WHAT IS ACNE? Part 2

So the clogged pore is the primary event in acne.  Sometimes that is all there is - so retinoids, like Retin-A, Tazorac (the most potent), or differin and extractions are all that is needed.

However, most cases of acne show inflammatory (red) lesions, including some large painful cysts.  These are controlled by application preventively of topical antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, and particularly effective in females - Aczone.  Additionally, oral medications can be used for one of 3 purposes:

1. Anti-inflammatory effects - doxycycline derivatives (they probably don't yield their benefits by killing bacteria);
2. Blocking testosterone in females - birth control pills or spironolactone; and
3. Preventing inflammatory lesions - Accutane type drugs.

Three pearls of wisdom for acne therapy:

1. Washing does not help acne (sorry Mom) - dirt has nothing to do with it and chemicals in soap are off the face in a minute so they have no time to penetrate;
2. Topical medications can be more effective than pills because they are delivered only to the target (skin and then into blood stream); and
3. You need to apply preventively: all over the place where you expect pimples.

Time, not usually medications, get rid of existing pimples. 80-90 % of patients are doing very well within a month on these regimens.

What is cosmetic dermatology?

Cosmetic Dermatology is the non-invasive component of cosmetic treatments (no cutting involved). It includes some of the following treatments:

    - Fillers/Injectables (Botox, Dysport, Restylane, Juvederm, Artefill, etc.) for expression lines,

    - Lasers (Fraxel, C02, IPL photofacial) for wrinkles, broken capillaries and acne scars,

    - Chemical Peels (revitalize the skin, remove fine lines, age spots),

    - Sclerotherapy (spider or varicose vein treatment),

    - Thermage for skin tightening, and

    - Coolsculpting and Ultrasound for fat removal.

Surgery is required for only 2 issues:

    1. Removal of bulging low eyelid fat pads and excess upper lid tissue,

    2. Sagging neck & cheek skin.
All other problems are NOT treated by surgery.

Acne Scar Treatments

For those with a limited number of wide superficial scars, fillers, such as Artefill (permanent), can be used with improvement seen immediately.  Dr. Hamilton is the American pioneer in Artefill treatments, having treated the first patients in the U.S. in 1997.

More extensive and deeper scars are treated very successfully with the Fraxel laser in a 5 treatment series that does not require any downtime.  Improvement is visible in most patients within approximately 4 weeks.

We treat many patients with acne scars, many of whom are quite severe and whose lives are markedly improved by these treatments.

P-FAB Butt Contouring Takes Center Stage

Dr. Hamilton has developed a non-surgical butt enhancement procedure that can produce dramatic changes in the buttock profile gradually and naturally over a period of a few months.

Dr. Hamilton, who is co-author of the international best seller, "Beverly Hills Beauty Secrets," uses a permanent filler combination which is administered every 2 months, generally for 6 months. The buttock tissue enlarges naturally to achieve the desired contour. A J-Lo or Beyonce enhancement might be the goal or something more subtle. Less dramatic contours may only require less than 3 sessions. Dr. Hamilton does not use silicone for any of his augmentations. He uses only FDA approved long duration permanent fillers by injection only.

"There is a shifting in the aesthetic culture," says Dr. Hamilton. "Celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez have definitely influenced our perceptions of female body beauty. The sensual look is definitely in. The stick is dead! Long live the curve!"

Dr. Hamilton has been treating women from all walks of life from adult film stars to surburban housewives. What previously was only achieved through risky scarring surgery is now attainable gradually and safely.

Welcome!

Hello everyone!

Welcome to our new blog. Dr. Douglas Hamilton is a well-known dermatologist with offices in the Los Angeles area. He is also the co-author of the international best seller, “Beverly Hills Beauty Secrets” (John Wiley ’09). We are looking to use this as a forum for techniques & procedures going on in the dermatology world with articles, tips, and frequently asked questions, so send us anything you want to know about cosmetic and medical dermatology and look for an answer here!

In the meantime, check out our website at www.douglashamiltonmd.com.