Battling Acne with Laser Genesis

Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States. While most of us associate acne with our teen years, it can occur at any stage of life*. Many of us began our fight with acne around 12 years old, expecting it to improve as we age, only to continue battling for clear skin well into adulthood. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, adult acne cases are increasing throughout the population.

Acne is caused by dirt, oil, dead skin, and bacteria clogging our pores. It can be non-inflammatory (blackheads or comedones, and whiteheads), and inflammatory (papules, pustules, nodules, and acne cysts). Inflammatory acne causes inflammation and swelling and is what we often think of when we refer to acne. Laser Genesis is an excellent treatment for acne of all types.

What is Laser Genesis and what does it do?

Primarily done on the face and neck, Laser Genesis is a non-invasive and non-ablative procedure. It uses a near-infrared (NIR) Nd:YAG laser to gently increase the temperature of the skin. The NIR irradiation also stimulates the production of elastin and collagen and targets the tiny vessels and capillaries that cause skin redness (like in inflamed pimples and acne scars) and breaks them down, allowing the blood trapped beneath the surface of the skin to dissipate and for overall redness to diminish.

How does Laser Genesis treat acne?

When the laser heats up the skin, it kills acne-causing bacteria on the surface of the skin and is trapped within the deeper skin layers. It also breaks up dirt and oil. By ridding your skin of the main causes of acne, it works to prevent future breakouts and lessen the severity of breakouts that are active at the time of treatment. As we mentioned above, it minimizes redness from acne and acne scars and stimulates collagen production. This helps to heal and reduce the appearance of red acne scars and improve the overall texture of your skin. 

Are there any side effects or risks when getting Laser Genesis?

Laser Genesis is considered a very low-risk procedure. There are minimal side effects, with temporary (typically only lasting a few hours) redness and slight swelling of the treatment area being the most common. While other laser treatments come with the risk of discoloration if used on the wrong skin type, Laser Genesis is safe and effective for all skin types and ethnicities!

What can I expect during my Laser Genesis appointment?

In preparation for laser genesis, be sure not to go tanning and limit sun exposure for two weeks prior to your appointment. It is also helpful to arrive at your appointment with clean, dry skin.

The procedure itself takes between 15 and 30 minutes and is painless, causing only a gentle warming feeling. Sometimes it is even called the “lunchbreak procedure” because you can be in and out after your appointment with no downtime, able to resume normal activities immediately.

While the number of sessions needed will be determined by you and your MedSkinEssentials provider, multiple sessions are often recommended, depending on the severity of your acne, any other current skin conditions you may have, and your genetic makeup.

As always, Laser Genesis should be performed by a licensed professional. Please call one of our locations with any questions or book a consultation online to start your custom treatment plan.

*Source: AAD