Genital Warts – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Alternative Names: Condyloma Acuminatum, Fig Wart, Moist Wart, Pointed Wart, Venereal Wart, Verruca Acuminata
Definition:
Genital warts are small, benign (harmless) growths caused by a viral infection i.e. Human papillomavirus, typically HPV 6 and HPV 11. A female with genital warts is at an increased risk for developing cervical cancer. Genital warts often occur in clusters and can be very tiny or can spread into large masses on genital tissues. If left untreated, genital warts often disappear.
Genital Warts are highly contagious sexually transmitted disease. Genital warts can be transmitted from one person to another and they can travel from one part of the body to another. They occur on the skin or the mucous membrane. The mucous membrane is tissue that lines the nose, throat, digestive tract, and other body openings.
Causes of Genital Wart:
Some important causes of genital wart are as:-
- The main cause of the genital wart is – Human papillomavirus, that infects the top layers of your skin.
- To some extent, excessive use of tobacco and alcohol, may lead to formation of genital warts.
- Premalignant and malignant cervical cancers in women, also increases the chances of occurring of genital wart.
- A person with sexual transmitted disease are more prone to get affected by genital wart.
- Genital wart, most commonly occurs in persons undergoing stress condition.
- In some cases, use of birth control pills, increased sexual contact without the use of barrier protection, multiple sex partners, and having sex at a early age, may lead to the condition of genital wart.
- About two-thirds of people who have sexual contact with someone already having genital warts – develop genital warts very easily.
Symptoms of genital warts:
Some important symptoms of genital wart are as:-
- Difficulty may be experienced while swallowing food.
- During genital wart, you may have the difficulty in passing urine.
- The feeling of itching or burning around the sex organs, may be seen.
- An abnormal vaginal bleeding may occur in genital wart patient after sexual intercourse.
- Small fluid-filled blisters may occur, which can be very painful. With the first infection they can even take around 2 to 4 weeks to heal properly.
- When HPV infection remain for too long term, gives the indication of genital wart.
- Genital wart increases vaginal discharge.
- A flu-like illness, backache, headache, swollen glands or fever are the common symptoms during genital wart.
- The small white/yellow/gray bumpy spots may occur on the sex organs and anus.
- In some Chronic Cases, cervical cancer may also occur in genital wart suffering patients.
Treatments for Genital Warts:
Some effective treatments for genital wart are as:-
- Cryotherapy: It is a very suitable remedy for genital wart. In this treatment, doctor freeze off the wart with liquid nitrogen.
- Electrocautery or Diathermy physically destroys the warts by burning them. Local or general anaesthesia can be used.
- Imiquimod Cream: This cream helps in destroying genital wart.
- Podophyllin: It is a chemical compound that must be applied by a doctor or nurse to the affected area of the skin.
- Podofilox Cream or Gel: This is a self-applied treatment for external genital warts. It is easy to use and is safe, and should be applied for about 4 weeks.
- Fluorouracil Cream: It is used mainly to get rid of pain, that occur during intercourse.
- Surgical Excision: Your doctor may use special tools to cut off warts. You’ll need local anesthesia for this treatment.
- TCA (Trichloracetic Acid) is another chemical applied to the surface of the wart by a doctor or a nurse.
- Laser Therapy: During this treatment, warts are destroyed by introducing the laser light to the affected area. This is used for larger or extensive warts.
Anil Yadav
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/genital-warts-causes-symptoms-and-treatment-69871.html
Ways to Stop Snoring
Are you looking for ways to stop snoring?
Snoring is present in almost half of the adult population of the world. It is the most common cause of sleep disorder that affects people. However; doctors say most snoring is harmless and there are many ways available to stop it and these include losing weight, avoiding sleeping pills, tranquilizers, and avoiding alcohol.
Snoring is noisy breathing during sleep , it is a sound made in the upper airway of your throat as you sleep. It is a sign that air is not freely flowing through the throat passageway. Usually there is some type of blockage, such as swollen tissue, in one or more of the passages from the mouth or nose to the lungs. The noise of snoring is caused by parts of the nose and throat, in particular the soft palate, vibrating as you breathe in and out.
Most of the time snoring is considered not dangerous, but if serious it can become a life threatening sickness called sleep apnea.When loud snoring is interrupted by frequent episodes of totally obstructed breathing, it is known as obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is sometimes called the snoring disease because snoring is one of the symptoms. However , snoring is not sleep apnea, and sleep apnea is not snoring.You may have your doctor to check up for you to determine which is which.
Snoring , in my point of view , is perhaps more of a social problem than a medical problem. Why do i said that ? Because it hurts relationship , and it is disruptive to family life. Do you know that snoring is one of the main causes of marital disharmony ? That’s why there are so many people looking for ways to stop snoring.
There is a way with no surgery, no aids, no medication and no strips to stop snoring , it is something as simple as exercise .As we had already known that snoring is always caused by some kind of block in the breathing passage .Now ,no matter what blocks the breathing passage, the cure to stop snoring is always opening up the throat and getting rid of the blockage .So how do we do that?
There are exercises that designed to help a person to stop snoring. The Stop Snoring Exercise Program Will Cure Snoring Naturally by exercising the muscles in the throat ,tongue and doing breathing exercises can completely cure your snoring as having a weak tongue, throat, or jaw all block your airways.
Here is a simple exercise that opens up your throat… and removes one of the most common blocks that cause snoring: That is a tense jaw.
Let’s begin by putting your upper and lower molars together , then open your mouth pressing the molars as wide a part as you can, without stretching. You need to repeat this ten to twenty times…only focus on your molars. Putting the molars together and then lowering your jaw… like hinges on a door, for about 20 times in a row.
After about 5 to 10 times you will feel your jaw muscles strengthening and the back of your mouth opening up. This is the weak tissue that you are contracting, which you feel opening up your airways after the exercise .
The muscles you now feel contracting in the back of your throat… are one of the main problem areas in your snoring. So if you felt them opening up, it’s mean the exercise works . When the airways are blocked, the air has trouble getting into the lungs… and as it passes the narrow tissue, it starts “flapping” back and forth, which causes the loud snoring sound.
But strengthening the jaw alone won’t cure your snoring , because there are few causes for snoring , and often that combination of “air-blocks” makes your snoring not easy to cure.
If you are looking for ways to stop snoring , the stop snoring exercise program will be able to help you because they are directly aimed at your “weaker muscles”, which are blocking your airways… instead of removing them (like in surgery) or pushing them aside (like those incredibly uncomfortable devices they make you wear in your mouth).
For more information on the Stop Snoring Exercise Program , please visit
http://vincenttay.com/stopsnoring.htm
Vincent
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/ways-to-stop-snoring-80534.html
Rid Halitosis Fast – 3 Low Budget But Highly Effective Bad Breath Solutions
Does having a bad breath make you want to really pull your hair out of frustration? Chill out. I understand that the condition is causing you a lot of problems; however losing hair will only exacerbate your misery. I had the same problem as well. I can still recall those humiliating moments where people gave me that funny look whenever I speak to them, the generous supply of pepper mints and gums from well-meaning folks, and what a struggle it was to elevate my self-confidence which at the time, had hit absolute rock bottom.
A friend suggested that I should seek treatment from the breath clinic but the staggering cost made fear for my wallet. Thankfully, I managed to unearth a few brilliant gems that have helped me overcome this embarrassing problem. Are you also eager to rid of halitosis from your otherwise, wonderful life while keeping the cost as low as possible? Well, you’re in luck because the following bad breath solutions are not only effective, they can also be purchased on the cheap at any grocery store.
1. Use Baking soda – There are 2 effective ways of using this ingredient for treating bad breath. The first is by applying a teaspoon of baking soda onto your toothbrush and proceed to brush your teeth as per normal. For the second method, you may add a few teaspoons of baking power in a cup of warm water, gargle the mixture in your mouth for a good minute or so, and then spit it out. Why baking soda? Well, it can prevent bacteria from cozying by adjusting the ph in your mouth. Besides, if this method does not work as effectively as it should, you can always use the baking powder to make some cookies as a consolation attempt.
2. Drink plenty of tea – Aside from being a healthier alternative to coffee, this beverage is also capable of stunting sulfur producing bacteria from growing immensely. Theaflavins, catechins, and polyphenols may sound like names you would normally find in Greek mythology, but they are actually materials proven by various studies to be super effective against bacteria growth. A cup of warm tea is loaded with these helpful compounds which explain why tea is the beverage of choice for many bad breath sufferers. Keep bacteria at bay and rid halitosis for good by drinking a few cups of tea daily.
3. Eat sugarless yogurt – One of the best bad breath solutions is to indulge in a cup of delicious sugarless yogurt everyday. Breath that smells akin to rotten eggs usually indicates that bacteria residing in the mouth have managed to produce a truck load of hydrogen sulfide, one of the main Volatile Sulfur Compounds that cause persistent bad breath. A great discovery was made by Dr. Kenichi Hojo of Tsurumi University, whereby a daily serving of sugarless yogurt helps to lower the amount of hydrogen sulfide present within the mouth of individuals who are suffering from severe halitosis.
Tony Reyes
http://www.articlesbase.com/dental-care-articles/rid-halitosis-fast-3-low-budget-but-highly-effective-bad-breath-solutions-693272.html
Anxiety And Panic Disorders – How To Deal With The Double Disaster
Anxiety disorders and panic disorders can cause some truly awful feelings and symptoms. The symptoms of a panic attack can be extremely uncomfortable, such as dizziness, heavy sweating, hard breathing, and uncontrollable shaking. A panic attack is an exaggerated version of the human fight-or-flight response to danger. When you have a panic disorder, you may experience all these symptoms even though there is no actual danger to trigger it. An anxiety attack, on the other hand, has symptoms that often mirror those of a heart attack, including chest discomfort, tingling or numbness in the extremities, and an impending sense of doom. It is unfortunately all too easy for a panic attack to trigger an anxiety attack, or vice versa.
What Are Anxiety Disorders?
An anxiety disorder is present any time some form of anxiety interferes with your daily life. For example, you may be too nervous to go to the store one day, but be fine the next. People with anxiety disorders may develop various phobias, like claustrophobia. But in almost all cases, anxiety disorders are linked to specific fears of activities, situations, or events.
What About Panic Disorders?
In addition to the often differing symptoms when compared to anxiety disorders, panic disorders are usually diagnosed when these symptoms suddenly start and stop with no discernible trigger. This is extremely disheartening to the sufferer, since they cannot seem to control the onset of these symptoms, or avoid any noticeable triggers.
Anxiety and Panic Disorders Together
It is not uncommon for panic disorders to lead to the development of anxiety disorders, due to the constant stress and fear of having a panic attack. Often the panic attack will start being a trigger for an anxiety attack, and soon progresses to the point that the worry over having another panic attack is in itself triggering another anxiety attack.
Living With Anxiety and Panic Disorders
It can be extremely difficult to live a normal life if you suffer from either or both of these conditions. Even things like commuting to work become hazardous, as a sudden panic attack can make it difficult or impossible to drive safely. A sudden panic attack in the office can be both embarrassing and interfere with your work.
The biggest thing to keep in mind is that even though the symptoms of anxiety and panic disorders can be frightening, they don’t actually cause physical harm. Think calming thoughts, and avoid dwelling on the symptoms. If you suspect you have an panic or anxiety disorder, you should visit your doctor. There may be medication that, in conjunction with therapy, can greatly ease or eliminate your anxiety disorder or panic disorder. Take up meditation, and try to eliminate as much stress from your life as you can. If you are working too hard, take time off regularly to relax and reflect. These are just a few of the things you can do to help reduce the effects of an anxiety or panic disorder.
Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/anxiety-and-panic-disorders-how-to-deal-with-the-double-disaster-709319.html
Top 5 Elements To Look For In Acne Treatments
When it comes to choosing acne treatments, there are a number of factors to consider. You will not only want to select acne products that fit your skin type and problem, but they should also be easy to use and at a price tag that won’t break your budget. When shopping for acne treatments, take a look at the following elements to help make your buying experience a breeze.
Affordability. Whether you are on a budget or plan to try various products until you find that one that works best, affordability is a big factor when shopping for acne treatments. Although some health insurance policies may cover prescribed acne products, they will not cover over-the-counter purchases unless specifically recommended by a physician or dermatologist. Comparing prices and buying products that offer a money-back guarantee will help to safeguard your purchase.
Convenience. Let’s face it – life is hectic and there isn’t always a lot of extra time in the day. Therefore, acne treatments that are both easy to understand and use are some of the most popular on the market simply because they have the ability to offer results with minimal inconvenience. If you work, go to school, take care of the family or are just generally always on the go, acne products that offer simplicity combined with results will be an asset to your treatment plan.
Effectiveness. There is absolutely no reason to purchase a product that cannot provide you with the results that you need. Although getting the best value for your dollar is important, acne treatments are best defined by their capability and the results that they provide. Forget about what they can do and think about what they will do. Will this product relieve you of your problem? Does it have potentially dangerous side effects that would be worse than acne itself? How fast will this particular treatment work? All of these questions are essential to ask yourself when shopping for acne products. If in doubt, check out the product label, consult with a physician or dermatologist and read product reviews for an idea of just how effective a particular acne treatment can be.
Safety. If a product isn’t safe, why use it? In some cases, the potential side effects can be worse than acne itself. If this is the case, you will have to ask yourself whether or not you are willing to take a risk and use the product. Most acne treatments recommend avoiding contact with eyes, which is standard for any facial product. But what happens when standard cautions become more serious and involve much higher stakes? Most over-the-counter acne treatments are typically safe if used as directed, but some prescribed acne treatments are more aggressive and often carry greater risks. Always be sure to inform a physician if you are taking other medications and/or ask about the potential side effects for acne treatments before accepting a prescription.
Variety. If you find a product that you like, check with the manufacturer’s customer service or website to see if complimentary acne products are available. When treating acne, it’s equally important to use both corrective acne products for healing current acne and preventative acne treatments to prevent skin problems from recurring.
The information contained in this article is designed to be used for reference purposes only. If you believe that you have a problem with acne that requires medical attention, consult a physician or dermatologist for a professional evaluation and recommended treatment program.
Brian Dolezal
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/top-5-elements-to-look-for-in-acne-treatments-94976.html
What Causes Warts – What You Must Know to Avoid Getting Warts
Over the ages, there have been many theories as to what causes warts with perhaps the most popular being the theory that they come from toads! While toads are a little warty in appearance, rest assured that you cannot get warts by handling them. You can get warts, however from other people that have warts. This is because warts are actually caused by a virus which attacks your skin cells causing them to grow at a faster rate than they should which in turn creates a benign tumor commonly called a wart.
The virus that causes warts is called the human papillomavirus. It can be spread from person to person and it can also spread from one place on your body to another. The virus gets in through breaks in the skin and it thrives in warm moist places so it is often associated with public showers and locker rooms where you would often have skin contact with wet floors where other people have also been walking.
Taking a closer look at what causes warts, one might note that warts could be avoided by always wearing something on your feet at the pool or gym and avoiding sharing personal items with other people such as razors and towels. The interesting thing about the human papilloma virus is that it has an incubation period and can take up to nine months after exposure to actually show up as a wart.
While most anyone can get warts, not everyone does. Some people seem to be more susceptible to them than others. Often younger people under the age of 30 and people with reduced immune function are prone to warts. That’s because warts, being a virus, would have a better chance of settling in on people who were ill-prepared to fight it off. Not everyone who is exposed to the human papillomavirus will get warts because most people have antibodies in their system that will kill off the virus before it can affect their skin cells.
Warts can appear anywhere on your body, but are most often seen on the hands, elbows, knees and ankles. Plantar warts are those found in the bottom of your feet and, while they might be different in appearance than warts and other places they are still the same type of wart just compressed and flattened due to the pressure of walking on them. Genital warts, are an extremely contagious type of wart in the genital area also caused by the human papillomavirus.
So now that you know what causes warts, you’re probably wondering how to get rid of them. There are actually several treatments however, it should be noted, that not every treatment works the same on every one. If you have tried a treatment and it hasn’t worked, don’t feel like you’re “stuck with your warts”, try another treatment until you find one that does work for you. Sometimes warts go away on their own, but if you can wait that long come up with a treatment plan and try many different things until you find something that works effectively for you.
Lee Dobbins
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/what-causes-warts-what-you-must-know-to-avoid-getting-warts-709573.html
How To Help Snoring Stop?
If your bedtime partner is a noisemaker at night, would it be your greatest wish for him/her to stop snoring so that you may have a peaceful sleep?
Snoring might also create relationship problems for those people who snore that they might desire to stop snoring but don’t know how. This article will answer your question on how to help snoring stop completely.
The problem of Snoring often becomes part of ridicule but it is really painful to hear from those people who are suffering from this sleep disorder. Yes, this is a sleep disorder, it’s not a mild thing that can be ignored and just let it be, it needs to be addressed because it has a serious medical and social consequences.
What kind of consequences are we talking about? Socially, you will be the butt of jokes and ridicule while medically you’re not getting enough rest.
Lack of rest will result into something serious like obstructive sleep apnea and long-term health problems. So how to help snoring stop has become a dilemma for a lot of people around the world.
According to Dr. Laura Inselman, “Snoring” happens when a person can’t move air freely through his or her nose and mouth during sleep. That annoying sound is caused by certain structures in the mouth and throat – the tongue, upper throat, soft palate, uvula, as well as big tonsils and adenoids- vibrating against each other. These are among the many reasons that will inform you on how to help snoring stop in the best possible way.
There are a lot of ways that can help you to stop snoring; there are medical treatments like Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), Thermal Ablation Palatoplasty (TAP), Genioglossus and hyod advancement, but the treatment will depend on the diagnosis on how serious the problem is.
Most of the mentioned treatments are surgical procedures but if you can’t afford it or the snoring is not so serious, here are some of the ways that will help snoring stop, a self-assist tip. But be reminded that these tips might not totally help stop your snoring but, it can lessen the frequency and the sounds it makes.
Live a healthy lifestyle, it means that you have to avoid smoking because it can affect your central nervous system and it also relaxes the muscles on your throat, causing you to snore. In addition, avoid drinking alcohol and eating heavy meals four (4) hours before you sleep. Exercise and maintain a weight that is parallel to your height and age. Excess weight especially in the neck is also a factor that causes you to snore.
By being health conscious about your diet will also play a major role in helping you to stop snoring for a better sleeping habit.
Another way to help you stop snoring is to get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation also causes a person to snore.
Sleeping positions, to help stop snoring some suggested to always sleep at your side never at your back and to elevate your bed so that you are in a half-sitting position.
Medicine intakes, you can try taking nasal congestants to clear the air passageways. Another thing to help stop snoring is to avoid taking antihistamines for allergies, and avoid sleeping pills or sedatives.
Dave Zegers
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-to-help-snoring-stop-119021.html
Great New Discovery Helps You Get Rid of Bad Breath Caused by Gum Disease
Halitosis (the medical name for bad breath) is unavoidable for most people, even if it is episodic rather than chronic. Some people suffer from it all the time, others occasionally and some only rarely, but few escape its net completely.
The worst part of this problem is that often people may not even tell you about it because it is such a source of embarrassment both for the sufferer and the victims. It is normal to wonder what is the reason for bad breath, especially if you think you may have it. Once you know what are reasons and causes of halitosis, you can treat and remedy the problem.
Foods like onions and garlic are strong and pungent with distinctive odors which remain in the breath for a long time. Even after they have been digested their odors mix with the exhaled breath, making it smell bad. Brushing teeth and using mouth fresheners and give only temporary relief.
These pungent foods have become so known for the problems they can cause that lots of people avoid them as far as possible. But bad breath is not only caused by strong smelling foods. When food particles are left in the mouth, stuck amid your teeth, they rot. There are bacteria in the mouth as wall and some of these can result in bad breath. Then again, there are medical conditions like ketosis which can result in bad breath.
Common Reasons for Bad Breath
As there is not just one reason for halitosis, it is always better to consult a medical practitioner who can narrow down the main reason for the bad breath. Dental check-ups on a regular basis are a must. The dentist can make out whether it due to poor oral hygiene or ask for blood tests to uncover any other serious problem which can result in bad breath.
While the importance of the medical evaluation cannot be over-stressed, you do not have to wait to take care of the problem. Till you have seen the medical practitioner, you can take measures to see that your bad breath problem is minimized.
Your normal daily routine of brushing, flossing and general mouth care should be enough to check the bad breath bugbear under normal circumstances. Keeping away from tobacco and also other pungent foods will help you maintain fresh breath. And keep on brushing and flossing as many times as required.
If you know the root cause of your bad breath, you can take steps to remedy the situation with the help of your medical practitioner. You will also need to use the right remedy for the particular cause of your bad breath. Then you will be free of bad breath forever.
Kelvin Ho
http://www.articlesbase.com/dental-care-articles/great-new-discovery-helps-you-get-rid-of-bad-breath-caused-by-gum-disease-598682.html
Anxiety Panic Disorders Treatments – What Exactly Is The Problem?
There is a variety of treatments that can be used for panic disorders. However, the perfect combination of different methods of treatment varies with the specific condition and symptoms of the person involved. One may be suffering from depression and panic disorder, or panic disorder and agoraphobia, or generalized anxiety. Each case demands a different treatment. A basic treatment set is commonly used these days, which is combined with one or more elements to form an improvement program.
Most people have occasional anxiety in their day-to-day life. This is different from anxiety panic disorders which include socialization fears, agoraphobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder as well as a variety of other phobias resulting in attacks of anxiety. Various treatments are available for these disorders which are described hereunder.
Medical research has discovered that stress has an important role to play in panic disorders. Hence, the very basic treatment of anxiety panic disorders comprises of learning to relax to reduce the stress impact. Stretching exercises and breathing techniques are used to relax the body and release tensions.
Assertiveness training is also one of the methods very often used to overcome anxiety panic disorders. This training enables you to non-aggressively express your needs, feelings, desires and wants. This ability to express yourself helps you to be free from the constant tension of trying to impress other people and trying to live up to their expectations. Skills of effective communication are fostered.
Cognitive therapy is yet another method of treatment of panic anxiety disorders. In this therapy one is taught to replace negative thoughts about oneself with positive ones. Studies have discovered that patients of the anxiety panic disorders very often actually talk themselves into the panic state. Their imagination tells them that they cannot cope with some people or situations and this triggers a panic attack by creating anxiety. Cognitive therapy trains one to build up confidence in one’s ability to cope by substituting negative thoughts by positive ones.
Exposure therapy is a method of treatment in which one is purposely exposed to confronting situations which are known to cause panic attacks. Group counseling, behavior modification, psychotherapy and exercise are used to treat attacks of anxiety panic disorder. In severe and frequently occurring episodes of anxiety panic attacks, medication is also prescribed in addition.
All the treatments aim at making one aware of the way thoughts build up one’s anxiety. When one does not express his thoughts, suppresses his feelings and allows negative thoughts to control his mind, worry and anxiety build up in the mind to a high level. Once awareness of these thoughts is created, the next thing to do is to stop the self-defeating thoughts right away and to alter the course of one’s thoughts to prevent attacks. One way is to undertake physical exercise which creates a good diversion because it causes more production of mood enhancing chemicals in the brain.
You have at you disposal various treatment methods for anxiety panic disorders which are easy to follow. You can definitely help yourself at home by using these techniques.
Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/anxiety-panic-disorders-treatments-what-exactly-is-the-problem-709369.html
Types Of Laser Treatments For Acne: Pros And Cons
Treating Acne With Ablative And Non-ablative Lasers
Although there are many different ways to treat acne, many traditional acne treatments are harsh on your skin and have numerous side effects. However, experimentation with different techniques are yielding positive results and providing much safer and natural ways to deal with acne and acne scars. At the forefront of these more gentle acne treatments are light and laser therapy.
It has been found that specialized lights and lasers can have a positive impact on acne and can even remove acne scars in some cases. There are now a variety of lights and lasers that can be used in different situations to treat acne depending on a person’s skin type and the severity of their acne. However, there is some kind of laser or light therapy for nearly anyone, regardless of how severe their acne is or where it is located: on the face, on the back, or even the scalp and hairline.
Although laser beams are a type of light ray, there are some distinct differences between light and laser treatments, and even drastic differences between various laser treatments. One thing that should be noted is that since light and laser treatments do not necessarily include any kind of medications or traditional medicine, there are no restrictions on who can professionally apply laser treatments. This means you do not need a license, certification, or training to operate laser or light treatments. As with other acne treatments, each treatment carries certain risks, although some are more serious than others.
Laser Treatments
There are two types of laser treatments, ablative and non-ablative. Both of these laser treatments are becoming very popular because of their effectiveness in eradicating acne, as well as removing acne scars, age lines, wrinkles, and discolorations. As would be expected, the more extreme treatment yields quicker and more permanent results, but there is a risk of side effects.
Ablative lasers are the oldest type of laser used to treat acne. The ablative laser rids skin of acne in two different ways. First, the laser heats the sebatious glands beneath the skin. The heat applied to the sebatious glands causes them to shrink and produce much less oil, which means that your pores do not clog as easily. However, ablative lasers also remove the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of your skin. The epidermis is essentially burned off or ‘vaporized’ as many websites say. Removing the outer layer of skin destroys skin that is marked with acne scars and causes collegen growth, which replaces skin damaged by acne scars with clear, smooth skin.
Although this treatment only takes one session, patients will find that their face is red and very sensitive for a number of weeks, which is a direct result of the outer layer of skin being burned off. The skin that replaces it is normally free from noticeable flaws, but it takes several weeks for this skin to grow and heal, leaving patients discomforted and with red marks on their face until healing is complete.
Using an ablative laser to treat acne is very much like removing a tattoo. Vaporizing the epidermis essentially allows your skin a blank slate so that it can grow back naturally without any scar tissue or formations. The drawback of using ablative lasers is that it takes a long time to heal completely and it is possible to vaporize too much with the laser. In some cases, laser operators can make the laser too intense or hold it in one place too long and cause permanent scarring.
Non-ablative lasers, on the other hand, produce similar results, but are much milder. Like ablative lasers, non-ablative lasers also shrink and impair the functions of the sebaceous glands so that they will not get clogged as easily and produce pimples. However non-ablative lasers have no effect on the outer layer of your skin. Because your epidermis is not burned off, non-ablative lasers do not leave patients with embarrassing red marks on their face. Non-ablative lasers also stimulate collagen growth, so acne scars can be removed without vaporizing your skin. However, because non-ablative lasers are not as harsh, they do require more than one treatment session. For non-ablative lasers, it may be necessary to receive treatment every two weeks.
If you do decide to pursue laser therapy to deal with your acne, it is necessary to make sure that the person running the laser is qualified and knows what they are doing. Because you do not need a license or certification to purchase or operate a laser therapy system, some operators will be more reliable than others. For any laser treatment, going to a dermatologist will likely yield much better results than someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience treating acne, especially concerning the use of lasers. Laser treatments can be very effective in treating acne, but if used incorrectly, permanent scarring can result
Kelly Wade
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/types-of-laser-treatments-for-acne-pros-and-cons-104528.html