How to Fight Acne with Technology

Lasers were first considered for acne treatment years ago, but the results were not what dermatologists wanted to see. Recently, technological advances in laser equipment and therapies have produced treatments that may offer a better long-term solution for stubborn acne than current topical and oral solutions. And for those of us with adult acne, they also offer anti-aging benefits.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Find a dermatologist you trust who has experience in the new laser technologies, especially for treatment of acne. Tell him your concerns and what you want to accomplish. Ask to see before and after photos of patients. If you're a person of color, ask about his experience on skin of different hues.
2. Eliminate the bacteria that contribute to acne with light therapy or targeted laser pulses. Although light therapy has been shown to work for relatively short periods of time, researchers are now discovering that it's possible to destroy bacteria with lasers, without damaging skin cells, because of a large difference in the laser intensity that will damage human cells and that which kills microorganisms.
3. Shrink oil glands with an intense pulsed light laser. Five to seven treatments are generally required. Results generally last from six months to a year.
4. Use an intense pulsed light laser to activate a photosensitizing agent applied topically to the skin. This combination seems to both destroy bacteria and shrink oil glands. This promising new treatment, known as photodynamic therapy, has potentially long-lasting results. Generally, three sessions are given two weeks apart.
5. Improve or eliminate pitting or deep holes in the skin that have resulted from acne outbreaks with laser resurfacing. A specialty laser treatment is even capable to restoring lost pigmentation in areas of acne scarring.

Tips & Warnings

• All of these laser treatments offer anti-aging benefits, stimulating collagen production and smoothing skin.
• Laser treatments may work better after microdermabrasion, which helps loosen and remove dead skin cells and open pores.
• The photosensitizing agent used in photodynamic therapy is aminolevulinic acid, known sometimes by the brand name Levulan.
• Some dermatologists believe deeply pigmented skin may react more favorably to a combination of light and radio frequency. A relatively new therapy, radiofrequency (RF) energy works in shrinking oil glands and improving acne scarring and overall skin texture by delivering intense heat deep into the skin. A built-in cooling device protects the top layer of the skin during the procedure.
• Laser procedures aren't yet first-line treatments, if acne is your sole concern. First explore the topical and internal alternatives, which may be as effective at less cost.
• Laser treatment costs are high, between $500 and $800 per session.