Acne is a chronic problem that affects many teenagers, often well into adulthood. What to do?

Acne is a problem with many triggers, stemming mainly from the sebaceous glands in the skin, which excrete the oil that protects it. Our hormones are a big contributor to how these glands react, and factors like irregular periods, stress, oily cosmetics, milk, chocolate and nuts are known to make acne worse.

Traditional treatments include topical therapy, peels, antibiotics, hormonal therapy and isotretinoin in severe cases, and remain the mainstay of therapy. Lasers, other light sources such as IPL and blue light and radio frequency devices are the latest advent in the treatment of resistant and difficult-to-treat acne.

They are believed to have a strong  antibacterial effect, and lead to a significant positive effect on the sebaceous glands, improving acne after one to three treatment sessions. Studies have in fact shown a reduction of 47–95 per cent in acne lesions and blackheads, as well as rapid clearing of the red spots that are left long after acne lesions have resolved.

A great benefit of this treatment is that there is no need for a recovery period, nor are there any significant side effects of the treatment, when delivered by your dermatologist. Topical treatment of acne is often continued while and after getting treated with laser or radio frequency sessions. In short, treatments are moving from chemical to physical modalities, improving both results and tolerance.

Treatment starts at $100.