Acne is a disease of the sebaceous glands. It shows up as pimples, pustules and blackheads, often in visible places like the face, neck, décolleté, upper arms and back. Teenagers are affected most often.

This article explains how acne develops, how you can prevent it and what we can do for you as dermatologists.

We are happy to see you for a personal consultation. Book your appointment here

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Contents

• Why does acne develop?

• What forms of acne are there?

• What can be done about acne?

• What our practice offers for acne

• What you can do yourself

• Our services

• The ACCURE® laser for acne

• Summary

Why does acne develop?

Hormone levels change at certain stages of life, for example during puberty, pregnancy or menopause. The sebaceous glands then produce more sebum. If it can't drain properly, blackheads and pimples form and the skin looks blemished.

Environmental factors, stress and an unbalanced diet can also encourage acne. Some skincare products can even trigger acne in certain skin types (acne cosmetica). Chlorine, iodine, tar or oil can cause acne venenata, and some medications cause acne medicamentosa.

What forms of acne are there?

The medical term is acne vulgaris. Depending on how severe it is, doctors distinguish between:

• Acne comedonica: mainly blackheads.
• Acne papulopustulosa: papules and pustules, some of them already inflamed.
• Acne conglobata: inflamed nodules under the skin and abscesses as well. These can leave deep acne scars that often last for life.

What can be done about acne?

The good news is that acne usually clears up by itself in early adulthood, from around 25. To avoid scarring, though, treatment should start as early as possible.

We see many different forms of acne in our practice. Besides how it looks, acne can be a heavy psychological burden. Depending on severity, treatment ranges from adapted skincare and medical skincare products to laser treatment and medication that works throughout the body (systemic therapy). We also use targeted micronutrients and microbiome testing to get at the causes.

We look at everything that affects your skin, including psychological factors such as stress or anxiety, and at how severe the acne is. After a detailed talk and an examination, we draw up a treatment plan together with you.

We are happy to advise you in person. Book your appointment here.

What our practice offers for acne

Prof. Dr. Rzany is co-author of the acne treatment guideline. He combines decades of experience as a dermatologist with scientific work. As our list of services below shows, we can cover the whole of your acne treatment in one place.

We are quick to adopt new medications and technologies. We were the first practice in Austria with a 1726 nm laser, which targets the sebaceous glands directly.

Alongside all the usual therapies, we also offer treatments without medication or antibiotics.

What you can do yourself

If you are prone to acne, regular skincare and cleansing are important. For mild acne, peels and cleansing lotions with a neutral or, better still, slightly acidic pH help. They open clogged pores so the sebum can drain.

Once the skin is inflamed, though, peels can irritate it further. Low-fat, moisturizing creams and products with fruit acids are then a better choice. Facial steam baths can feel very soothing.

Diet can make a big difference. Milk and dairy products can have a negative effect on the skin. Too many sweets, too much alcohol and smoking encourage acne and are bad for your health in other ways too.

Sunlight or tanning beds can ease acne, but inflamed blackheads can turn dark under UV light (postinflammatory hyperpigmentation). Strong sunlight also speeds up skin ageing and can contribute to skin cancer.

Stress and tension also play a part. Stress changes the immune system and even the microbiome. People who are nervous touch their faces more, press on their cheeks or rub their foreheads. This spreads bacteria and leads to more pimples.

Please don't squeeze pimples and blackheads. It can make the inflammation worse and damage the healthy skin around them.

Our services for acne

Every treatment starts with a thorough examination and medical history. Based on that, we plan a therapy that suits your skin:

• advice on skincare and cleansing, and on how to deal with blackheads and pimples at home
• topical and systemic acne therapy
• advice on lifestyle and surroundings (diet, stress, environment)
• further tests, such as blood tests and microbiome testing
• nutritional advice from specialists in our network
• ACCURE® laser treatment: the laser shrinks overactive sebaceous glands, which improves the skin clearly and for the long term
• Blemiderm concept: a medical treatment for grade II to III acne. It uses active ingredients to treat active acne lesions, address the underlying causes and improve oily skin, plus a skincare routine for home.
• complementary cosmetic treatment: the cosmetologists at our center offer treatments such as chemical peels or HydraFacial
• scar treatment (peels, microneedling, mesotherapy, laser treatment, surgery and more)

New for acne: the ACCURE® laser

For some patients, creams, peels or tablets are not enough. Others want to avoid systemic treatments such as oral vitamin A. For them there is a new option.

ACCURE®: the first laser-based acne treatment in the DACH region

We were the first practice in Austria and the whole DACH region to use the ACCURE® laser. It is FDA- and EMA-approved and targets the root cause of acne, the overactive sebaceous gland.

The laser works at a wavelength of 1726 nm^*), which the sebaceous glands absorb. This shrinks the overactive glands with heat without damaging the skin surface. Sebum production drops for the long term, so there are fewer breakouts, blackheads and inflammations, all without medication.

How does the treatment work?

• The usual course is four sessions, four weeks apart.

• Each session takes about 20 to 45 minutes, is well tolerated and has no downtime.

• Many patients see a clear improvement after just two treatments.

The skin becomes calmer and clearer, without side effects elsewhere in the body.

Who is ACCURE® suitable for?

• patients with moderate to severe acne

• people who can't take oral vitamin A or don't want to

• adults with late-onset or hormonal acne

• anyone looking for an effective, long-term solution

Dark skin types can be treated too, and the treatment can be done all year round, whatever the sun exposure.

Treatment cost

The price depends on the area treated:

• small areas (e.g. around the mouth): from €300 per session

• full face: up to €800 per session

You will get a treatment plan and cost estimate at your consultation.

There are two appointment types to choose from.

Choose "General Dermatology" if you want a full acne consultation with a detailed medical history and blood tests. The ACCURE laser may be one option, but we will look at all other treatments too. This appointment costs EUR 170.

If you have already had an acne consultation with us or elsewhere and only want advice on ACCURE laser treatment, choose "08a. Laser / Accure – Medical Consultation". This appointment costs EUR 60.

Public health insurance does not cover the treatment. We are happy to help you prepare a reimbursement request for your private insurance.

Long-term results without medication

Acne medication often only works while you take it. The ACCURE® laser acts on the sebaceous glands themselves and can normalize sebum production for the long term. The result is clear skin without tablets, creams or systemic side effects.

To book an ACCURE consultation, please choose the appointment type "08a. Laser / Accure (Acne) – Pre-treatment consultation". This appointment is only for discussing laser treatment with ACCURE.

For a full acne consultation with a detailed medical history and blood tests, please choose "General Dermatology".

Summary

Acne often starts in puberty, when hormones change, and usually clears up from around 25. Women in menopause are also often affected, and many people find acne a psychological strain.

Changing your lifestyle can often slow the condition down. If a dermatologist examines and treats it early, inflammation and scarring can usually be prevented. There are many effective treatments today, including modern laser therapy.

Book a first consultation at our practice in Vienna

*) Scopelliti, Matteo & Kothare, Amogh & Karavitis, Michael. (2022). A novel 1726-nm laser system for safe and effective treatment of acne vulgaris. Lasers in Medical Science. 37. 10.1007/s10103-022-03645-6.