What Are the Different Acne Treatments Available in
Calgary?
Do not let acne
completely change your life. There are solutions available, and any of them
might work perfectly fine for you. Find the best acne treatment Calgary by knowing all your options.
Sotret and Accutane
These products
are considered as the golden standard when it comes to treating cystic acne.
They significantly reduce inflammation and speed up the healing of lesions.
There is one big problem though. There are evidences that link them with birth
defects, so do not try to use them while pregnant or trying to have a baby.
Salicylic Acid
This popular
over-the-counter product has seen many successes towards the complete
elimination of acne. Usually sold in creams, gels, and sprays, it greatly
reduces swelling and pain while it loosens up substances that clog the pores. A
formulation with 2% salicylic acid is ideal for adult women who are prone to
skin dryness.
Tea Tree Oil
According to a
published article in the InternationalJournal of Dermatology, this natural oil is chemically comparable to
another effective acne treatment Calgary,
the benzoyl peroxide. It has antiseptic properties that could kill 27 of the 32
known acne-causing bacteria. A concentration of 5% tea tree oil will suffice
for mild acnes while 15% is recommended for those with severe cases.
Spironolactone
Usually sold in
its brand name Aldactone, this drug
originally used to treat hypertension can be a good treatment for acne caused
by increased androgen hormone in men. This will reduce the surge in
testosterone that usually leads to acne breakouts.
Blue Light Therapy
This acne treatment has been gaining
quite a market in recent years because of its convenience and effectiveness.
Using a type of ray to penetrate the dermis and target the hair follicles, it
kills all the bacteria that cause the inflammation from within. The patient
will not feel a thing, but the treatment is rarely covered by insurance and per
session costs more than $200.
Photodynamic Therapy
Another variation
of blue light treatment, it is meant to treat more severe acne with cystic
inflammation and pain. Basically, it is just a more intense version of the blue
light treatment with the additional application of a topical solution named Levulan. As expected, the price is also
higher, usually starting at $800 per session.
Tretinoin
This is a
topical treatment recommended by dermatologists for those whose acne is caused
by repeatedly clogged pores. It is a common ingredient for beauty products, but
its effectiveness might be limited for severe cases.
Isotretinoin
This popular
treatment is given to those whose acne is caused by too much sebum in the
epidermis, which leads to the irritation of hair follicles and clogging of
pores. It usually works even when used as a topical solution, but oral isotretinoin is still the most effective
for cystic acne.
Dermabrasion
For severe cases
that already damage the skin’s appearance significantly, micro-dermabrasion is recommended. Although not a standard
procedure, it helps in reducing the inflammation of the skin and in clearing
the skin from blemishes through chemical peeling. This is harsher than what you
might think, so dermatologists usually have their patients undergo an oral
and/or topical treatment first before initiating this surgical procedure.
