Teens and adults alike struggle with active acne breakouts and the scars that acne leaves behind. Many of us also face other causes of uneven skin texture, especially as we age. If you are wishing for clearer, smoother skin, there are many medical advancements that can help!
What is Acne?
Acne occurs when hair follicles (tiny holes or pores in your skin) become clogged, infected with bacteria, or enflamed. Clogged pores can happen when there is too much oil, bacteria, or skin cell production.
They can also be clogged because of hormonal changes. Although acne remains largely a scourge of adolescence, about 20% of all cases occur in adults. Some adults may experience acne for the first time in their life in their 30s, 40s, or 50s.
Acne can show up anywhere, including your face, neck, chest, shoulders, and back.
There are several types of acne, including whiteheads, blackheads, pimples, and papules (small red bumps that are not pus filled).
What Causes Acne?
Acne develops as the result of:
- Excess oil (sebum) production
- Hair follicles clogged by oil and dead skin cells
- Bacteria
- Inflammation
But what causes this oil, bacteria, and inflammation in the first place? Scientists are still not sure why some skin is more prone to this inflammatory reaction. Possible suspects include hormones, family history, stress, and reactions to medicines or hair and skin products.
Why Does Acne Cause Scars?
Acne scars are the result of the inflammation caused by acne blemishes. When the acne pore swells, a breakdown occurs in the wall of the pore. Two types of scars may occur. One is an indentation in the surface of the skin caused by a loss of tissue. The other is a scar that is raised on the surface of the skin, caused by an abundance of collagen that forms to help heal the wound.
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One in five people with acne will also have scarring. But not all acne scars are permanent. Treatments are available that can nearly remove the scars or help the skin heal itself with its own collagen.
Other Features of Uneven Skin Texture
Uneven skin texture is characterized by areas of the face that feel rough or bumpy to the touch. Certain spots may seem to feel like they’re producing more sebum (oil) than others. Prominent features of this skin concern may also include enlarged pores, fine lines and wrinkles, or an overall dull appearance. While uneven skin tone can be easily masked with makeup, uneven skin texture is difficult to improve without help from a skin care professional.
Apart from acne, a host of other factors lead to an uneven skin texture, including excessive build-up of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, genetics, sun damage, and pollution. Aging also plays a role. We lose 1% of our collagen production every year, starting in our 20s; every 3% of collagen we lose becomes evident to the eye. This can lead to older, looser looking skin with fine lines and wrinkles, giving the appearance of uneven texture.
Uneven skin texture can also be genetic, especially if you have hereditary acne, eczema, or rosacea that compromises your skin’s natural barrier.
What Are the Best Treatments for Acne, Acne Scars, and Uneven Skin Texture?
A good at-home skincare routine can help improve skin texture, at least on a superficial level. However, more advanced, in-clinic treatments are needed to make improvements in the deeper layers the skin.
At Dr. Rudderman’s Medical Spas, we offer the most advanced treatments available. Our licensed aestheticians will evaluate the condition of your skin and work with you to select a safe and painless treatment that will best meet your desired outcome.
The services listed below are offered at both our Midtown and Alpharetta locations, unless otherwise stated.
Low Intensity Treatment
Medical-grade skin care products: If you are dealing with acne, there are many topical skin care products that can help. They range from sulfur, salicylic acid, and benzoyl peroxide to topical retinoids (derived from vitamin A) that help unclog pores, such as retinol, adapalene (Differin), and tretinoin (Retin-A). The American Academy of Dermatology considers retinoids to be the core of topical therapy for acne.
If your uneven skin texture is the result of dead skin cell buildup, exfoliating is a great place to start. If dryness is your primary symptom, a hyaluronic serum would be a smart addition to your routine. Our licensed aestheticians can advise you on the products and skin care regimen that will best treat the causes of your condition.
Facials: Facials are a safe and effective way to clean and exfoliate your skin. A licensed aesthetician will properly clean and exfoliate your skin to eliminate oil and other debris that is clogging your pores. They may also perform extractions to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads.
HydraFacials: At Dr. Rudderman’s Medical Spas, we also offer a HydraFacial treatment. This patented technology combines deep cleansing and exfoliation treatment with hydrating and moisturizing serums. It’s designed for all skin types, so even the most sensitive skin types can easily tolerate the procedure.
Oxygen Infusion: Oxygen therapy is great for all skin types and leads to hydrated, brighter, and more youthful looking skin. Oxygen therapy infuses hyaluronic acid, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants to strengthen your skin’s elasticity and help eliminate acne-causing bacteria. It also reduces fine lines and wrinkles, evens out skin tone, and diminishes pores. The process of delivering the oxygen and serum is quite gentle, which makes oxygen facials suitable for individuals with sensitive skin.
Moderate Treatments
Chemical Peels: Chemical peels rapidly exfoliate the skin’s surface to enhance cell turnover and improve your skin’s appearance. The treatment reduces pore blockages and pimples by keeping dead skin cells and excess oil from clogging hair follicles. Chemical peels come in many different strengths and acidic formulations. Some common acids in chemical peels are alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs), and trichloroacetic acid (TCA). BHAs are excellent for treating blemishes, large pores, and uneven texture. TCA is often used to treat more advanced visible signs of discoloration caused by acne. It is important that chemical peels are performed by a licensed aesthetician with access to high-performing peel solutions. Your skincare professional may also recommend take-home skin care products for optimal, ongoing results.
Microneedling: Microneedling stimulates your skin’s natural ability to heal by stimulating the production of collagen. This is a non-surgical system that uses 9 microneedles to create thousands of invisible, vertical perforations into the epidermis and top layer of your skin. The skin naturally produces collagen and elastin to repair these perforations, reducing wrinkles and pore size and improving scarring and hyperpigmentation.
VivaceTM Microneedling: Vivace is a skin tightening and resurfacing treatment that combines microneedling, radiofrequency (RF), and LED light therapy in a single treatment. Vivace can successfully treat multiple skin concerns, including scars and stretch marks, large pores, fine lines and wrinkles, redness and irritation, and more. Vivace is virtually painless, it is safe and effective for any skin type, and there is no downtime.
High Intensity Treatments
BroadBand Light® (BBL): BBL treatments deliver light energy deep into your skin to boost your body’s natural ability to heal and regenerate skin cells. The heat from the laser kills acne-causing bacteria, improving current acne and preventing future problems from forming. BBL can also help minimize the appearance of sun damage, fine lines, and wrinkles and even out skin tone and texture. It enhances your skin’s elasticity and pigmentation and may also stimulate collagen production. Any area of your body can be treated with BBL. This is a non-invasive and gentle procedure with virtually no downtime. This service is offered in our Midtown location.
NEW! Quanta Evo Light TM Laser: This state-of-the-art laser addresses critical skin concerns including wrinkles, scars, hyperpigmentation, and more using long, short, and light pulsed lasers. With customizable spot sizes, our licensed aestheticians can treat different areas to your specifications. This laser is also able to treat all skin types, making everyone a candidate for this treatment. This service is offered in our Alpharetta location. Learn more about Quanta Evo Light Laser treatments.
Request a Med Spa Consultation
If you are interested in learning more about treatments for acne, scarring, and uneven skin texture, we’re here to help. Contact our office at 678-566-7200 to schedule an in-person consultation at our Midtown Atlanta or Alpharetta office.