Laser Light Treatment for Acne
Acne forms when the skin's sebaceous glands are blocked and the trapped oil builds up in the gland causing inflammation. Propionibacterium, which is normally present on the skin, also affects acne breakouts but the precise relationship is unclear. Acne is usually triggered by hormones (especially during puberty), stress and diet. One of the treatment options gaining ground is laser light treatment. There are multiple types of laser treatment that show a lot of promise in treating acne though more studies are still needed.
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Blue Light Therapy
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Blue light therapy works by killing acne-causing bacteria. A narrow-band, high-intensity blue light is directed on the skin where the porphyrin normally found on the skin reacts with the blue light, destroying the present acne bacteria. Patients usually have eight sessions of blue light therapy over a 4-week period, with each session lasting about 15 minutes.
Red Light Therapy
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Red light therapy is a similar procedure to blue light therapy, but with the red light reducing inflammation to improve the acne. The acne lesions tend to reoccur 3 to 12 months after light therapy.
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Laser Therapy
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The 1450 nm infrared laser has been found to reduce acne lesion counts by 83 percent after three treatments. Some of the side effects of this treatment include redness, swelling and temporary pain, though a topical anesthetic could be applied to lessen the pain during the procedure. Some hyperpigmentation after treatment was also reported.
Photodynamic Therapy
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Photodynamic therapy combines the use of a photosensitizer drug and laser light. The drug is absorbed by certain kinds of cells that make them sensitive to a specific light source. When exposed to this light, the cells are destroyed. The photosensitizer, an amino-levulinic acid, is applied on the skin for 15 to 60 minutes depending on the severity of the acne, then the skin is exposed to blue, red or laser light. The drug is then removed. There may be some pain during the procedure and some discoloration after.
Pulsed Light and Heat Energy (LHE) Therapy
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Combining pulses of green light and heat, LHE targets the acne-causing bacteria. It is also thought to decrease sebum (oil) production by decreasing the size of the sebaceous glands. This therapy is used to treat mild to moderate acne.
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