Acne that No improvement

Sergio Andrés Amaya Peña, dermatologist at Unilaser Medical

Acne that doesn’t improve is characterized by the persistence of acne despite treatments for months or years. 

Prolonged inflammation accumulates more and more scars.

A conventional treatment should take between 2 and 12 months.

Benefits of laser in acne:

Acne “cleansing” is necessary.

Laser-assisted extractions unclog “blackheads” and drain pustules and “blind pimples.” (CO2 and Erbium-YAG lasers)

At the same time, the sagging skin that begins to appear after sustaining injuries for prolonged periods can be corrected. (Fraxel ®, hyaluronic acid)

Above all, eliminating the need for self-manipulation by removing lesions that are about to become inflamed or those that have persisted for a long time and recur provide the perfect indication for laser-assisted intervention under a microscope.

Typical lesions of persistent acne:

• Nodules and Cysts (silly, deep pimples)
• High amount of comedones (blackheads)
• Open comedones in complex locations (auricular concha, eyelids, etc.)
• Comedonal bridges 

Some typical acne conditions that can be improved with laser:

Nodules and Cysts (silly, deep pimples)

Drains are indicated in the presence of nodules because their persistence causes scarring and frank inflammatory symptoms.

They are made easier with the CO _{2 laser}

High amount of comedones (blackheads)

Laser-assisted extraction is indicated in these cases due to the need to remove in a short period of time a considerable number of lesions that have persisted without response after several months of starting medical treatment. 

Acne on the chest and back

Laser treatment of acne on the trunk is indicated in cases of scars with increased pigmentation, redness for months and with fibrotic changes.

Adult acne

 It tends to persist and to have courses that range from improvement to the presentation of more severe and less numerous lesions. Laser is indicated in cases where medical management has not shown consistent improvement due to the persistence of lesions that recur in the same place or comedones that are very difficult to extract manually.

Laser treatment for one year

Early juvenile acne

An early onset of acne with a more aggressive course at an early age can make it difficult to manage with some medications such as antibiotics or oral isotretinoin. Inflammatory relief can be achieved with the Blue laser (Milesman®), the Fraxel ® laser or the Clearlight ® blue lamp. 

The marked number of comedones may require laser-assisted comedolysis under a microscope to prevent scarring.

Open comedones in complex locations (auricular concha, eyelids, etc.)

Prescribing topical products to release comedones is difficult in some areas or in the presence of larger diameter comedones that persistently recur after manual expression.

Acne that doesn’t improve: Comedonal bridges:

They manifest as small gaps that communicate with each other.

Manipulation of these lesions results in temporary drainage of keratin material, a sign that they contain mature epidermal tissue that will not disappear spontaneously.

They are formed by the communication of two or more comedones within the skin.

How are laser-assisted extractions performed?

Microscope-guided laser-assisted extraction facilitates complete removal of the lesion