How to Treat Acne With Laser Treaments

For years the most common acne treatments included oral antibiotics in combination with a topical treatment. Vitamin A-derived treatments (both oral and topical) have shown great results, but can have bad side effects and are often not used in women of childbearing age. Laser treatments offer a relatively new, effective and potentially long-term fix for acne.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Before the Treatment

1. Discuss your medical history with your dermatologist. Don't forget to discuss any medications you are taking.

2. Discuss which treatment will work best for you. Photodynamic therapy, or PDT, uses a laser to activate a photosensitizing agent in a topical gel and has shown success in moderate-to-severe acne.

3. Discuss treatment options. Other laser therapies kill the bacteria that cause acne or heat deep layers of the skin to destroy oil glands.

The Appointment

4. Apply a topical anesthetic half an hour to an hour before your appointment, if your doctor recommended one. If you have any breakouts, or if you are undergoing another laser treatment, it can be more painful so you will want the anesthetic.

5. Expect a thin layer of gel to be placed on areas receiving treatment if you are getting PDT. Your doctor will then wave the laser handpiece over these areas, allowing the laser light to pulse through the skin. PDT usually isn't painful. Most patients report that it feels like a rubber band snapping against their skin.

6. Apply sunscreen after the treatment, as the process will make your skin highly sensitive to sunlight.

7. Schedule any return visits. It usually takes at least three treatments. Unfortunately, laser treatments haven't shown to be permanent fixes for everyone.

Tips & Warnings

• Some laser therapies are painful. They can be so painful that some doctors will hesitate to perform them on teenagers.
• Be sure you are comfortable and completely hones with your dermatologist. Laser therapies are not appropriate for everyone, so it is important your doctor know your situation so he or she can determine if you are a good candidate for the process and so they can try to determine your best chance for success using the least number of treatments.
• These laser treatments can have side effects. Be sure to talk to your dermatologist about possible risks and complications that can arise afterward.
• Laser treatments have not shown to be permanent for everyone.

Resources

• Website for the American Academy of Dermatologists