Using Light Treatments to Fight Acne
December 16, 2008
Another revolutionary acne treatment, in addition to laser treatments, are light treatments. The two most common light treatments entail slowing the growth and killing of acne causing bacteria, and using light to tighten sebaceous oil glands. These treatments have proven to be extremely effective, but many are still in early stages of development, and aren’t recommended for everybody.
Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy, or PDT, uses a specified light source to activate the active ingredients in a photosensitizing agent, that is applied to the affected areas of ones skin. When introduced to the correct light, the ingredients in the medication become active, and treat the acne.
The photosensitizing drug, known as an aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is applied to the skin by the dermatologist or technician. This acid is totally painless, and you won’t even known its on your skin. You keep the agent on your skin for an hour at most, so that it can saturate the cells that need to be treated in your sebaceous glands.
Your skin, and the photosensitizing agent, are exposed to a visible blue light at a particular frequency, to activate the active ingredients in the ALA, for a short period of time, usually under 10 minutes.
This procedure leaves your skin very vulnerable to the sun. Because of this you must keep your skin out of direct sunlight for a couple of days to avoid damage to the skin. Additional side effects include, minor skin color changes, dry skin, and inflammation.
The United States FDA, responsible for the approval of all medical treatments recently approved a non-laser light treatment for use. This treatment uses a visible high-intensity blue light treatment for use against inflammatory acne, which works by killing P. acnes, the bacteria responsible for the development of acne.
The goal of this procedure is to slow the production of chemicals known as porphyrins by your sebaceous glands. The specific type of light used in this treatment either slows these glands dramatically and/or kills the bacteria cells all together.
Similar to laser treatments photodynamic therapy must be repeated periodically, as acne causing bacterias regenerate rather quickly. PDT, in most cases, is not a permanent solution to acne.
Other Light Treatments
Intense Pulsed Light: Intense Pulsed Light or IPL is similar to laser treatments in many ways, but set themselves apart my utilizing a far wider range of wavelengths of light. These devices can be fine tuned to control particular parts of the skin causing acne. IPL is a very new treatment and long term benefits are yet to be determined.
Pulsed Dye Laser: Pulsed dye lasers or PDL is an even younger acne treatment that targets inflammation, blemishes, and redness. PDL is used more commonly for controlling rosacea, rather than acne.
Pulsed Light and Heat Energy: Also known as LHE, pulsed light and heat therapy uses both light and heat, as shown in it’s name, to kill p. acnes, and reduce the size of sebaceous glands.
Diode Laser: Diode lasers vary from most other light and laser treatments, as it uses invisible infrared light to treat acne, and acne scarring.
Things to Avoid
Ultraviolet light treatments were very popular acne treatments in the not so distant past. We now know that UV rays can do more bad than they do good. These treatments were believed to work because they essentially burned off the acne, and promoted a tan or sunburn, that made acne scars appear as if they were treated.
Of course, we now know that UV light can cause cancer, and rapid aging. They may work temporarily, but we now know that this form of treatment can cause sever long term damage to the skin.
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Tags: acne light treatment, acne scars, acne treatment, dermatologist, dermatology, laser treatments, sebaceous glands, severe acne
One Response to “Using Light Treatments to Fight Acne”
Acne is a problem for many teens and quite a few of us adults, too. I’m not sure how I feel about light treatments though it seems they are becoming a popular way to get rid of blemishes. I tend to stick to holistic methods which seem to be effective without worrying about other problems or side effects.
By HealthNut on Dec 30, 2008