The Controversial Wonder Drug has seen its demise. After years filled with thousands of personal injury lawsuits, Accutane has proved to be a relentless legal burden for its manufacturer, Roche Holding AG. Unable to strategize for the future to keep Accutane as a leading competitor in the market, Roche made its final decision to pull the drug from the U.S. market in July of 2009. In case you are not familiar, Accutane (or oral isotretinoin) is a retinoid that is derived from vitamin A that alters the lipid composition of the skin surface by reducing the size of sebaceous glands and lowering sebum production (a major contributor to acne). This reduces the bacterial skin microflora that cause acne flare-ups. This drug puts patients through a lengthy and often overwhelming experience as patients typically take isotretinoin for 15 to 20 weeks. It permanently clears acne for roughly 80% of acne patients, although for the remaining 20% breakouts may return later in life. While taking isotretinoin, most patients may experience side effects such as purging of the skin (breakouts caused by the transformations taking place within the sebaceous glands), severe dryness of the lips, skin and eyes, and may also encounter abnormal liver function and a potential increase in triglycerides and cholesterol. Among the most serious side effects, some patients may encounter liver inflammation, elevated risk for birth defects (if a woman were to get pregnant while taking oral isotretinoin), and Irritable Bowel disease. With all of these side effects, it is shocking to think that one would want to take on these kinds of risks just to be free of acne, but what we must understand is that for most cystic acne sufferers there is no price tag or risk too great for clear skin. With the reign of Accutane fading into the past, it is quite the question.......what are acne sufferers to turn to? Without challenging your health, the answer for a safer and more holistic type of acne treatment is quite simple. Laser Acne Treatment is a gentle and effective means for treating acne along with all of the other problems that arise within the skin when acne is present. Acne treatments require specific lasers, which target the bacteria that are infecting follicles, eliminating the infection without the need for antibiotics or medications like Accutane. At American Medical Aesthetics, each Laser Acne Treatment incorporates Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) with each photodynamic treatment. ALA is naturally found within our skin, and has the ability to shut down the sebaceous glands just like Accutane, but without the medical risk. ALA is a clear solution that is applied to the skin and left on for 30-45 minutes (Incubation). Once absorbed into your skin the ALA is activated with a specific wavelength of light in the blue spectrum. This takes about 10-15 minutes. Active cells such as sebaceous glands absorb ALA and, consequently, when the ALA is activated by the blue light a patient’s overactive sebaceous glands will be dramatically impacted and shut down; hence the term “Photodynamic” acne treatment. Skin oiliness is decreased and the appearance of pores is minimized. The entire skin texture improves following a Photodynamic Acne Treatment. With the infection now in retreat, we use 1 or 2 additional lasers to shut down the inflammation that often accompanies acne and cystic acne. This will reduce swelling and remove redness and pigmentation. Just like accutane, patients will experience a purging of the skin as a result of the sebaceous glands drying up and purging excess oils and inflamed bacteria, but will prove to reveal naturally clear skin within a couple weeks. In many cases, acne treatments are integrated with a package of silk peels (dermal infusion facials) administered by our certified Medical Aestheticians. The Dermal Infusion procedure infuses into your dermis a natural substance called Salicylic acid, which is clinically proven to further reduce acne and cystic acne breakouts. In this procedure, a precise amount of the dead layer of your skin (Stratum Corneum) is also removed, which promotes further healing and rejuvenation of your skin to its silky smooth radiant state. In addition, the Medical Aesthetician will customize an anti-acne daily skincare regimen for continued acne treatment maintenance. American Medical Aesthetics truly believes that they have created one of the most comprehensive and effective ways to treat acne, and the proof comes from the incredible results that each of their acne patients have received.  

Redness, irritation, inflammation, and sensitivity are all symptoms that my skin used to experience on a daily basis. Rosacea has plagued me from childhood to adulthood, where being asked if I was blushing or had been in the sun was almost a daily dialogue. Filled with insecurity, I began covering up my face with makeup in hopes of hiding what was underneath, until now. Rosacea is one of the most common causes of persistent redness of the cheeks and nose. The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, but it occurs most commonly in people of Northern European descent with fair skin, like myself, and will often run in families. Rosacea is common in both men and women, although men are much more likely to develop the progressive disease, especially on the nose. Most Rosacea sufferers like me are “blushers”, and flush easily when stressed, and may be especially sensitive to acne treatment medications or skin care products. In some cases, this tendency to blush and flush can progress to persistent redness leading to the appearance of broken capillaries on the cheeks and nose. The redness can deepen even further as other signs of inflammation may set in, including swelling and pimples, especially on the cheeks and nose (known as “gin blossoms”). In seeking out Rosacea treatment for the past ten years, I had been very hesitant because I simply did not feel comfortable with the dermatologists I had gone to see. After years of using special creams, avoiding temperature extremes and searching for the best and most effective type of Rosacea treatment, I found American Medical Aesthetics. Their Rosacea treatment program is completely unique as it incorporates their own signature holistic laser methods that utilize several different lasers to treat the many aspects of Rosacea, which have effectively controlled and lessened all of my Rosacea symptoms. I can't tell you how thrilled I am with the results I have seen, and how much better my skin looks and feels. I can now say that the intense blushing, redness, broken capillaries, and inflammation are all a part of my skin's past. To this day I have never been more confident about my skin because of the customization, detail and expertise that was put into each treatment I experienced at American Medical Aesthetics.  

Are you looking for a change in the New Year? Why not start with your skin........ Our skin is the true measure of our health. It is our largest organ that is completely exposed to the elements, and it is the first thing that people see when they meet us face to face. With American Medical Aesthetics leading the way with over a decade of clinical trials and research of the science surrounding lasers and skin care, choosing a medical aesthetic practice that is owned and operated by Medical Doctors is certainly a no brainer. Because of American Medical Aesthetics I have learned to live a life that has left me feeling carefree and confident about my skin. By letting AMA help you find a way to holistically and carefully treat the skin conditions that bother you the most, you too can discover that your special skin care needs can be taken care of. All of AMERICAN MEDICAL AESTHETICS SERVICES can be paired in packages or utilized on their own, which gives each patient numerous options to work with. Speaking from personal experience, it is nearly impossible to capture how happy I have been with the results that I have received from all of the treatments that I have received at AMA. My skin was one of the best investments I have ever made. I am not the only one who thinks so........have a look at the testimonials that AMA has received from a multitude of patients that they treat on a regular basis - AMERICAN MEDICAL AESTHETICS TESTIMONIALS  

As the years go by, we are constantly flooding our beauty routines with the next fabulous cream, serum, treatment or “specialized skincare regimen” attempting to combat the conditions that we let define the skin on our faces and bodies. In this continuous pursuit of youth and beauty we find ourselves becoming intensely discouraged as our eyes become magnetized to our mirrors to see if that aggravating red spot, freckle, pimple or wrinkle has gone away. With all the creams, gimmicks and surgeries that are subliminally sold to us each day, and the thousands of dollars we make so readily available for what is next, you would think that we could have discovered the fountain of youth by now. When it comes to your own skin, how would you define it? Is it blotchy, red, tired, dehydrated, overactive, sensitive, irritated, uneven, sun damaged, covered in acne or wrinkles? There are so many different conditions that have become our daily and common complaints it is overwhelming trying to find a remedy that will actually work to fix them all. I used to define my skin as red, irritated, sun damaged, dehydrated and uneven; a lot of issues on one face that I have been battling for years. In exploring our options for cosmetic procedures and skin care products that are utilized as mainstream ways to enhance the youth of our skin, we cease to realize the inefficacy, side effects and possible permanent damage that is incurred upon our bodies and face. The risk of plastic surgery is not just the expense; it’s the fact that it is a serious surgery that can result in severe consequences. When learning about the structure of our skin and how it operates, it is important to understand that if we are having it cut, sewn and stretched, we are not creating a real example of lasting, healthy looking skin. As we look to other alternatives, medical and conventional skin care formulas have come a long way, but the fact is that there is no validity in the exaggerated promise behind most skincare brands on the market. These products are claiming to provide a result that is physiologically impossible. Serums and creams will never be able to truly penetrate and transform how your skin operates because it is only being placed upon the superficial layers of the dermis. At this point I am sure you are thinking that we have all seriously hit a gigantic beauty road block, but the good news is that the detour takes us to an even better source that has been thoroughly researched and tested for over 10 years by American Medical Aesthetics. Because of their unique holistic approach to laser treatment and the tremendous amount of experience they have with every laser that exists on the market today, I have absolutely resolved every issue I have tried to remedy for the past 15 years. I came to AMA for treatment because they are simply the only medical aesthetic specialists that can do this kind of work. AMA has trademarked several of their own laser protocols because of how effective they truly are. I have better skin now than I ever have, and I can confidently say that I can now define my skin as beautiful.