Medi Clinic – Aesthetic Clinic
Retinoids
What is Retinoids
Retinoids are widely used in skin care, especially in combating skin aging and improving skin condition. One of the most common retinoids is retinol, a form of vitamin A.
Retinol's effects on the skin include:
1. Promotes Cell Renewal: Retinol promotes skin cell renewal and metabolism, helping to exfoliate aged keratinocytes for smoother skin.
2. Stimulates collagen production: Retinol stimulates collagen synthesis in the skin, thereby improving skin elasticity and firmness.
3. Improves skin pigmentation: Retinol helps to reduce the appearance of dark spots and freckles and improves the evenness of the skin.
4. Antioxidant effects: As a form of vitamin A, retinol has antioxidant properties that help to fight free radical damage, thus slowing down the skin aging process.
Benzoyl Peroxide
What is Benzoyl Peroxide
Benzoyl peroxide is a widely used topical medication for the treatment of acne. Benzoyl peroxide works by targeting the bacteria (Propionibacterium acnes) that contribute to the development of acne and by helping to unclog pores.
How Benzoyl Peroxide helps treat acne:
- Antimicrobial action: Benzoyl peroxide has strong antimicrobial properties, which means it can kill or inhibit the growth of the acne-causing bacteria on the skin.
- Exfoliation: Benzoyl peroxide has a mild exfoliating effect, which helps to remove dead skin cells and clear clogged pores.
- Reduction of inflammation: Benzoyl peroxide can also have anti-inflammatory effects, which can help to reduce redness and swelling associated with acne.
Caution：
Some people may experience skin dryness, redness, or irritation when using benzoyl peroxide, especially during the initial stages of treatment. To minimize these side effects, it’s often recommended to start with a lower concentration and gradually increase usage as tolerated.
Topical Antibiotic
What is Topical antibiotic
Topical antibiotics can be used to treat acne in some cases, but it is usually reserved as a first-line treatment option for acne. The primary role of antibiotics is to inhibit or kill the bacteria that cause acne (Propionibacterium acnes), thereby reducing the occurrence of acne and inflammation.
Forms of topical antibiotics commonly used:
1. Topical antibiotic creams, gels, or lotions: Examples include Clindamycin and Erythromycin, which are widely used to treat mild to moderate acne.
2. Combination of antibiotics with other therapeutic medications: Sometimes doctors may combine topical antibiotics with other acne treatment medications, such as retinoids or benzoyl peroxide, to enhance efficacy.
Caution:
1. Antibiotic resistance: prolonged use of topical antibiotics may result in Propionibacterium acnes becoming resistant to antibiotics, rendering antibiotic treatment ineffective.
2. Inappropriate use: antibiotics should only be used in specific cases of acne treatment, and excessive or inappropriate use may lead to skin irritation and other adverse reactions.
3. Limited applicability: Topical antibiotics are usually ineffective for severe acne, and oral antibiotics or other treatments may be necessary for severe acne.
Oral Antibiotic
Why use Oral Antibiotic
Oral antibiotics can be used to treat acne in some cases, especially for moderate to severe cases of acne or when other treatments have not worked. Oral antibiotics work by inhibiting the growth of Propionibacterium acnes, reducing inflammation and preventing new acne lesions from forming. They can significantly improve acne symptoms in the short term, but long-term use of oral antibiotics can lead to bacterial resistance and other side effects.
commonly used oral antibiotics for acne treatment:
- Tetracyclines
- Macrolides
- Doxycycline
- Minocycline
Caution:
- Antibiotic Resistance: Prolonged or inappropriate use of antibiotics can lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- Side Effects: Like all medications, oral antibiotics can have side effects. Common side effects may include stomach upset, nausea, diarrhea, and yeast infections in females.
- Sun Sensitivity: Some oral antibiotics, such as doxycycline and minocycline, can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, increasing the risk of sunburn.
Oral Contraceptive
Why use Oral Contraceptive
Oral contraceptives can be used to treat acne in some cases. Specific types of oral contraceptives, called oral contraceptive tablets (a combination of synthetic estrogen and progestin drugs), can play a therapeutic role in women suffering from androgen-induced acne.
Why Androgen cause acne:
The development of acne has been linked to androgens, a class of male hormones, but women also have a certain amount of androgens in their bodies. In some women, increased levels of androgens may lead to excess oil production in the skin, which increases the risk of acne.
How Oral Contraceptive Works:
The estrogen and progesterone in oral contraceptives can balance the androgens by adjusting hormone levels in the body, thus reducing skin oil production and acne.
When using oral contraceptives to treat acne, a low-dose combination of synthetic estrogen and progestin medication is usually chosen over the high-dose medications used as birth control.
Caution：
Oral contraceptives may not be suitable for all women in the treatment of acne. For some people, oral contraceptives may have an adverse reaction or may not be suitable for their health condition.
Chemical Peels
What is Chemical Peels
Chemical peels focus on the controlled destruction and exfoliation of the skin through the use of chemicals to remove damaged cells from the surface of the skin to promote epidermal regeneration and dermal remodeling. Chemical peels can be divided into three types: light, medium, and deep chemical peels.
A light chemical peel is usually used for:
- fine wrinkles
- uneven skin tone
- acne
- dry skin
A medium chemical peel is typically used for:
- wrinkles
- uneven skin tone
- acne scars
A deep chemical peel is best suited for:
- deeper wrinkles
- deeper scars
- precancerous skin patches
Steroid Injection
What is Steroid Injection
Cortisone shots for acne involve injecting a synthetic form of the hormone cortisol into large acne cysts. As an anti-inflammatory, cortisone shrinks the swollen cyst wall, helping reduce the redness, swelling, and pain of severe inflammatory acne breakouts.
Cortisone acne shots work quickly. Within 24 hours, you'll notice treated blemishes softening, shrinking, and flattening. While they may not completely disappear, they will invariably be smaller and better able to heal themselves within a week.
BENEFITS Cortisone Acne Shots
- Cortisone shots provide a treatment option for acne that may be otherwise resistant to other solutions. They can be used on both the face and the body.
- As cortisone's healing effects can begin immediately, the treatment can improve skin fast (which may be especially helpful if you have an upcoming event that you want to look your best for).
- Cortisone injections also reduce the chance of scarring, which is especially valuable if you're prone to hyperpigmentation (darkening skin) after a breakout.
- Cortisone injections along with comedone extraction (the removal of blackheads) do not alter the course of your condition, but can significantly improve your skin's appearance.
Caution：
Cortisone acne shots can cause side effects, such as:
- Pitting of the skin: Too much cortisone or too strong a solution can leave a visible depression around the injection site. It usually goes away on its own but some may be permanent
- Hypopigmentation (loss of color): Cortisone shots can sometimes leave a lighter spot on the skin, especially in Black and brown people. This usually resolves on its own over time.
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