Have you grown tired of trying to clear moderate to severe acne? You’ve followed every beauty guru tip, bought all the expensive products, and nothing seems to reach the deep, painful blemishes that are preventing you from reaching your dream of clear, glass-like skin.

This is often because treating acne on the surface of the skin isn’t enough. For many moderate and severe cases of acne, the real work needs to be done in the deeper layers where acne-causing bacteria, dead skin cells, and oil are trapped. This is where AviClear™ Laser acne treatment comes in to change your life.

AviClear is a revolutionary new way to achieve clear, radiant skin. Dr. Doriana Cosgrove, the founder of Desert Med Aesthetics in Indian Wells, CA, is excited to offer this cutting-edge technology to treat patients plagued with stubborn, unresponsive acne with a more efficient solution. Discover how AviClear works, the advantages of using AviClear, and if it’s the right treatment option for you.

Understanding Acne and Its Causes

If you want to win the war, you have to get to know the enemy. To effectively treat your acne, it’s essential to understand what causes it so you can treat it at the root. Acne can be caused by a myriad of things. The most common cause of acne is when overactive sebaceous glands produce too much oil combined with dead skin cells. The pores become congested with bacteria that continue to multiply, causing the infected and inflamed eruptions that we know as acne.

Other causes of acne include:

• Hormones: When androgens rise during puberty, the sebaceous glands under the skin become enlarged and produce excess sebum and oil. Too much sebum causes damage to the pore’s cellular walls and allows bacteria to grow.
• Oil-based Beauty Products: Using the wrong skin care products for your skin type or products that contain pore-clogging sulfates, mineral oil, coconut butter, and silicones can all cause your skin’s pores to become blocked. Your first step to clearing your skin is speaking with a dermatologist to determine the ideal skincare production for your skin and tossing out anything that might be causing you to break out.
• Stressful Environments: Emotional stress and anxiety can affect the levels of cortisol and adrenaline, two hormones that can make your acne worse. These stress hormones trigger your oil glands to make testosterone, which increases your skin’s oil production, causing pores to become clogged.
• Diet: In recent studies, scientists found a direct correlation between acne and diets high in dairy products, sugar, rice, bread, potatoes, and pasta. Now, this doesn’t mean you need to cut ice cream and spaghetti out of your diet altogether; just eat them in moderation.

Common Acne Treatments

Common acne treatments prescribed by estheticians or dermatologists can include topical treatments, oral medications, and aesthetician services. Below we’ll break down each treatment option so you can gain a better understanding of their purpose.

Topical treatments include medication that you apply directly to your skin. They work by stimulating collagen production and helping the skin to shed skin cells that clog pores. Some common topical treatments include:

— Azelaic Acid

— Dapsone

— Retinoids

— Adapalene

— Benzoyl Peroxide

Oral Medications are prescribed by a dermatologist or your family physician. They fight acne from the inside of your body. Some work by stopping bacteria and decreasing inflammation, while others help to regulate your hormones. Some common oral medications include:

— Minocycline

— Doxycycline

— Isotretinoin

— Some types of birth control medication

Aesthetician Services are an excellent option for physically exfoliating and renewing the surface of your skin. Many of these treatments are offered at Desert Med Aesthetics as well. Some common aesthetician services include:

— Microdermabrasion

— Chemical Peels

— Extractions

— Medical Facials

Introduction To AviClear^® Laser

AviClear is the only one of its kind to be FDA-approved. It uses laser technology that’s gentle on the skin and safe for all skin types and tones. The laser targets the sebaceous glands in the skin that overproduce oil, decreasing their activity, which results in less frequent breakouts after a series of three treatments.

How Does AviClear Work?

AviClear™ uses laser energy at a 1720 nm wavelength to target the oil-producing glands in your skin, slowing down oil production, which leads to fewer blocked pores and less acne. AviClear™ suppresses the oil glands, but it doesn’t destroy them since your skin still needs some oils to stay healthy and prevent dryness.

Additionally, due to the highly advanced laser technology, it targets only the sebaceous glands leaving the healthy surrounding skin unharmed, so you don’t have to worry about healing periods, scabs, or uncomfortable peeling stages. In fact, after your AviClear™ treatment, you can go right back to daily life without missing a beat.

Advantages of AviClear Laser Treatments for Severe Acne

Aside from fast-tracking your progress towards clearer skin, AviClear offers other remarkable benefits, including:

• Targets the Root Cause of Acne: Topical treatments are only able to treat the skin at a surface level; AviClear™ goes beyond that. In fact, its 1720nm wavelength laser reaches down past the epidermis and targets the sebaceous glands, eliminating acne-causing oil and bacteria at the root.
• A Non-Invasive Acne Solution: Other acne treatments can require different levels of recovery. Microneedling leaves reddened, irritated skin with tiny wounds that need time to heal. Most chemical peels have a peeling stage. AviClear™ is the only laser treatment that targets acne-causing bacteria without harming the surrounding skin. No lengthy recovery is required.
• Fast Results: Patients will see improvements to their skin after just one AviClear™ treatment. Six months after the series of treatments, 87% of patients saw most, if not all, of their acne resolved. Results only continue to improve over time.
• Long-Lasting Results: In addition to helping clear your current acne, AviClear™ treatments will also help to fight against future breakouts as well.

What To Expect During an AviClear Laser Treatment Session?

An AviClear treatment with Dr. Cosgrove will usually last around 30 minutes. First, your skin will be cleansed of all skincare, makeup, sunscreen, and oils. If you frequently use any type of retinoids, we do recommend that you stop using these products for several days before your treatment, as they’re more likely to cause redness. AviClear treatments are completely painless, so no topical numbing agents are necessary before the start of your treatment.

Once the skin is thoroughly prepared, Dr. Cosgrove will begin moving the laser device carefully across your skin. You may hear some clicking and feel the slight snap of the laser working, but this shouldn’t cause any discomfort. Most areas of the skin only require one pass-through, but more troublesome areas, such as the chin, cheeks, and jawline, may require two passes for optimal results.

That’s it. It’s as easy as that. Once your skin is finished, you’re free to resume all your normal activities.

Post-Treatment Care and Recovery

• Wait to wash your face until the next morning with a gentle cleanser, followed by an oil-free moisturizer that you’ll apply every day, twice a day. If you need recommendations for gentle cleansers and non-comedogenic moisturizers, Dr. Cosgrove can recommend a few options to choose from. Patients should also refrain from using their retinoid products for 3-5 days.
• Always apply a mineral sunscreen of 30 or higher, starting the morning after your treatment. You should also avoid direct or unprotected sun exposure to reduce the possibility of hyperpigmentation developing. Skin that has recently been exposed to the sun unprotected cannot be treated with a laser for at least two weeks, so if you’re going to be in the sun before your treatment, wear sunscreen or protective clothing.
• Makeup can be applied the day after your treatment.
• Some patients experience mild redness, swelling, and dryness, but this should only last for a few hours. Cold compresses can help with swelling and inflammation if necessary.
• Patients should also avoid heat (hot tubs, saunas, hot showers) for the first 48 hours.
• If you have any questions or concerns during your brief recovery, don’t hesitate to reach out to our office.

Risks and Side Effects of AviClear Laser Treatment

Unlike other acne treatments, AviClear has minimal potential risks and side effects. With AviClear, you may notice some slight redness or mild acne purging post-treatment, which is normal and can be expected. Other risks include blistering, excessive dryness, swelling, and irritation. These are typically uncommon, so if any of these are to occur after your treatment, contact Dr. Cosgrove for an examination and further treatment.

Is AviClear Laser Treatments Right for You?

Ideal AviClear Laser candidates are those who are struggling with stubborn modern to severe cases of acne. Because of the gentle laser, it is safe for all skin types and tones. Patients should have an established skincare regimen or be willing to start one to aid in their journey to clear their skin. Patients should also have otherwise good skin health and hygiene, with no present skin ailments.

The best way to find out if AviClear Laser Treatments are the right option for you is to speak with a licensed professional like Dr. Cosgrove. She will examine your skin, ask questions about your lifestyle and goals, and customize a treatment plan that will get you well on your way toward radiant, healthy, clear skin.

Choosing A Qualified Provider for AviClear Laser Treatments

Treating skin for acne requires years of training and education. Your provider should have an in-depth understanding of the anatomy, function, and purpose of the skin in order to achieve the ideal outcomes. In addition, laser treatments should only be done in the most capable hands.

With Dr. Cosgrove, you are choosing an experienced aesthetic specialist with Elite training in non-surgical rejuvenation and skin care solutions for patients all throughout the Coachella Valley. Learn more about AviClear Laser Treatments and how they can finally win your battle against acne. Contact us today by calling (760) 777-8772 or by completing our contact form, and a member of our team will reach out to you shortly. We look forward to meeting you soon!