About Nanotechnology Acne Treatments

Nanotechnology is a new and powerful method of manufacturing that works with atoms and molecules. Products that incorporate this technology are considered superior in strength, durability and design. A number of acne treatments already utilize this technology. And while these treatments may be effective, the unknown risks behind this new science are many.

Identification

Acne is an inflammatory skin disorder that can show up on the face, chest or back. It appears as small bumps that come in the form of blackheads, whiteheads or pustules. Cysts or scarring often result once these bumps clear up. Acne forms inside hair follicles that have become clogged with oil and bacteria. The result can be either inflammatory or non-inflammatory in appearance. Non-inflammatory types include whiteheads and blackheads, while pustules, or puss-filled bumps, are inflammatory. Acne treatments work to clean out the oil, and kill the bacteria which resides inside hair follicles. Nano treatments take this one step further by using concentrated chemical particles that penetrate cell structures and alter their chemical processes.

Function

Nanotechnology deals with particles that are the size of atoms and molecules. These particles represent the purest, most powerful concentrations of the natural elements. Products made using this technology are manufactured from the "bottom-up." What this means is, completely new materials can be made using the most fundamental elements in nature.
When natural elements are condensed down to their molecular structures, they become more powerful than their larger-sized counterparts. When this happens, elements take on different properties and behaviors than what they had before. Nanotechnology works to use these new particle properties to make improved materials and products. There are currently a number of acne treatments on the market that make use of this new technology.

Features

Silver has been used to treat medical conditions for over 100 years. It's chemical properties make for an ideal anti-microbial and anti-fungal agent. Nanotechnology makes use of silver ion atoms--atoms that are missing electrons, causing them to become destabilized and more volatile. Silver acne treatments kill off the bacteria trapped in hair follicles by blocking the respiratory pathways that lead to their cells. Once the cell dies, the bacteria dies along with it. This process happens deep inside the skin layer, which is why these treatments are so effective.

Considerations

The United States Food and Drug Administration(FDA) is responsible for monitoring the safety of any cosmetic product on the market. With the advent of nanotechnology, the FDA has had difficulty with the testing and approval processes for products made using this technology. The size, strength and composition of nano-materials has required the FDA to develop a whole new process for testing and approval. And while this process remains undeveloped, a number of nano-cosmetic products are currently on the market, and continue to be developed in labs. As of October 2008, safety concerns prompted the Consumers Union to request that the FDA require manufacturers to list nano-materials on their product labels. But few cosmetic products using this technology make a mention of nano-materials on their product labels.

Warning

Nanotechnology acne treatments are designed to go deep inside skin layers, as opposed to other products that only work on the surface. Once inside, the effects had on healthy skin cells are, as of yet, unknown. The nano-particle's ability to alter normal cell processes raises a number of concerns regarding possible residual effects. The minute size of these particles enables them to easily penetrate closed surfaces. This coupled with their potency makes for a volatile mix of unknown effects. A study published in the November 2007 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives found considerable cell damage and cell death resulted from a disrupted oxygen balance within targeted cell bodies, as well as nearby cells.

Resources

• Read safety reviews on acne creams
• Access the nanotechnology information resource