Acne Care
We offer a variety of treatments for individual pimples and cysts as described below:
For procedures designed to treat larger acne outbreaks and reduce future outbreaks, you may be interested in IPL Acne Treatments or the Cosmelan Active System for Acne.
Comedone (pimple) Extractions
What are comedones?
Comedones form when follicles become blocked by a mixture of sebum (oil) and dead skin cells (see the Understanding Acne page for more details). The blockage traps sebum inside the follicle and allows Proprionobacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacteria to grow. If the follicle is open to the outside air, the melanin (skin pigment) in the dead skin cells oxidizes and becomes dark in color, forming a blackhead. If the follicle remains closed, a whitehead forms. Inflammation of the follicle can occur, producing papules and pustules.
How are comedones extracted?
The follicle is opened with a sterile lancet and a comedone extractor is used to extract the comedone. The comedone extractor is a small, looped instrument that removes the contents of blocked pores without damaging the follicle. An antibacterial ointment is applied to the treated area. Alternate treatments not used at Skin Care By Design include physician prescriptions for antibiotics and Accutane.
Things you should know.
There are no side effects but opening an inflamed follicle carries a very small risk of infection.
How much does it cost?
$5 for five or fewer extractions.
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Exolift Blackhead Strips
What is an Exolift Blackhead Strip?
Exolift is similar to over-the-counter blackhead strips like Biore®, but uses a much stronger adhesive. After cleansing the treatment areas, Exolift strips are applied and allowed to dry for 10 - 15 minutes. Then they are carefully removed, bringing with them pore clogging dirt, oil, makeup residue, and blackheads.
How does it work?
Acne blemishes form when a pore becomes blocked. Oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria are trapped in the pore and the blockage grows, forming a bump. If the blocked pore is open to the air, the melanin (skin pigment) in the dead skin cells oxidizes and becomes dark in color, forming a blackhead (see the Understanding Acne page for more details).
The Exolift adhesive attaches to the exposed portion of the blackhead and any other oil, dirt, or debris in the pore opening. When Exolift is peeled away, it removes the attached blackheads and debris without traumatizing the pores.
Things you should know.
Exolift cannot remove whiteheads because those pores are closed and the adhesive cannot attach to the blockage inside the pore.
There is no downtime but the treatment area may appear flushed for 15-30 minutes after the Exolift strips are removed.
How much does it cost?
$15 per area (nose, each cheek, forehead).
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Milia Extractions
What are milia?
Milia are not acne but are white bumps that form when skin cells become trapped in small pockets on the surface of the skin rather than exfoliate naturally. The trapped cells become walled off into tiny cysts that appear like white beads below the surface of the skin (see the Understanding Acne page for more details). Milia can occur on the skin, mucous membranes such as the inner surface of the cheek, or the vermilion border of the lips. As the skin surface is worn away, the tiny cysts may resolve on their own. Intervention to remove the cyst may offer more rapid resolution.
How are milia extracted?
The lesion is opened with a fine, sterile needle and a comedone extractor is used to extract the milia. The comedone extractor is a small, looped instrument that removes the contents of the skin pockets without damaging the surrounding tissue.
Things you should know.
Milia are very superficial and there are no risks or side effects to their removal.
How much does it cost?
$5 for five or fewer extractions.
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Cyst Injections
What are acne cysts?
Acne cysts form when an infected follicle ruptures, causing inflammation to the surrounding skin. When a follicle breaks along the bottom, total collapse can occur, causing a large, painful cyst. The cyst has no passage to the surface of the skin so touching or squeezing it causes it to become larger and more inflamed (see the Understanding Acne page for more details).
How does a cyst injection work?
Inflamed cysts respond to the injection of a small amount of triamcinolone, a mild steroid. The steroid reduces the inflammation, allowing the follicle and cyst to heal. Alternate treatments not used at Skin Care By Design include physician prescriptions for antibiotics and Accutane.
Things you should know.
Cyst injections are appropriate for occasional lesions but chronic cysts should be addressed with systemic treatments by a physician. The rapid reduction of the cyst can cause a small depression that normally resolves within three months.
How much does it cost?
There is a $5 setup fee and each injection is $5.
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