Laser Surgery For Acne
Acne is one of the most prevalent skin diseases in the world. Millions
of people each year experience acne in mild, moderate or severe forms.
While there is no proven cure for acne, treatments to reduce acne do
work and for the most part work on almost every type and every level of
acne.
There are two traditional types of acne treatments; they are
usually labeled topical and systemic. For instance, a topical treatment
includes pads, cleansers and lotions, the systemic treatments include
antibiotics and hormone treatments. Besides these two traditional
treatments, there is now a fairly recent alternative laser surgery.
Laser surgery is primarily used for removing scars associated
with acne; however as laser use has become more popular, more
dermatologists are offering treatments that affect the acne itself.
Laser therapy uses light waves and thermal energy to reduce or
prevent acne, in addition, laser therapy can be used to remove or
greatly reduce scar tissue caused by certain forms of acne. One of the
newer laser therapy techniques used for acne skin care treatments is
Thermage.
Thermage
Thermage is an FDA approved laser
therapy procedure. It works by heating the fluid (water) in the
sebaceous glands. When the sebaceous glands are gently heated up using
the laser light, it results in an injury to the gland, causing the
gland to be less active and decreasing its overall functionality. When
being treated with Thermage, most acne sufferers notice an immediate
improvement in their appearance, specifically the reduction of acne.
Thermage also has another benefit, it can also reduce any scar tissue
that you have due to acne.
Thermage is usually not covered by insurance programs due to
the fact that it is used for cosmetic reasons, however for acne
sufferers that have stubborn types of acne, it can be extremely
effective. Usually the Thermage laser session takes about 30 to 60
minutes. Most acne sufferers will attend 1 to 3 treatment periods over
a 3 to 4 month period. While side effects are usually mild, some
patients can experience swelling and slight erthema. Usually this goes
away in less than a few hours, or at most a half day.
Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)
Photodynamic Therapy
sometimes called Levulan PDT can be an extremely effective treatment
for those that suffer moderate to severe cystic acne. There are two
parts to this treatment; first Levulan (a topical solution) is applied
to the affected acne area for about 1 to 2 hours, then a laser light
(blue laser light) is used on the affected area from 9 to 15 minutes.
Levulan works on three different levels, first by killing bacteria that
cause acne, secondly, it unclogs the pores and exfoliates skin and
third, it reduces the activity of sebaceous glands that cause the
production of sebum.
Levulan PDT therapy usually requires 3 to 4 treatments and the
intervals between treatments are around 1 to 4 week intervals. Since
Levulan PDT therapy attacks the acne at many of its main causes, the
effectiveness and remission of acne for long periods of time is quite
good.