How to treat acne as a medical aesthetician

As a medical aesthetician, there are a lot of different issues you will see clients about. Some people may come in concerned about their chin fat while others may come in wanting to prevent wrinkles. A common concern among many adults, however, is adult acne. Acne is something that many people wish they could leave in their teenage years, but it often follows many people into adulthood. Knowing how to treat acne as a medical aesthetician is an essential skill to have when working in the medical aesthetic industry. As a medical aesthetician, you will need to know how to evaluate someone’s skin and be able to recommend the proper treatment for their acne. 

What Causes Acne?

Many people may be struggling with acne and not even be aware of what exactly it is that they are dealing with. If you want to know how to treat acne as a medical aesthetician it is important to know the cause of acne in the first place. Acne can happen when your pores become blocked due to the build-up of oil, dead skin, or bacteria in your pores. All of these issues lead to breakouts and long term acne. Acne can also be caused by medications, greasy cosmetics, hormonal changes, emotional stress, and menstruation. Whatever the cause many people can feel frustrated at repeated breakouts over a long period of time. By the time your clients get to you all they want is to experience clear skin and a long term solution to their acne problem. 

Who’s At Risk For Developing Acne?

Acne affects 50 million Americans annually. It is a very common issue that many people struggle with at some point in their lives. A whopping 5.1 million people sought out treatment for acne in 2013 as people are becoming more aware that there are solutions to acne available. There are certain risk factors that make someone more likely to develop acne. This includes:

• Having parents who had acne
• Taking certain medications (such as birth control)
• Hormonal changes (such as puberty or pregnancy)
• A poor diet (lots of sugars or carbohydrates)

Effects Of Acne

Acne can affect more than just your skin. Studies have shown that acne can cause people to develop depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, poor self-image, decreased quality of life, and feelings of loneliness. When you help a client face their acne issues head-on and improve the quality and overall look and feel of their skin you are changing more than just the appearance of their face. You are literally changing the way they feel about themselves and the way they feel about their life. Everyone wants to make an impact in this world and by helping others through knowing how to treat acne as a medical aesthetician you can do both!  

Treatments To Help With Acne

• BBL Photofacial

This is a treatment that is highly effective at killing the bacteria within the skin that causes acne. The treatment causes the acne bumps to diminish and decreases the redness and pigmented acne scars that are within the skin. The BBL laser acne treatment works by heating up layers of your skin through cosmetic heat and energy. This targets the areas in the skin that promote new skin cell growth. Due to the unique filter of the “blue light effect” that the BBL has, the treatment is able to destroy the bacteria that forms the acne. The treatment is needed on average around nine times to get optimal results. Treatments can be spaced out over a six week period. This is a very effective treatment to know if you want to know how to treat acne as a medical aesthetician.  

• Radio frequency

Radio frequency skin rejuvenation treatment that can be effective in healing acne scarring. About three to five treatments are needed to get the full effect of the radio frequency. Treatments are spaced about four to six weeks apart from each other. The radio frequency increases collagen, improves skin tone, tightens the skin, and increases the quality of the texture of the skin. Collagen is an essential protein that provides elasticity to your skin. It helps your skin appear more youthful, vibrant and glowing. The collagen helps your skin to repair and renew, allowing your skin to repair and heal acne scarring. It is a treatment that is safe for any skin type which makes it a very beneficial treatment to know when wondering how to treat acne as a medical aesthetician.  

• Profractional

The laser profractional treatment is another great treatment for acne scars. A profractional treatment triggers the skin’s healing response and leads to a healing of the skin. This is a great treatment for acne scarring and pitting. Three treatments are needed on average for the best results. These can be spaced six to eight weeks apart from each other. This treatment isn’t for every skin type, however, so careful evaluation of the skin is needed prior to treatment.   

• Chemical Peel

A chemical peel uses a chemical solution in order to improve the skin’s overall appearance. People use this treatment to solve many different types of skin issues, but one is its ability to soften acne or treat the scars caused by acne. The benefits of a chemical peel include:

• Lightens unwanted pigmentation
• Evens out skin tone
• Smooths rough skin
• Lightens acne blemishes and prevents future outbreaks
• Diminishes fine lines and wrinkles
• Increases collagen and elastin

Three to five treatments are needed on average for the best results. Treatments will need to be spaced four to six weeks apart from each other.  

• Lamprobe

Lamprobe is a treatment that treats minor skin conditions that are common among most people. Active acne is one of the issues that lamprobe can improve. There is little to no downtime with this treatment and the number of treatments needed depends on the individual’s skin condition.  

• Microneedling

Microneedling is a procedure during which tiny needles are used to create controlled micro-injuries to the skin in order to produce collagen and elastin. What does collagen do for your skin? Collagen is an essential protein that provides elasticity to your skin. It helps your skin appear more youthful, vibrant and glowing. Collagen isn’t just good for your skin though. It’s also extremely beneficial for your hair and nails, gut health, brain health, and weight loss. The tiny needles that are used during the treatment serve to create small micro-channels which allow your skin to absorb creams and serums more effectively into the dermis (the thick layer of living tissue below the epidermis which forms the true skin, containing blood capillaries, nerve endings, sweat glands, hair follicles, and other structures). After the treatment, hyaluronic acid is applied to the skin as well. Post-treatment you will have a thicker dermis and your skin will be toner, tighter and have an improved color to it. This treatment is perfect for acne pitting. Three treatments are needed for best results and treatments should be spaced four to six weeks apart from one another.   

• Microneedling with PRP

This treatment is the same as a microneedling treatment except that platelet-rich plasma is applied topically to the skin. The platelet-rich plasma is applied topically throughout the treatment. During this process, the skin is being infused with the client’s own natural growth factors which promote stimulation of new collagen production and promote a quicker healing time, quicker results, and healthier cells to the area. For these reasons, this treatment is great for acne scarring. Three treatments are needed for best results and can be spaced out every four to six weeks apart.   

Other Ways Your Client Can Reduce Acne

Beyond treatments with you, your client should still be actively taking care of their skin on a day to day basis. Treatments are more effective if proper skincare is taking place in between treatments. In order for that to occur consider recommending to your client small steps they can take to improve the quality of their skin. That may include things such as eating a low refined sugar diet, washing their face twice a day, removing makeup before bed, and reducing their stress level by meditating or working out.  

Our Programs

Are you looking to get involved in the medical aesthetics industry? Do you want to be someone who knows how to treat acne as a medical aesthetician? Then one of our programs may be the answer to the career move you have been dreaming of taking. We offer a Online Comprehensive Laser Course that covers all of the following:

• Laser hair removal
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) photofacial
• Laser spider vein reduction
• Laser acne treatments
• CoolSculpting body contouring
• Cellulite reduction
• Radiofrequency (RF) skin tightening
• Wrinkle reduction
• Skin tightening
• Tattoo removal

You will also explore topics such as:

• Treating different skin conditions and types
• Evaluating skin types using the Fitzpatrick scale
• Skin physiology and tissue interactions
• How to perform the consultation process
• Laser settings and functionalities

This is a course that can change your life and direct you into a future in a booming industry that is changing the way people look and feel about themselves!

Join us for our new online course that you can attend from the comfort of your own home by simply using your phone or computer! During our Online Comprehensive Laser Course you will receive a combination of online classroom laser training and clinicals with a variety of instructors and live demonstrations with several hours on each modality. Modalities include Laser Hair Removal, Photofacial, Laser Skin Rejuvenation, Radiofrequency Skin Rejuvenation, Coolsculpting, Cellulite Reduction, Tattoo Removal, Radiofrequency Skin Tightening, and Microneedling. 

Overall the Medical Aesthetics industry is an exciting industry to be a part of as it continues to grow! If you are looking to get into the medical aesthetics industry then take a look at our course offerings and see if one of them may be the right program for you! To learn more information about our courses at National Laser Institute, fill out the form on the right or call 855-637-4530 to speak with an Admissions Advisor. We look forward to you starting your dream career!

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