Acne Treatment

Acne is a very common chronic skin condition in both teenagers and adults. While it's not life threatening, it can cause permanent scarring as well as serious self-confidence and emotional issues. That's why we offer different types of safe and effective acne prevention treatments at our clinic, including Blu-U and Levulan treatments, as well as topical acne solutions. 

Ideal For:

• Clearing existing acne breakouts
• Improving or eliminating the appearance of acne scars
• Preventing future breakouts

We understand how important clear and healthy skin is to leading a happy and fulfilling life, which is why we strive to develop personalized acne scar treatments for our patients based on skin type, particular lifestyle and acne severity, giving you visible, long-lasting results.

While the symptoms of acne will vary in severity depending on each individual, there are common signs found on specific areas of the body such as your face, neck, chest, back, shoulders and upper arms. These include:

• Blackheads - tiny black or yellowish bumps which develop on the skin.
• Whiteheads - these appear very similar to blackheads although they are much firmer and will not empty when squeezed.
• Papules - Tender or sore red bumps
• Pustules - Like papules, these are tender to touch but they also have a white-tipped center, caused by the buildup of pus
• Nodules - These large, hard lumps build up beneath the surface of your skin and can cause pain.
• Cysts - With an appearance very similar to that of boils, these pus-filled bumps are the most severe symptom of acne and can cause permanent scarring.

After a thorough analysis of your unique condition, one of our skin specialists will be able to offer you a wide variety of topical solutions to help clear your acne and prevent future breakouts from occurring as often. At our clinic, we also offer more extensive acne scar treatments which include:

Blu-U Treatment

We are able to use this advanced development in light technology to effectively treat our patients suffering from acne. Also called photodynamic therapy (PDT), this non-drug treatment is gentle and effective and typically well-tolerated by our patients.

During the procedure, you will sit beneath the light for approximately 15 minutes / 1-2 per week. Through the use of a non-laser visible blue light device, Blu-U treatment eliminates the bacteria in your oil glands which cause breakouts. This type of treatment can only be used to treat mild-moderate acne patients.

Blu-U Treatment with Levulan

In more severe acne cases, a product called Levulan (aminolevulinic acid) can be applied and left on for an hour prior to Blu-U treatment as this makes the skin more responsive to the action of the Blu-U light. This treatment comes with very little discomfort, minimal adverse effects and excellent results for treating acne so that you will be able to enjoy the clear, healthy skin you have always wanted.

While acne is not curable, it can be managed extremely well. Before discussing treatment options with our skin specialist, it must be understood that it takes some time for acne to clear. On average, 6-8 weeks are necessary for the initial results to be noticed. Because every case is unique, this timeline may vary for every individual patient. However, while you are waiting for the treatment to rejuvenate and heal your skin, there are several steps you can take to lessen the symptoms of your acne. These include:

• Using a gentle cleanser twice a day. Our skin specialist will be able to advise you on the best product for your skin type.
• Do not pick at the blackheads and whiteheads as this can cause the acne to spread to uninfected areas of the skin.
• Any cosmetics you use should be ‘non comedogenic’. This is usually indicated on the label of the product. 
• To deal with acne scarring, options such as chemical peels, laser resurfacing and intense pulsed light are effective treatments with immediate, visible results.

At Okanagan Skin Care Centre, we are invested in the health and well being of all our patients and strive to develop personalized and effective acne treatments which will give you the healthy, glowing skin you deserve.

To learn more about our effective, safe and proven acne control treatments, contact one of our skin specialists today by calling our clinic at 250.868.9290 or book your consultation today!