What Are The Latest Acne Laser Treatments?

During the recent 66th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, a major topic was acne laser treatment as a solution to ongoing blemishes and related scarring. With over 50 million people in the United States affected by acne, the best therapy methods are a top priority in dermatology today.

Clear Skin Starts With Proper Cleansing and Care

The first tip toward clearer facial skin is to use a three step system that consist of a cleanser, toner and moisturizer. Exposed is one of the best options because it contains benzoyl peroxide, an effective over-the-counter medicine to combat acne, and follows the three step system. Proactiv is another three step system, which most people know because it has been marketed extensively. Between the two, however, Exposed gets much better feedback and you can read my review to find out why I do not recommend Proactiv. Exposed skin care is conveniently ordered online and delivered right to your post. You can also try comparable natural treatments such as tea tree oil if benzoyl peroxide medication causes irritation to your skin.

No Cures for Acne

While no cure exists for acne, immediate treatment can prevent scarring and minimize the appearance of blemishes. When a pore gets clogged by bacteria or sebum, an acne eruption occurs. While it may be tempting to pick the pimple, a scar may appear to leave a lasting memory of your condition. To be on the safe side, allow a new treatment method four to six weeks to do its magic before you try a new therapy. The effect of certain remedies may cause your acne to actually worsen before it improves, so patience and consistency are key elements to successfully combating acne.

What A Doctor Thinks of Acne Laser Treatment

Many people prefer acne laser treatment to home methods because they may forget to render ongoing care, resulting in aggravated acne. According to Dr. Jenny J. Kim, MD, “While not considered first line therapies…lasers and light sources are becoming more widely used by dermatologists and offer patients an alternative to other treatments that might not be alleviating their symptoms.”

Acne laser treatment is a viable option because unlike surgery, it is non-invasive. Patients often prefer this type of treatment over invasive procedures such as dermabrasion that may require 10 days to 3 weeks recovery, while laser resurfacing only requires 3 to 10 days of healing.

Types of Laser Treatment

There are various types of acne laser treatment for ongoing bouts as well as scarring. Types of laser treatment include bluelight, pulsed light and heat, ALA and light therapy and photodynamic therapy (PDT).

• Bluelight laser therapy is FDA approved and uses a narrow-band, high-intensity blue light to kill bacteria which does not contain skin damaging UV light.
• Pulsed heat and light uses pulses of heat and light energy to target sebaceous glands and bacteria, minimizing both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne.
• ALA and light therapy fights inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne with a two-step process involving a photosensitizing compound applied to the skin and light therapy that kills bacteria and shrinks sebaceous glands.
• PDT is similar to ALA and light therapy but uses different photosensitizing chemical compounds.

New Laser Treatment – Photothermolysis

A new laser treatment, phothermolysis, uses a variety of lasers to cause small skin injuries that repair the skin by creating new collagen and is gentler than invasive procedures. There are no visible wounds with minimal downtime for a few days for redness and flaking. By using hyaluronic acid, deep scars can be filled out using photothermolysis and the fillers last for up to 6 to 12 months. According to Dr. Kim, “These acne scar treatments produce good results and dermatologists can use them in combination to target subtle differences, which is more effective than one treatment alone. We’re also finding that these acne scar therapies are safe when used on all skin types, including ethnic skin patients a harder population to treat due to resulting pigmentation problems that can occur.”

Acne laser treatment is a viable option for people to clear up stubborn acne without surgery or invasive procedures.