Acne Clearance

Most of us experience acne to some extent during our lives. For many people it is a short-term annoyance, but others develop more long-term and more severe acne.

Acne occurs when one of the skin´s natural oils – sebum – is unable to leave the skin because the hair follicle is blocked. This may result in a blackhead, or a whitehead, and can lead to the growth of bacteria below the surface of the skin. Inflammation can occur, and the rupture of an inflamed area can lead to scarring.

Medication can help to reduce acne, but the AW3® procedure in combination with prescription medication has been clinically proven to accelerate the healing process for acne

How does the AW3® treatment work

The AW3® treatment works by directing well-controlled pulses of light into the upper skin layer. The light is absorbed by the body’s own natural chemical – haemoglobin – in the blood vessels that feed the sebaceous glands. The AW3® treatment works by reducing the blood supply to the sebaceous gland, which slows down production of the body oil sebum.

The haemoglobin converts the light energy into heat, which damages the walls of the vessels supplying blood to the glands. This technique has the name “Selective Photothermolysis”.

The visible light produced by the AW3® systems is carefully controlled to produce the correct pulse length and right amount of energy to reduce the acne without damaging the surrounding tissue

How long does the treatment take?

The glass prism within the AW3® applicator that guides the light to the skin targets the area in a flash of light. It takes approximately 5-10mins to treat the full face. Including consultation and preparation, it should take no longer than 15 mins. A typical course is between 4-6 sessions with three weeks apart.

Who can be treated?

Anyone with acne who wants clearer looking skin! If you have permanent acne you will benefit from this treatment. The best results are achieved on inflammatory acne – best known as those red, aching, raised pimples

Does it hurt?

Although the AW3® technology produces less pain than most systems on the market, tolerance to pain varies from individual. No anaesthetics are required, and many patients describe the discomfort as a warming sensation similar to the feeling after a day on the beach.

What can I expect?

You may notice some general redness on the face following the treatment. If you have sun-damaged skin, some of the pigmented spots may turn darkerand eventually disappear. Should you suffer from a future acne outbreak, the treatment can be repeated as a top up. Although results vary from person to person, but the AW3® system achieves superior results compared to any others of its range.