Acne Clinic

 Acne is far more than a cosmetic skin issue. It’s a debilitating condition that can wreak havoc on your self-esteem and quality of life. Fortunately, our team of medical professionals are highly skilled in the art and science of treating active acne, reducing inflammation and helping our patients with among the best acne treatments Calgary has to offer including prescription medications, hormone therapy, medical-grade skincare products, light therapy, hydrodermabrasion, chemical peels and laser rejuvenation.

 The Century Derma Lounge Approach to Acne Management
Acne is an extremely personal condition. Every individual has acne for unique reasons, and responds differently to various treatments. As your wellness and beauty team, our job is to identify what’s causing your problem skin – and provide you with some of the best acne treatments available.

During your initial consultation, we will dedicate time gathering detailed information about your skin, which will help us in composing a treatment plan. In addition to learning more about when your acne emerges and seems to get worse, we will also ask you questions about your diet, stress levels and lifestyle. Once we have a better understanding of your unique situation, we will recommend highly tailored lifestyle changes and treatment options that we believe will address the underlying cause of your acne and may clear up your condition.

We will also have you return on a regular basis so we can evaluate your progress, check in with your skin and tweak your acne treatment plan as necessary. This personal, ongoing relationship gives us the best chance at clearing up your acne, restoring a healthy complexion and renewing your confidence.
 

Acne has several causes. It may result from hormonal fluctuations in the body, high levels of stress, and the buildup of excess oils and dead skin cells that eventually clog pores. Acne also appears when certain types of bacteria found on the skin lead to infection. Oil-prone skin types are more susceptible to the occasional acne breakout if the skin isn’t kept clean.

Overactive sebaceous (oil-producing) glands start producing more sebum, usually at puberty, and the excess sebum clogs pores. This leads to the inflammation (redness and swelling) often associated with acne. Heredity (genes) is another factor determining who gets acne, and how severely. If either or both of your parents had acne you are more likely to develop acne too.

Several factors can make acne flare up or lead to breakouts, though triggers can vary from person to person. You can help to control the condition by avoiding things that you notice make your acne worse.

Cosmetics
Makeup and hair care products can clog pores. When shopping, look for these acne-friendly terms on labels: ‘oil-free’, ‘non-comedogenic’ or ‘non-acnegenic’.

Physical Pressure
Pressure due to a chinstrap, phone receiver, sports helmet, headband, guitar strap, bra strap, shoulder pads and other tight clothing can lead to acne developing at the point of skin contact.

Sweating
Excessive sweat can worsen acne in some people, especially if trapped under damp clothing.

Overwashing
Washing your face twice a day with a mild cleanser is recommended for acne-prone skin. Cleaning it more often, scrubbing/exfoliating or using strong cleansers or astringent products (i.e. toners with alcohol) can irritate the skin.

Medications
Certain medications can cause acne to flare up, such as oral corticosteroids, some contraceptive pills (progestin only) and anticonvulsives.

Menstrual Cycle
Many girls and women notice that acne flares up near their monthly period.

Picking or Squeezing
Picking and squeezing acne spots can make them worse and increase risk of permanent scarring. This is because manipulation can extend sebum and bacteria into surrounding skin tissues, leading to more swelling, redness and possible infection.

Food
If a certain kind of food seems to aggravate your acne, avoid it. There is evidence that avoiding dairy products or having a diet with a low glycemic index may reduce symptoms for some people.
 

Stages of Acne

Mild: a few small lesions that are close to skin surface, may are may not be inflamed
Moderate: marked by somewhat larger and more extensive whiteheads/blackheads and inflamed red spots that cover more of the face, possibly also on back and chest
Severe: involves many more acne spots, some deeper lumps called nodules and cysts, redness and inflammation over much of the face and/or back and chest

What Acne Treatments are Available?
Acne may be treated with oral medications and topical creams. Some oral medications control hormone levels and help prevent acne outbreaks related to adolescence and puberty. Other oral and topical antibiotics help eliminate bacteria that irritates acne breakouts. Light therapy also helps control the production of oils from the sebaceous glands. In addition to topical medications that control excess oil, laser treatments help rejuvenate the skin, reducing the risk of acne outbreaks. Century Derma Lounge offers many viable treatment options for his patients with acne.

Your personalized clear skin strategy may include a combination of treatments such as:

Topical medication: Containing benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or retinol.

Antibiotics: Topical or oral, to reduce bacteria and inflammation. Derivatives of vitamin A, for severe or cystic acne.

BHRT: Hormone therapy may be effective in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Estrogen can be used to decrease sebum production.

Laser Rejuvenation therapy: Laser treatments reduce the population of P. acnes microbes on the skin and alleviate redness associated with acne.

Opus Plasma or Perfect Derma Peel: Effective in smoothing acne scarring.

Acne Clearing Facial: Extracts acne bacteria from skin. 

Medical grade skincare: Daily skin care regimen appropriate for your skin type and lifestyle.

Micro-Needling or Skin Resurfacing: Removes the damaged surface skin layer, which helps smooth out the appearance of deeper scars; it also encourages new collagen formation.

Acne scars range from mild skin discolorations to dark and gnarled pits or ridges. Mild, smooth, and lightly colored scars may eventually disappear over time. On the other hand, more severe scars, characterised by pits or shallows in the skin and dark scar tissue, will not fade as a person ages Century Derma Lounge offers chemical peels and skin resurfacing treatments to minimise the appearance of acne scars and other skin imperfections. While chemical peels remove the surface layers of skin and reduce the appearance of the scars, resurfacing treatments work by breaking down the collagen that creates the pitted look of the scar. Both treatment options lighten the appearance of dark acne scars.​

Acne Consultation Fee $75
The consultation fee will be credited towards your first service. 

• Acne affects 5.6 million Canadians, nearly 20 per cent of the population.
• More than 80 per cent of acne sufferers are between ages 12 and 24.
• Acne affects about 90 per cent of adolescents, and 20-30 per cent of adults ages 20 to 40.
• Acne affects the face in 99 per cent of cases but can also affect the body in 50% of cases.
• Infant acne affects approximately 20 per cent of newborns.
• Starting around puberty and lasting until adulthood, acne can persist for many years, regardless of age.
• About 25 per cent of teens will still have acne at age 25.
• Women make up 75 per cent of adult cases.