Confession alert: I secretly delayed in posting this because I am very self- conscious about my bacne pics.  But what the hell here goes everything!

Remember this question from my previous blog post –

Quick multiple-choice question: How will Renee (my name is Renee) treat her recent Bacne Breakout?

A) Dermatologist Visit

B) Lactic Acid Body Scrub

C) Glycolic Peel

D) Extractions and a Jessner Peel

E) Fraxel

F) Retin A

G) All of the Above

The answer to the above question is

G) all of the above.

Can you blame me?  Do you see how bad my bacne is?  Sigh.

I love specialists. I seek out my skincare providers based on his/her specialty.  I do this because in life and beauty, a jack of all trades is a master of none! I don’t know about you but only Masters get my Money!

Clear Clinic, a division of Schwieger Dermatology, is a medical skincare clinic solely dedicated to the treatment of Acne. Its sort of like a luxury al la carte Acne Bar filled with acne specialist producing amazing acne clearing results.  I need an acne specialist in my life so i figured I would give them a try.

When I scheduled my appointment I notified the clinic that I will blog about my experience, take pictures etc.  They obliged my demands I mean after all I am a paying customer not a freeloading blogger.   LOL I wish I was a freeloading blogger instead according to the IRS I’m a broke blogger.

My appointment was with a licensed physesthetician. Have you ever been to one of those?  Please don’t Google it I just made it up lol.  All jokes aside I saw two people during my appointment.  The appointment started with a physician assistant and ended with an esthetician.  Get it “physesthetician”?

Physician Assistant Emily Isenberg asked me about my concerns at which point I began my show and tell story about my skin and bacne.  Emily analyzed my bacne and then called in some paparazzi to take pictures of it.   Once the paparazzi left the room Emily told me her plan of approach starting with stopping the breakouts and then treating the scars.   She then presented me with my options in the following order.  My response to each option is listed in bold.

1.   Oral Prescription – 3 month trial

No thanks.  Not trying to get hooked on a script for bacne breakouts especially not before exhausting non script options.  Also the script only tackles active and future breakouts.  What about these scars?

2.   Benxyl Peroxide Topical Prescription

Once again no thanks I’ve noticed in my skin tone benzyl peroxide promotes pigmentation and uneven complexion.

3.   Glycolic Pads w/ Retin A prescription

Sounds interesting so you want me to use Retin A at night and glycolic in the day.  I wasn’t aware that was kosher.

4.   Extractions

Most definitely.  I need those badly.  Is your esthetician available to do that today?  So I assume a la carte extractions means no exfoliating the skin before and masking the skin after?  My assumption was indeed correct.

5.   Jessner Peel

Yes!!!  Now we’re talking!  Let the peeling games begin!  I learned about these in skin school.  But never had the chance to physically experience one. Can we do that today?  These peels are prescription grade peels only performed under a doctor’s supervision.

At this point I like a few of her suggestions but I really want more.  So I asked Emily about Fraxel. Emily explained to me that I would be a great candidate for the Fraxel Laser Dual.  This laser seems so awesome it smoothed acne scars while treating red/brown pigmentation. The before and after pics I saw for this laser had me sold.  How soon can we do this, where do I sign up , oh and how much?  Wellllll…WElllll…..$1500 per Fraxel Dual treatment and a minimum of 2 treatments needed making that a grand total of $3000!

God bless this woman’s patience with my inquisitive ass.  After that $3000 Fraxel bomb she dropped on me I then reverted our conversation back to the previous options she already explained in detail prior to my Fraxel request.  LOL  #brokegirlproblems

45 minutes later we had a set bacne plan that also fit my set budget.  While still in office I would get extractions and Jessner’s Peel performed by Jane Mackinnon, Licensed Esthetician.  5 days later I will begin my at home care regimen which includes the Clear Clinic Attack Back glycolic wipes in the AM and Retin A in the PM.  After about a month or so if no improvement then we will consider an oral antibiotic, stronger chemical peel, and Fraxel. Emily and Jane don’t know this but I also plan on giving myself a total body lactic acid scrub to help speed up the process and stretch my pockets.  Although the price of Fraxel is scary ultimately I plan on making the investment after summer probably sometime around September which will ensure the summer sun doesn’t damage my expensive investment.  In treating my Bacne I choose g) all of the above just not at the same damn time!