of bacteria living within the sebaceous glands. Red light enhances the blue light treatment by minimizing the redness and inflammation associated with active acne. Treatment with the Vbeam Perfecta laser reduces both active acne and the redness associated with acne. At times, we will combine either the blue light or Vbeam Perfecta laser with levulan. This procedure, which is called photodynamic acne treatment, treats active acne more intensely. Photodynamic acne treatment is indicated when more conservative treatments have not worked.

We also use facials and light skin peels as a component of our acne care programs. An acne facial will clean the pores and lighten dark blemishes. An acne skin peel will help clear acne blemishes, lighten the brown spots that can result from acne, smooth the skin, and brighten the skin. Acne facials and peels are part of an excellent acne care program and they help us give our patients healthy glowing skin!

Today, dermatologists have many options available to treat acne. No one should have to suffer from uncontrolled acne. We welcome all patients to our office who wish to have their acne better controlled.

Acne Scarring

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:53:00 -0500

Q: When I was younger I had serious acne, which caused acne scars on my face. What can I do to improve my acne scars?

A: We recommend two lasers to our acne scarring patients. The first option is the Fraxel Restore laser. The Fraxel Restore treats the acne scars by stimulating new collagen production. Optimum results are generally achieved by a series of 4 or 5 treatment sessions spaced three to four weeks apart. There is no downtime following the laser procedures and patients can resume all of their normal activities immediately after leaving the office. After completing a series of treatments with the Fraxel Restore laser, patients can reliably expect their acne scarring to be significantly improved and their skin to be much smoother.

The second laser that we recommend for acne scarring is called the Fraxel Repair laser. This laser also improves acne scarring by stimulating new collagen production. The Fraxel Repair laser has the advantage that it improves the acne scarring in only one treatment session. Because the Fraxel Repair laser is more intense than the Fraxel Restore, there is approximately five days of downtime after a Fraxel Repair laser treatment during which time the skin heals.

The Fraxel Restore and the Fraxel Repair lasers give similar improvement in acne scarring. Patients can choose which of the two lasers they prefer based on what suits their lifestyles better. The improvement in acne scarring that occurs after treatment with either of the two Fraxel lasers should last for years.

Our office has been performing Fraxel laser skin resurfacing since 2004, when the Fraxel laser was first introduced. As a result, we have extensive experience with Fraxel laser skin treatment. Dr. Anterasian has performed nearly 2000 Fraxel laser procedures with consistently excellent results. We personally welcome all patients to our office who wish to improve their acne scarring. Today, no one should have to live with acne scars.

Brown spots, brown pigment, and sun damaged skin

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:53:14 -0500

Q: I have a lot of brown spots, brown pigment, and sun damage in my skin. Which treatment would be best for me?

A:We recommend the Fraxel Restore Dual laser to our patients who want to improve their brown spots and abnormal brown pigment in their skin. Treatments with the Fraxel Restore Dual result in the rapid clearance of abnormal brown pigment from the skin, including the pigment found in brown spots, brown patches, and sun spots. In addition, skin color following the treatment is much more uniform and much less blotchy.

The Fraxel Restore Dual laser works by delivering laser energy into the top layers of the skin where the abnormal brown pigment is located. This results in rapid clearance of the pigment from the skin. As a result, significant reduction in abnormal brown pigment can be achieved in only one or two treatments sessions.

Fraxel Restore Dual laser treatments are very well tolerated and are performed using only numbing cream. There is no sedation or other anesthesia required. Following the laser treatment, there will be a mild flaking-off of the treated skin, which will be replaced with fresh new skin. There is no pain or recovery downtime following Fraxel Restore Dual laser treatments, and normal activities may be resumed immediately following the treatment. Skin care after the laser treatment consists of only the use of a sunscreen and moisturizer.

Our office has been performing Fraxel laser skin resurfacing since 2004, when the Fraxel laser was first introduced for skin rejuvenation. As a result, we have extensive experience with Fraxel laser skin treatment. Dr. Anterasian has performed nearly 2000 Fraxel laser procedures with consistently excellent results.

We personally welcome all patients to our office who wish to look younger without surgery, and who might be considering a skin rejuvenation procedure.

Harmless and Dangerous Moles

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:32:31 -0500

Q: I recently noticed a new mole on my arm. I have had it for about two weeks now. What should I do?

A:Not all changes in the skin are dangerous, but you should see a dermatologist if you notice changes in your skin that last longer than two weeks.

Moles are very common. The average Caucasian has about 20 moles on his or her body. Most moles are harmless, but it is important to know when a mole exhibits signs that suggest it may be a dangerous mole.

A normal mole has a sharp margin, a uniform color, a symmetrical shape, and a smooth outline or contour. Usually, they are less than ¼ inch in size and of a single uniform color.

The ABCD warning signs can often identify dangerous moles.

A: Asymmetry, where one half does not match the other half. (Normally, each half should be a mirror image of the other half.)

B: Border irregularity, where the edges are ragged or blurred, and not sharp

C: Color, in which the pigmentation and color are not uniform throughout

D: Diameter, where the width of the mole is greater than ¼ inch

There is also the ugly duckling sign, in which the mole in question looks or acts differently than all of the other moles on the body. This would include moles that ulcerate, bleed, change shape, change color, or itch.

Other warning signs include any of the following:

A new growth not previously present on the skin
Scaliness, oozing, or bleeding from a bump or nodule in the skin
An area of skin that stays irritated, red, or itchy
An area of skin that keeps cracking or bleeding
A colored or dark spot that is getting larger

Skin cancer is almost always curable when found early, but can be deadly if the diagnosis is delayed. Both doctors and patients play important roles in discovering skin cancers early in their course.

Santa Monica Laser and Skin Care Center Announces Treatment with Fraxel Restore Dual Laser Now Available in the Los Angeles Area

nospam@example.com (Marylee Amerian) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 19:43:03 -0600

Dr. Mary Lee Amerian and Dr. George Anterasian are proud to announce that we have now obtained our new Fraxel Restore Dual Laser! The treatments are performed in our Santa Monica office, a location conveniently located to much of the greater Los Angeles area. We are among the very first offices in the Los Angeles area to obtain the Fraxel Restore Dual Laser and to make it available to our skin rejuvenation patients.

The Fraxel Dual laser system is literally two lasers in one. It starts with the original Erbium based Fraxel Restore laser and adds to it an innovative Thulium laser. The Thulium laser is used to accelerate the clearance of abnormal brown pigment from the skin, including the pigment found in brown spots, brown patches, and sun spots. The Thulium laser works by delivering laser energy into the top layers of the skin where the abnormal brown pigment is located. This results in more rapid clearance of the pigment from the skin. As a result, significant reduction in abnormal brown pigment can be achieved in a single treatment!

Continue reading "Santa Monica Laser and Skin Care Center Announces Treatment with Fraxel Restore Dual Laser Now Available in the Los Angeles Area"