Acne Solutions

There are many products on the market dedicated to hair removal, but they can be messy, painful and simply ineffective. Candela GentleLASE™ offers you an alternative to hot wax, sloppy creams and electrolysis. State-of-the-art laser technology provides a quick, safe and relatively painless method for eliminating unwanted hair.

What will I look like after my laser treatment? Is there any recovery period?
After the laser procedure your skin may be slightly red and tender. The redness usually subsides in only a few hours. Following your laser treatment, you may return to normal activities.

How should I care for my skin after treatment
After laser treatment, you should avoid rigorous scrubbing of the treated area. Cleanse the treated area gently. Be sure to avoid sun exposure and use sun-screens during the course of your treatment.

Should I continue using my other acne creams and pills during the laser treatment?
You should discuss this directly with your physician. Only your physician can determine if the combination of other procedures is warranted.

How many times do I have to return for treatment?
In most cases, 3 to 4 treatments may be required for best results. Practitioners usually like to separate treatments by 3 Ð 5 weeks.

Do I have to go to the hospital for the treatment?
No, this is a simple procedure that is performed in our office on an outpatient basis.

How long does each treatment session last?
Depending on the size of the treated area, a session could last from 5 to 30 minutes.

Is it painful?
Most patients report the procedure to be mild with little more than a slight snapping or stinging sensation, like a rubber band. Topical anesthetics are available if you find the procedure to be uncomfortable.

What are the risks / side effects?
There are minimal risks to this laser procedure. Mild redness is usually seen immediately after the procedure and typically subsides in a few hours. Slight changes in skin tone are reported in a small number of patients. The changes in skin tone were temporary, lasting at most a few weeks. Patients with darker skin tones should discuss this issue with their physician. No scarring or burning has been reported during any of the clinical trials.

How does Smoothbeam acne laser therapy work?
Over 80% of your skin is made up of water. Smoothbeam emits a wavelength of light that is strongly absorbed by water in your skin. As the laser penetrates into the skin, heat is generated in and around the sebaceous glands in the upper layers of your skin. The heating of the sebaceous glands creates a mild thermal injury that changes the activity and function of the glands. Shortly after the first treatment, you will start to see a reduction in the number of acne lesions on your skin. These lesions do not reappear for as long as 6 months.

Do I need to pre-treat my skin before Smoothbeam acne laser treatment?
There is no pretreatment required in advance of the Smoothbeam laser acne treatment. You should however avoid sun exposure for two weeks before and after the laser procedure. Also, your skin should be thoroughly cleaned to remove any makeup, creams or oils on its surface before the laser procedure. If you do require a topical anesthetic, it should be applied in advance of treatment. Consult your physician on whether this is needed.

To find out more about our cosmetic laser services, call us for a free consultation with our Cosmetic Care Consultant.