Ten-to-one you talked about acne briefly during your esthetics program. The acne patient at a medical spa, however, differs greatly than the patient you would see in a day spa. With the proper understanding of the etiology of acne and treatment modalities available, you can help keep your acne client's flare-ups under control.

In the Advanced Medical Spa Aesthetics Training Course, Chapter 12, Acne Vulgaris is discussed in depth. Understanding the disease itself is the key to deciding what therapies would be efficacious for your clients. The first section of the chapter discusses the etiology of Acne Vulgaris, various representing characteristics from the comedone stage to the cystic and scarring stage, medical treatment modalities such as antibiotic regimens or lightening agents, and the use of lasers.

At a medical spa level, most estheticians are involved in the treatment and care of acne patients. Their involvement typically includes product dispensing, facials, perhaps some light chemical peels (Chapter 4), or even microdermabrasion(Chapter 3) for acne scarring. Depending upon the State an esthetician is practicing in, therapy for some acneic clients can involve laser therapies. This chapter will help the esthetician learn how IPL therapies can be used to treat active acne as well as fractional lasers that can treat the scarring left behind (Chapter 15).

Acne is more than skin deep and, whether or not you can provide laser therapies to your clients, having knowledge of them and when to use them is quite valuable to your client and to your medical director.

Paula D. Young RN runs internal operations and training at Young Medical Spa and is the author of the Medical Spa Aesthetics Course, Study Guide, and Advanced IPL & Laser Training course for medical estheticians and laser technicians.

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