Skin Therapies and Treatments

Acne and Acne Scarring

The Esteem Penn State Health Cosmetic Associates team takes great pride in the treatment of teen and adult acne. To begin, the process starts with a complimentary consultation to analyze the client’s skin. This allows the experts to customize an acne treatment program.

Acne occurs when pores (tiny holes on the surface of the skin) become clogged.

• Each pore opens to a follicle that contains a hair and an oil gland. The oil released by the gland helps remove old skin cells and keeps skin soft.
• When glands produce too much oil, pores become blocked. Dirt, bacteria and inflammatory cells build-up. The blockage is called a plug or comedone.
• When top of the plug is white, it is called a whitehead.
• When the top of the plug is dark, it is called a blackhead.
• If it breaks open, it is followed by swelling and the appearance of red bumps.

Acne deep in the skin can cause hard, painful cysts called nodulocystic acne. Although acne often diminishes after the teenage years, it can last into middle age. The condition often responds well to treatment after six to eight weeks, but may flare-up from time to time. Scarring occurs when severe acne is not treated.

Rosacea

Patients with the condition called ‘rosacea’ typically report a slow progression of symptoms, such as broken vessels in the cheeks and on the nose, small round bumps and a dry, ruddy appearance of the skin.

Rosacea treatments begin with an understanding of what triggers the flare-ups and developing a strategy to avoid those triggers. Only high-quality and very gentle products should be used on the skin; it is important to identify anti-inflammatory products that help with the treatment of rosacea.

Rosacea Symptoms:

• Redness of the face
• Blushing or flushing easily
• Many spider-like blood vessels (telangiectasia) of the face
• A red nose (called a ‘bulbous nose’)
• Acne-like skin sores that may ooze or crust
• Burning or stinging feeling in the face
• Irritated, bloodshot, watery eyes

Melasma

Melasma is a common skin disorder that most often appears in young women with brownish skin tone, but can affect anyone.

Melasma is often associated with the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, and is typically common with pregnancy, when using birth control pills (oral contraceptives), and if using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during menopause.

Melasma Symptoms:

Skin color changes that most often appear an even brown color, typically appearing on the cheeks, forehead, nose or upper lip; symmetrical dark patches.