Cold Laser Treatment for Acne

Cold laser treatment can be used for acne.

Acne is a common skin condition that occurs when a combination of excess sebum, dead skin cells, dirt and bacteria clog the pores. When nonmedical treatments fail, those who suffer from moderate to severe acne opt for noninvasive dermatological procedures such as cold laser therapy to rid their skin of this embarrassing condition.

Process

Cold laser therapy uses a laser wand to apply waves of light directly to the skin. These wavelengths stimulate cells in the body to help them metabolize faster to reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, and heal acne lesions.

Difference

Cold laser for acne is different from hot laser in that it uses a lower intensity of light on the skin. The laser penetrates the layers of the dermis, but does not get hot enough to burn the skin or damage surrounding tissues.

Side effects

Cold laser treatments produce mild stinging during the procedure. After each treatment, patients may experience redness, dryness, sensitivity, inflammation and swelling in the areas that have been treated.

Time Frame

Cold laser treatments for acne are done up to twice a week over the course of six weeks for optimum results. Each treatment session can last anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes (sometimes longer) depending on the size of the area that needs to be treated.

Considerations

Using cold laser therapy on acne is still a relatively new practice, so viable data on the effectiveness of this treatment on the skin is limited.

References

• Coldlasers.org
• American Cancer Society: Cold Laser