Acne is thought to be contributed to by a combination factors: overproduction of oil, irregular shedding of dead skin cells, bacteria and hormones. Usually acne is treated using topical and oral medications. However, for resistant cases alternative therapies such laser treatments have gained popularity.
There are various acne laser options to choose from:
· Blue light therapy: The skin is exposed to low intensity blue light (420nm-450nm) which is believed to kill P. acnes, the main bacteria that causes acne. According to mayoclinic.com, “possible side effects of blue light therapy include temporary redness and dryness in the treated areas”.
· Pulsed light and heat energy therapy (LHE) is thought to help clear acne by both killing P. acnes and shrinking sebaceous glands to reduce oil production. Side effects may include temporary redness in the treated areas.
· Diode laser therapy targets the middle layer of the dermis, destroying sebaceous glands without damaging the top layer (the epidermis) of the skin. Pain medication is usually needed prior to treatment and redness and swelling may occur.
· Photodynamic therapy uses a topical photosensitizer such as ALA (5-aminolevulinic acid) prior to laser treatment with either blue, red, pulsed light or another type of light therapy. Mayo clinic reports that side effects can include redness, swelling, crusting and acne flare-ups.
· Photopneumatic therapy uses a vacuum to remove oil and dead cells from the sebaceous glands. The skin is then treated using blue or red light laser therapy to target P. acnes and kill the acne causing bacteria and reduce redness. One of the benefits to this therapy is that it is supposed to be fairly painless so does not require anesthetic medication.
Whether laser therapy truly helps clear acne breakouts is not clear. According to acne.org, most of the studies have been on small numbers of patients and lack the control factor of applying treatment to only one side of the face and comparing the results to the other. Most studies do not have long term follow up.
Researchers acknowledge that laser improvement may be temporary since acne bacteria grows back so quickly and results are not just affected by laser treatment alone but other therapies the person may be using.
Acne.org quotes from one meta-study that "... most of the studies were of suboptimal methodological quality ... we conclude that optical treatments with lasers ... possess the potential to improve inflammatory acne on a short-term basis ... optical treatments for acne today are not included among first-line treatments.”
Given that the cost for laser acne treatment runs about $200-500 a session the decision to try laser acne treatment is a personal one. Insurance is not likely to cover the expense but if you have not had success with other therapies then it may be worth exploring.
Sources:
Acne. Mayoclinic.com. Web 19 Dec. 2011.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acne/DS00169/DSECTION=causes
Acne treatments: Emerging therapies for clearer skin
By Mayo Clinic staff. Web 19 Dec. 2011.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acne-treatments/SN00038/METHOD=print
Lasers and acne. Acne.org. Acne treatment and community. Web 19 Dec. 2011.
http://www.acne.org/laser-acne.html
Photodynamic Therapy for the Dermatologist. Medscape.com. Web 19 Dec. 2011.
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1121517-overview
Isolaz: Photopneumatic Therapy and Treatment. Solta Medical. Web 19 Dec. 2011.
http://www.isolaz.com/go/isolaz/what-is-isolaz/isolaz-benefits/
Michele is an R.N. freelance writer with a special interest in woman’s healthcare and quality of care issues. Other articles by Michele are at www.helium.com/users/487540/show_articles
Edited by Jody Smith