FYI Cosmetics

The Smoothbeam by Candela is a 1450nm diode laser that is versatile and multifunctional. It is the first FDA approved laser for the treatment of acne. Designed to target the root cause of acne, the Smoothbeam provides a precise heating of the upper dermis, while the dynamic cooling device Candela is famous for, known as non toxic cryogen gas, provides a controlled cooling of the skin. The result when this wavelength of light penetrates the skin is a denaturization of the sebaceous glands to effectively treat acne and sebaceous hyperplasia. In addition this diode laser also has the ability to initiate skin rejuvenation by softening fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes as well as a softening the appearance of acne scars.

Acne is the most common cause for visits to the dermatologist. This skin disorder affects millions of people worldwide. Acne is caused by clogged pores, pimples or cysts. The levels of acne range from mild to severe. Many factors can contribute to this condition such as hormones, stress, genetics, diet and the environment. Acne can be seen not only on the face, but also on the neck, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms. Moderate to severe forms of acne can possibly lead to scarring. Acne is caused by an increased production of the sebum from the oil glands, often as a result of hormonal activity. While there are several topical and systemic treatments available to use, occasionally other forms of treatment are needed to clear the area and gain control of an outbreak. This is where the Smoothbeam by Candela comes in.

The Smoothbeam targets the root cause of the acne by causing a thermal injury below the surface of the skin. The heat then alters the structure of the oil or sebaceous glands thus reducing the overproduction of the acne causing oil. The sebaceous glands are the root cause of acne. The thermal injury also initiates the remodeling of collagen to decrease the appearance of wrinkles and acne scars. As the laser penetrates into the upper layers of the dermis the wavelength of light is absorbed by the water within the deeper skin. The dynamic cooling device, which sprays cryogen onto the skin milliseconds prior to the laser beam hitting the skin, assists in minimizing side effects as it preserves the skin integrity and increase patient comfort.

The Smoothbeam targets and heats the collagen and the oil glands in the dermis, denaturing the oil glands and stimulating collagen growth all while protecting the top layer of skin. An advantage of this laser is its ability to treat any skin type from teenagers to older patients with minimal side effects. Side effects include hyper or hypo pigmentation, redness and in rare instances scarring. Contraindications to receive the Smoothbeam treatment include recent use of the oral medication Accutane and tanned skin.

The procedure is said to feel as if rubber bands are snapping on the skin and usually a topical anesthetic is applied prior to the treatment for added patient comfort. A full face can be treated in approximately 30 minutes. 2-6 treatments are needed at 4-6 week intervals for optimal results. Results are seen gradually, with most claiming to see a response after the second or third treatment.

The Alma Harmony XL has broken all the barriers in aesthetic laser technology to bring practitioners and patients a device that provides ten different technologies that are capable of treating over 60 popular aesthetic treatments; to date, there is no other laser device that can compare.  In the trying times of this aesthetic industry, the Harmony allows practitioners to minimize their investment while maximizing on treatment potential.  So what does this mean for patients?  More affordable treatments that provide lasting results—this technology provides a winning situation for all.

In the short amount of time that laser technology has been available to consumers; great strides have been made to advance the technology to a point where it made sense for both patients and practitioners.  In the past, separate laser devices have been needed to treat each aesthetic ailment, therefore in order to provide a wide arrange of treatments, practitioners needed to invest in a wide variety of aesthetic technology.  Laser devices don’t come cheap therefore financially, for many practitioners, having multiple laser devices didn’t make sense.  However, the introduction of the Harmony XL by Alma brought about an aesthetic laser revolution.  Now, this one device can do the work of ten, and this allows patients to receive safe, effective results for over 60 aesthetic laser procedures.

While the Harmony has applications for dozens of procedures, it is most often used to treat the following:

Hair Removal – With the addition of the AFT 650 handpiece (before only available on the Alma Soprano XL), the Harmony can now also offer Pain-Free, Hair-Free™ treatments to all men and women.  This specialized handpiece eliminates the need for topical anesthetics and other cooling devices.  Patients can now experience smooth, hair free lasting results easily and painlessly.

Skin Rejuvenation – Alma’s Laser360™ complete skin rejuvenation treatment combines three technologies utilized over 60 days to bring patients complete skin rejuvenation.  This application gets patients a complete range of skin rejuvenation results, the most apparent of which are anti-aging techniques.  These technologies are completely safe for rejuvenation of the face, neck, chest, hands or anywhere else patients harbor signs of aging or photo damage.

Acne & Acne Scar Removal – The AFT 420 acne handpiece allows the Alma Harmony to successfully treat problem acne.  The blue light wavelengths effectively target the porphyrins that are produced when p. acnes bacteria is naturally metabolized.  The integration between the porphyrins and the blue light creates oxygen which rapidly destroys these bacteria without damaging the surrounding tissue.  This can effectively reduce problem acne without the need for more invasive techniques.

Tattoo Removal – The Q-Switched Nd: YAG handpiece on the Harmony XL is a safe and effective way to remove unwanted tattoos.  This handpiece incorporates two different laser wavelengths—1064nm and 532nm to treat a wide arrange of tattoo colors.  By incorporating a handpiece that utilizes this dual wavelength technology, practitioners can remove multi-colored tattoos seamlessly.

Vascular & Pigmented Lesions – Some of the tell tale signs of aging include vascular and pigmented lesions.  In order to maintain a more uniform complexion, the Alma Harmony XL utilizes the AFT 540 VP handpiece for the safe and effective reduction of both vascular and pigmented lesions.  This technology works to target and treat these ailments, the laser light penetrates into the treatment area, targets the lesions and utilizes the heat from the laser energy to effectively break apart the pigmented area, thus giving the skin younger look overall.

Wrinkles – To help remove wrinkles and fine lines for a younger appearance, patients can undergo treatments on the Harmony XL with the 1320 Nd: YAG handpiece.  This handpiece is specially designed to reach deeper within the skins layers to target water-containing tissue.  The laser energy heats this water-containing tissue which effectively raises the dermal temperature.  This rise in temperature is the catalyst for the natural production of collagen; it is that collagen that works to fill in lines and wrinkles for a smoother, younger appearance.

Suffering with Acne, whether as a teen or as an adult, can be a very harrowing experience. What’s worse, once the acne desists, individuals are often left with a constant reminder—acne scars. Depending on severity, acne scarring can have a great effect on one’s appearance and overall self esteem, but feel confident that not all hope has been lost. As technology has progressed, new treatments have been developed that can help combat the permanent acne reminder. Learning about acne scar removal and the treatment options available can help individuals to find a treatment that will help them to achieve the smooth, clear complexion they desire.

There are several acne scar removal procedures currently available to consumers; therefore, depending the severity of your acne and acne scarring, some may work better than others. By fully researching all of your options you’ll be bale to discover which acne scar removal treatment will best suit your individual needs.

Dermal Fillers: Dermal fillers are one of the fastest and simplest ways to correct, soften and reduce mild to moderate acne scarring. Dermal fillers are natural compounds that are injected into and under the surface of the skin in order to fill in pitted acne scars. These compounds are extremely safe as they are made of natural ingredients and are easily administered. They are very beneficial to men and women with acne scarring because they provide immediate results with minimal to no downtime.

Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion is a minimally invasive skin resurfacing treatment that works to remove the superficial layers of the epidermis. Through the use of gentle mechanical abrasion, pressure, crystals and suction, this innovative treatment works to scrape away the surface layer of skin. These treatments help to remove dead skin cells that may eventually cause the formation of acne and in addition can reduce pore size, minimize the formation of acne and soften acne scars. Microdermabrasion is most often used on those patients that have both active acne and acne scarring.

Chemical Peels: Chemical peels are another acne scar removal treatment option that can lead to a smoother, clearer appearance. During the chemical peel, a chemical solution will be applied to the skin in order to smooth skin texture by eliminating the damaged weakened outer layer of the epidermis. Chemical peels, similar to microdermabrasion, work to help alleviate both mild to moderate acne and acne scarring. There are varying degrees of chemical peels so depending on the severity of your specific situation, different options are available.

Laser Acne Removal: One of the most innovative ways to reduce the visible signs of acne and acne scarring is with laser acne treatments. Fractional and/or resurfacing lasers can be used to partially ablate the epidermal layer of skin in order to promote the natural growth of collagen in order to fill in pitted acne scars. Laser acne removal treatments can naturally decrease the depth of acne scarring for a smoother appearance.

Depending on your current level of acne and acne scarring, one or several of these acne scar removal treatment options may be beneficial for you. Discover today just how easy it can be to eliminate your acne scars once and for all!

Acne is a very common skin condition; it currently affects millions of men and women throughout the world. While acne is most prevalent amongst teens, it can has also been known to effect men and women up to and through their 40’s. Acne Removal is something that millions of individuals are interested in; the biggest problem is learning about the acne removal treatment options that are available. With so many different treatments available, without doing proper research, it is difficult to know which is right for you.

While several acne treatments currently exist, knowing which will work best for you will greatly depend on the severity of your acne and acne scarring; certain treatments are designed for certain levels of severity. By fully researching all of your options and by experiencing some trial and error, you’ll be able to discover which treatment will best suit your individual needs.

Microdermabrasion: Microdermabrasion is a very mild skin resurfacing treatment that works to remove the superficial epidermal layers for minimally invasive rejuvenation. Through the use of, gentle mechanical abrasion in combination with pressure and suction, microdermabrasion works to scrape away the surface layers of skin. By removing dead skin cells and clearing clogged pores, this treatment effectively minimizes the formation of acne. A series of microdermabrasion sessions can reduce pore size, minimize the formation of acne and soften acne scars for effective acne removal.

Chemical Peels: Chemicals peels are a moderately invasive yet innovative way to remove acne for a smoother, clearer appearance. Chemical peels utilize a specific chemical solution (depending on your severity of acne) which is applied to the skin in order to smooth skin texture by eliminating the damaged weakened outer layer of the epidermis. There are varying degrees of chemical peels so depending on your specific needs, different options are available for different levels of acne removal.

Acne Blue Light Therapy: Acne blue light is a form of non-invasive laser therapy that works to treat acne at the source…acne causing bacteria. The sebaceous gland is a natural oil producing gland that lies near the base of each hair follicle. Due to the buildup of dirt, grime or dead skin cells, oil can become trapped in our pores. The bacterium formed due to this trapping is known as Propionibacterium Acnes or P. acnes. P. acnes, when trapped, lead to the swelling and formation of acne. Blue light therapy targets and treats P. acnes without damaging the surrounding skin and tissue. After a series of treatments, patients experience a smoother, clearer complexion.

Laser Acne Removal: Laser acne removal differs slightly from the acne blue light therapy because it is slightly more invasive. Laser acne removal involves fractional and resurfacing lasers that work to partially ablate the epidermal layer of skin in order to decrease the depth of acne scars while simultaneously encouraging the natural production of collagen below the surface of the skin in order to initiate healing in the damaged areas. Oftentimes, patients will undergo acne blue light therapy to reduce unwanted acne before undergoing ablative treatments to reduce acne scarring.

Depending on the amount of acne or acne scarring you currently have one or several of these treatments may be beneficial for successful removal. By learning more about these treatments, you’ll quickly see how easy it is to eliminate your acne scars once and for all!