See the Results

Hair Removal - Arm

Hair Removal - Face

Before                                           4 months post only the third treatment

Pigmented Lesions

Age Spots, Sun Damage, Any Unwanted Pigment

Left hand before                         2 months post only second treatment

Rosacea

Before - Right Cheek                                   After 5th treatment - Right Cheek    

Acne

 

Acne treatment works where older treatments failed
6/26/2007 4:04 PM
By: Ivanhoe Broadcast News

	The PPx acne treatment in action.

Roughly 17 million people in the United States suffer from acne, a dermatological condition that causes whiteheads, blackheads, red bumps, or cysts to appear on the skin's surface. Acne is most prevalent in teenagers going through puberty, but it also affects a small portion of adults.

 

 

The condition occurs when sebaceous glands in the pores become clogged with large amounts of sebum, a type of oil that moistens the hair and skin, as well as dead skin cells and bacteria.

To prevent nasty breakouts that are commonly caused by acne, experts recommend gently washing your face twice a day with soap and warm water. Wearing oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizers, sunscreens and makeup can also help. For mild-to-moderate cases of acne, experts recommend using products that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, as these ingredients kill the bacteria while drying out the skin.

When acne becomes very severe, there are several measures patients can take to cure it and reduce the appearance of red spots. Chemical peels help acne patients by removing dead skin cells and stimulating new skin growth. Potential side effects of this procedure include red skin, blisters, scaling, scarring and infection. Microdermabrasion is another procedure that requires a dermatologist to use a handheld device to blow crystals onto the skin and polish the skin's surface. Doctors can also prescribe patients a combination of topical creams and oral antibiotics to stop acne in its tracks.

Now, researchers say there could be a better, more effective way for people to battle acne. A recent study by researchers at Johns Hopkins revealed 85 percent of participants had clearer skin after using the PPx Pore Cleansing Acne Treatment, a system that was recently approved by the FDA. PPx therapy begins when a dermatologist uses a device to gently vacuum the skin and suck up extra oil. A broadband light is then used to zap away any impurities.

"The suction really unclogs the pores, which allows the oil to flow more normally to the surface," Dr. Gilly Munavalli said. "The light helps kill the bacteria that cause acne."

Patients who have undergone the procedure say there was no blistering and only a small amount of facial redness, which resolved itself a few hours later. Experts say the new approach is less painful than other laser treatments because lower levels of energy are needed to accomplish a similar task. Most patients need roughly five treatments spaced two weeks apart. Each treatment costs $350, and a follow-up visit is necessary three months later. Each session lasts 30 minutes, and the results can last for up to a year or more.

Rebecca Midkiff developed acne when she was in her 20s and underwent PPx treatment to cure her irritated skin. Overall, she's been very happy with her results.

"The thing I noticed right away was my skin was not oily," Midkiff sais. "It's already working, and that's something you don't see with another treatment."

Dr. Dale Isaacson, a dermatologist at DC Derm Docs in Washington, D.C., says PPx treatment may be a good alternative to traditional treatments like Accutane, which has bad side effects.

This gives us another tool we really didn't have before," Isaacson said. "A good 25 percent or 30 percent of patients don't respond to conventional therapy and need something else."

 http://www.news8austin.com/shared/video/video_pop.asp?destlist=43877