Acne Magazine : Skin Care, Tips, Treatment Reviews

This rarely happens, in fact, I hardly ever really get zits like this any more. I have to be under a lot of stress to get them any more because of my skin care regiment, my diet, and my supplements that I take, as well as, I’m sure, the fact that I am in my mid thirties now and although adult acne can certainly persist for a while I was definitely one of those people who got it the worst when I was a teen and in my early twenties.

Well, I must have had a stressful week, because I started to feel a little lump right on the border of where my lip and my skin meet, on the left side of my face – the upper lip. I actually thought it might be a cold sore at first because of it’s odd location, but I soon figured out by the way it felt and the pressure that was building under the surface, that it was no more than your typical, painful and annoying whitehead and was festering below the surface.

When you get a zit that’s pretty much right on your lip, it’s kind of hard to treat it correctly. This one seemed to be ready to gently extract because it had come to a head and looked really strange there on my lip – my husband even asked if I had a cold sore, and he was shocked because he’d never seen me get one. Even to extract it was very awkward.

I had to sort of grab it from the inside of my mouth and gently squeeze with some tissue and a hot compress, and it still wouldn’t budge so I was stuck with an unsightly whitehead there for a whole day before it came out.

I used a lot of good acne gel on it to encourage it to come to a head, and I also tried the hot compress a few times to get it to come to the surface as well. I even dabbed an acne mask on it at night, which usually works for getting my bad ones to come to a head. It finally worked, and I was able to GENTLY extract the yucky stuff.

However, I was left with a bright red spot that I was afraid would scar. I feared I had extracted it too soon, and you know that means it’s more likely to lead to an acne scar if you do that. But sure enough, it’s been three days later, and I’ve applied my acne scarring stuff to it and it’s pretty much history, red spot and all!

There is a newer product now for scarring that you may want to look into. It’s used a lot for post cosmetic surgery scarring, C sections and other types of trauma-type scars, but it may also help you if you have acne scarring that you want to help reduce the appearance of.

I got a bottle of this product in the mail in exchange for an honest review of the product. I honestly didn’t think it would work as well as it did, and was prepared to give it a so-so review if I ended up not liking it. I receive my cylindrical bottle of Invicible Scars in the mail with a brochure and instruction manual on the product and how to use it.

You need to use the product twice a day, which is easy since I applied the product to my scar that I wanted to help reduce, which is a surgery scar about the size of a dime on my lower leg. I had gotten a birthmark removed from this area almost two years ago.  I made sure I really massaged the area for a good minute when I was putting it on, as I knew this would help the effectiveness of the product and also help stimulate the circulation in the area to help spur the healing as well.

While the women at Invicible Scars told me that this scar may not heal as effectively because it was over a year old, I still experienced impressive results with Invicible Scars. With my particular scar, since they removed the skin and the birthmark, they went down a fraction of an inch into my flesh to remove it. This caused an indentation in the area, which really bothered me.

It also of course caused hyperpigmentation, as scars often do, and so the area is noticeably more of a ruddy-reddish color than the rest of my leg is. My hopes for Invicible Scars was that it would help to get rid of the redness. Well, not only did it blunt the redness and hyperpigmentation, but it also helped to “fill in” the indentation in my skin from the tissue removal! This was what really floored me.

As I would rub it on the scar area in the morning before work, and then again after my evening shower before bed, I started to notice that there was no longer a noticeable indentation in my skin in that area! Indeed, this product for scarring seemed to not only be helping me get rid of the redness, but it was also seemingly helping my tissue fill in where it was supposed to be, so that it was flush with my other, non-operated on skin.

The product is so emollient and thick that you really only need a small amount to rub onto the affected area each time you use it, so even after a month and a half (this is probably also because my particular scar is only about the size of a dime in diameter), I still have product left! Definitely worth it if you are looking for an advanced scar treatment that will help you get rid of scars ranging from surgery scars to acne scars.

I am thinking of also trying it on some of my other scar areas to see how it works on them, but it really worked wonders on the one on my leg. For more information on this product, please visit Invicible Scars.

I got this press release info in my email, so I thought I would share it with all my readers. It’s about a new aesthetic laser treatment for scarring, and you guessed it – acne scarring, so I thought it perfect for you to peruse.

Here’s the letter along with the actual press release and product info :

My name is Christina with The Jenn Lee Group.   I am writing to you
regarding a topic of interest that I would like you to consider for Acne
Magazine online.

Dr. Frankel of Rejuvaderm MediSpa in Cranston, Rhode Island has recently
incorporated an improved aesthetic laser technology for the treatment of
various forms of skin damage.

Fraxel re:store is a FDA cleared aesthetic laser used to treat pigmented
lesions, acne scars, melasma, mild to moderate periorbital rhytids, surgical
scars and actinic keratosis.

Physicians are able to give their patients the skin that they seek with a
decreased recuperation time of only one to two days after the procedure.
Fraxel re:store also is the first skin resurfacing system to feature dual
fiber laser technology that addresses both deep and superficial resurfacing
issues.   Physicians are also able to soothe patient’s skin during the
procedure with a built-in cooling agent.

Attached please find a press release that I have put together for you to
peruse.

Choose going under a laser instead of going under the knife.

Cranston, Rhode Island (February 22, 2010) — Women everywhere pluck, tweeze, wax, shave, bleach, rub, brush, polish, rinse, purify, cut, trim, clean, cleanse, moisturize, tone, lotion, exfoliate, and scrub their skin to reach their aesthetic goal.     Some women with acne scars, surgical scars, sun damage, lines, wrinkles and other forms of skin imperfections take more extreme measures such as undergoing painful and sometimes traumatic cosmetic surgery.

But wait!  There is another option for skin treatment that doesn’t involve anesthesia, knives, scary surgical rooms, and countless days trying to recuperate.    It’s called Fraxel re:store® Dual system from Solta Medical.  Don’t worry, Fraxel re:store is cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Your pocket-book will also thank you since, Fraxel is a much lower cost option that will make you look in the mirror and say Wow!  No really, you will!  Patients will also feel comfort during the procedure due to a focal cooling agent which is built directly into the hand piece.

Don’t believe me yet?  Well then just ask Dr. Ellen H. Frankel of Rejuvaderm MediSpa in Cranston, Rhode Island.   She chose to incorporate Fraxel re:store into her line of skin services for her patients.   Rejuvaderm MediSpa is the first facility in the New England area to offer this innovative procedure exclusively.

“The results of the treatment are immediate and progressive.  Soon after the treatment your skin will feel softer, look brighter and have a more even tone” Dr. Frankel continued “the next 3 to 6 months you will notice more improvement as the deeper layers of the skin continue to heal.”

Deana DeGeorge, 38 of North Providence, R.I. said “I recently had a Fraxel Laser Treatment done on my face. My pigmentation is gone, my skin looks fresher, and my acne scars have lightened. I am very excited to have a second treatment done and see my skin improve even more. This has been a very positive experience for me and has given me more self confidence when I look in the mirror.”

Call Dr. Frankel at (401) 944-SKIN or visit online at www.rejuvadermmedispa.com.

About Rejuvaderm MediSpa

Dr. Ellen Frankel has owned and operated Rhode Island Skin Doc, a private medical practice since 1987, and has been Chief of Dermatology at St. Joseph’s Hospital since 1995.  Patients were always asking for referrals of where to go for Laser, massage, and other esthetic services. Dr. Frankel had always wanted to open a Medispa because she felt there was a need to have quality medical based treatments in a state of the art, medical facility.   There are medical personnel on the premises at all times. Rejuvaderm MediSpa are constantly receiving the latest medical training and recertification, and upgrading the lasers and other medical equipment when the technology improves.

I am soon going to be getting a sample of the new scarring treatment product that was created in part by a plastic reconstructive surgeon called InviCible Scar to try out. I was told by a rep for the company, who offered to send me a free sample in exchange for an honest review of their product, that the product works well on scars that are not as old, but it can still also lighten older scars that may be pigmented deeper than the rest of your skin.

I thought it might be useful for this blog, as well as another blog I run on beauty advice, so I am going to post my review on the product after I have used it for long enough of a time to gauge it’s effects on the couple of scars, including a surgery scar I have where some skin was removed from my upper thigh to help remove a birthmark and skin graft it on my leg, but I thought you guys might also be interested to see if it works on acne scars that are still hyperpigmented. I have one that I plan on trying that out with, so I’ll let you guys know how it works.

As you know, there are some great naturally derived products for acne scarring today that I recommend, and who knows, this may be one to add to the list!  I’ll keep you posted, but it likely will be a few weeks until you see anything further on this discussion.

Well, I’ve really screwed up my skin in one spot on my chin, and just weeks before I’m getting married, no less! Of course, this is just my luck, but I’m hoping that it’s going to be fixed by then by applying a host of intensive moisturizers and natural healers for the next several days. Here’s what I did, the genius that I am. I had a pretty bad acne lesion about 3 weeks ago. It popped up thanks to stress about the wedding and a host of other issues that were causing me stress that I couldn’t seem to contain like I normally can now.

This large acne lesion not only was a sore sight on my face for a few days, but after it popped, it was a bright red spot that was very difficult to cover with any sort of cover up or concealer stick that I have, including my great technique of stippling it with a high coverage foundation that usually works. Like I said, this all transpired a few weeks ago, so I was actually left with a red spot that wouldn’t go away. Well, I figured, I’d give myself an acne scar treatment that usually works, every weekend until one week before the wedding.

Needless to say, I got too overzealous. I ended up scrubbing the you know what out of just that one spot. Well, I ended up literally rubbing the skin off, and then I combined that with my peel and now I have a blotch about the size of a dime on my chin where a tiny red scar used to be, so now it looks a world worse because I was so determined to get rid of it.

First off, I used way too much elbow grease, and second, I shouldn’t have then added the peel solution to it after I felt it burning, that should have been a sign to stop, but noooo, I thought I would be little miss smarty pants and outsmart my acne scar. Well, now I have a scaly, rubbed raw, red blotch on my face that hurt, and it feels like every time I smile, it’s going to crack, no matter how much I moisturize it.

It’s basically like a giant cold sore. It’s already peeling off in sheets, which is in turn making it look more red and raw. Arghhh! If only this could have happened even weeks ago, I would have assuredly gotten rid of it by the time we get married, which is 11/7, but now I’m not so sure. I’ll keep you posted on what works, just in case any of you inadvertently make this dunderhead mistake like I did

Laser resurfacing has become a more popular procedure as the quest to look younger and have more perfect looking skin becomes more of the society standard.  However, while laser resurfacing can produce some pretty astounding results as far as totally revamping how the skin looks in terms of texture, appearance, and collagen production, it also has some side effects that can range from bothersome to downright serious.  The good news though is that most patients are eaisly treated for any side effects of the procedure, and the ones that have more serious side effects are few and far between.

You see, when you receive laser resurfacing or microdermabrasion, you are essentially damaging the skin’s outermost layers, and that actually results in some sort of trauma for the skin, which can lead to other skin problems.  But if you are under the care of a licensed aesthetician or a plastic surgeon or dermatologist, they should be able to easily rectify any side effects with treatments that work quickly to clear up the problem.

One problem that is common is actually acne, because the skin was so severely compromised, the oil glands become over productive, and this stimulate a response by the skin to overproduct oil to help calm the skin down, sort of like after a sunburn, your skin has endured trauma, and the natural reaction to that is for the skin to produce more of it’s own natural lubricant, sebum, or oil.

Another side effect of laser resurfacing with a carbon dioxide laser is something called milia, which is the appearance of lots os tiny white bumps allover the skin, another problem that can be easily treated through medications and creams by a dermatologist.

There is a new drug that may be very useful in eliminating scarring that has occurred from surgery or from some other trauma to the body where a significant scar has been left.  The name of the drug is Avotermin and it is used by injecting it under the skin at the site of the scar.  It can work when it is injected before surgery subdermally (under the skin), or it can also work on existing scars, although there is no news on whether it could be used cosmetically for patients with acne scars to help them fade and diminish old acne scars.

Acne scars, as we all know, come in several varieties.  There are the icepick types of scars and other pitting that occurs and this looks basically like there are little scoops out of the skin.  These are just depressions on where skin should be, and they usually occur because we pick too much at a zit or pop it way before it should be popped, which creates more trauma in the area and subsequently creates a depression where the acne lesion used to be.

The results sound like so far they are nothing short of amazing, with post surgical scars being treated with the drug and the scars being almost completely unseen in about twelve months.  I’m not sure how it works, but I’d imagine it goes to work right at the site of the trauma and somehow prevents the cells from collecting there and causing redness or marking that is perceivable to the naked eye.

The drug was effective on keloid type raised scars in helping to reduce the raised look of the skin, as well as reducing redness.  Some people who participated had their scars literally almost disappear, and others had great effects but not that great.  I don’t think, reading about this, that it would be approved for something like acne, because it sounds like it is more of a surgical use, but who knows, it could create cosmetic spinoffs that dermatologists can use in office to help you treat your acne scars and get rid of them.  More to come on this I’m sure…..

I just got done using one of my favorite fruit acid based skin peels, and when I rinsed my skin off under warm (never hot!) water, I noticed that my skin squeaked when I was rinsing it.  That may sound good, but it’s not, because when your skin is “squeaky” clean, it means that you’ve probably stripped it of two much moisture, and some of it’s protective barrier has been swept away.  That’s all fine and good, and that’s actually the purpose of an acid peel, especially one that is strong like the one I just used.

However, just because it did what it was supposed to, which was sweep away old dead skin cells and many healthy newer ones as well, in order to force the skin to produce newer, fresher skin cells, you still need to replenish that protective moisture barrier, artificially albeit since you’ll be using a lotion or cream that is not made of your own skin cells, however, it provides protection against a few things.

A good, rich moisturizer when applied after an acid peel that perhaps you have used to help diminish your acne scarring, or maybe just to give your skin a fresher, more youthful look, is essential after an acid peel, especially one that is stronger in concentration that strips away more skin cells.  I like to use one that is very emollient with ingredients that are not stripping, in other words, I try not to use another product with any type of acid or exfoliant ingredients in it since I’ve already done that enough with the peel.

You want to apply the moisturizer, which by the way should also be noncomedogenic, very generously.  You shouldn’t have to worry about it clogging pores because your skin will be like a sponge after a peel (or microdermabrasion), and will soak it right up thirstily, probably looking for more.  You may think you’re putting too much on, but you’ll watch and see that it does all soak in.  Not only does this prevent tightness, but also helps prevent excessive peeling and also helps soothe and calm the skin afterwards.

I wrote about a week or so ago about how I had purchased a retinol based product called RoC deep wrinkle night time treatment cream, which has gotten high marks for helping to “iron out” heavy deep wrinkles, especially where I’m concerned, which is crow’s feet coming off he sides of the eyes.  It also may help with a little of the bumpiness that I notice from time to time on my chin I’m hoping, but there are also good acne scarring products that help to even out this unfortunate side effect of suffering from acne for years as an adolescent.

Retinol is actually a great product for wrinkles because it helps to exfoliate the skin, but it also helps to thicken the skin, or so I understand through the reading I’ve done on the popular skin care ingredient.  So, I figured that with my purchase of the RoC deep wrinkle product, I may enjoy not only wrinkle reduction benefits, but also benefits in my skin tone and evenness of it.

I wrote that I experienced a breakout initially when trying this product, and I did, but it has now subsided about a week later.  I think I’m noticing an improvement in my skin, but then again, the power of suggestion can be very powerful in the mind and I’m not discounting that it’s wishful thinking yet, especially since I’m not that far into using it yet. I’ll keep you updated on both the wrinkle reduction aspect and the possible benefits it may have for scarring or unevenness.

My sister made me happy recently when she said she may find a job soon at a place where she can actually also enjoy the services instead of just work there, somewhere like a laser center.  I asked if she thought maybe she could get me a reduced price on services and she thought maybe, so I was already starting to fanatasize about getting these pesky age spots on the side of my face lasered right off, because apparently laser therapy can help immensely with age spots.

Also though, it may be able to help greatly diminish acne scars that are still pigmented.  I’m not sure if it’s a really good treatment as far as smoothing out pits and nicks from acne scarring, because that may require more of a serious laser resurfacing, which could potentially require a lot of downtime and pain, as opposed to a more superficial laser treatment that only abrades the outer skin layer instead of the deeper tissue which results in more pain and swelling and trauma, and increased down time before you fully recover.

She said that she had a few spots of sun damage lasered off and could tell a difference right away.  What  laser does it is zaps away the localized area, so it does not “wound” the surrounding tissue, and this localization allows it to focus the beam in one targeted area and essentially remove the brown spot all together, without making the surrounding area red or swollen, but instead taking the pigment out of that one specific area.

It also is one of the better treatments for age spots because it supposedly is not as likely to leave a white spot in it’s place, which can be a side effect of certain prescription fading creams that take the melanin out of the skin over time but also may whiten the surrounding are in certain skin types.