Acne is generally successfully treated with a variety of topical and oral medications. Inflammatory acne often requires the use of oral antibiotics or Isotretinoin. Laser and Light treatments can lead to a lessening of the amount of required antibiotics. They can improve not only the inflamed acne, but also leads to improvement in acne scars.
WHAT LASERS ARE USED FOR ACNE?
There are two basic groups of acne treating lasers and light based systems. One group of technologies inhibits the growth of the bacteria that is involved in acne lesions. The other group of lasers shrinks the sebaceous oil glands that play a pivotal role in acne. These approaches can also improve the quality of acne scars. We will often use more than one laser or light based system to optimize the acne clearing benefits of these devices. Because we have multiple different acne improving systems, we will use those technologies we feel most appropriate for the particular patient´s condition.
One of the most effective treatments is Photodynamic Therapy. A chemical called Levulon is placed on the skin for 1-2 hours which absorbs into the skin and especially in the sebaceous glands (which release the oil required to produce acne). We then activate the Levulon with a light based treatment or IPL. 2-3 treatments can inhibit acne production for a year or more.