Acne

Waking up in the morning and finding a new pimple in the mirror can be frustrating and make you feel self-conscious until it finally disappears. Anyone who has struggled with acne knows that drugstore products or those seen on TV don’t always work as advertised. Real solutions for battling difficult acne require a more advanced approach.

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Discover the Results of Acne

*Individual results may vary.

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Learn More About Acne

Acne is a common skin condition characterized by pimples, the result of clogged pores and excess oil. Though it most often affects teenagers, anyone can have acne. 

Within your skin’s pores are hair follicles, and each of these has a sebaceous (oil) gland. If this gland produces too much sebum, or if the pore is clogged and the sebum can’t escape to your skin like it’s supposed to, the follicle might bulge. This produces a whitehead or blackhead. These blocked hair follicles can also become infected by the trapped bacteria and oil, leading to inflammation and redness.

Acne is most common on the face but can also affect the neck, back, shoulders, and chest. Acne and pimples come in all shapes and sizes, with mild acne typically involving whiteheads and blackheads, while severe cases involve inflamed pimples like papules, pustules, and cysts. For some, acne can have lingering effects on the skin even once the breakouts have stopped. Many men and women struggle with the appearance of acne scars.

Since almost everyone is affected by acne at some point in their lives, it is the most common skin concern seen by dermatologists. It can be particularly frustrating for women who are dealing with the signs of aging at the same time as breakouts on the chin. We often hear, “It’s just not fair!” to have both wrinkles and pimples. That’s why at Capital Laser & Skin Care, our board-certified dermatologists offer various treatments for clear skin.

Acne has many possible causes, and for most people, their acne is the result of a combination of these factors. One significant contributor is hormones. Teenagers are especially prone to acne because of all the hormonal changes that occur during puberty. For women, continuing hormonal changes with menstruation, pregnancy, and even menopause may continue to affect their skin. Many women experience flare-ups in relation to their menstrual cycle.

Acne can also be hereditary, so you’re more likely to struggle with acne if your parents did. Other possible causes or triggers of acne include certain medications, diet, and stress. Using cosmetic products that contain lots of oil may worsen acne, as can some foods. Stress and poor sleep can also make you more susceptible to acne.

At Capital Laser & Skin Care, we take acne seriously. The path to clear skin starts with an in-depth consultation. After a thorough discussion of previous care, treatments, and a skin evaluation, we provide you with a customized treatment plan to reduce acne and restore a clear complexion. This plan may include topical skincare, medication, and skin rejuvenation treatments.

Light chemical peels and microdermabrasion may be beneficial to open clogged pores and reduce discoloration and inflammation caused by acne. DiamondGlow™ treatments exfoliate your skin to remove built-up oil and bacteria and can be customized with clarifying and hydrating serums. To enhance and maintain the improvements gained by in-office treatments, a customized skin care regimen tailored to the particular type of acne is prescribed to support the progress at home.

There are also options to help reduce the appearance of acne scars. Using effective treatments like Genius RF Microneedling or Fraxel® Dual non-ablative skin rejuvenation, our Capital Laser & Skin Care team can improve your overall complexion and can also lessen the indentations that result from acne scarring.

Chemical Peels

This deep exfoliating treatment uses chemical solutions to cause your skin to peel, removing damaged surface layers and dead skin cells. There are light, medium, or deep peels for different levels of resurfacing. 

DiamondGlow®

This innovative treatment combines exfoliation, extraction, and infusion to deeply cleanse and nourish your skin. A DiamondGlow® facial can be customized to your unique skin needs with various skincare serums. 

Genius RF Microneedling

Microneedling is effective on its own, but even more so with the addition of radiofrequency energy. RF microneedling triggers your body’s healing response, repairing damage and increasing collagen production.

Fraxel® Dual

Fraxel® is a fractional resurfacing laser, arguably the most popular and advanced of its kind. The Fraxel® Dual device combines two lasers for optimal skin rejuvenation. By heating the deeper layers of your skin, this laser treatment promotes collagen production for a smoother, clearer complexion.

HALO® Hybrid Fractional Laser

With HALO®, we can take your skin rejuvenation treatment a step further. This laser combines both non-ablative and ablative wavelengths to offer the benefits of both while still minimizing downtime.

Accure Laser for Acne

This effective laser treatment targets sebaceous glands to limit oil production and provide smoother, clearer skin. This FDA-cleared solution for mild to severe acne offers long-lasting results that improve your confidence and keep your skin free of breakouts and acne scars.

Take the First Step

Interested in learning more about our acne solutions? We would love to speak with you. Please fill out the form on this page to request a consultation or call our Chevy Chase, MD office today at (301) 798-9699 to schedule your private consultation at our laser and cosmetic dermatology center, located just blocks away from Washington, D.C.

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