The Most Promising New Acne Treatments

Because many of the existing treatments and remedies for acne are very effective, some

may conclude that new types of acne treatments are not necessary. While existing

treatments usually work very well for people with milder forms of acne, people with

chronic outbreaks of moderate to severe acne may need to have other options available to

them. Laser acne treatment and light therapy are two of the more promising new acne

treatments that dermatologists are beginning to use on a more frequent basis, especially

on patients whose acne is severe enough to cause scarring.

Before explaining how laser acne treatment works, it is important to know what causes

acne in the first place. Your skin contains hair follicles, which are connected to sebaceous

glands. These sebaceous glands secrete an oily substance, sebum, that lubricates the hair

and surrounding skin. Under normal circumstances, sebum travels up the hair shaft and

comes out through the opening of the hair follicle onto the surface of your skin. When

you produce an excessive amount of sebum, which is very common during puberty, it

accumulates in the hair follicle with dead skin cells and turns into a plug. If this plug

continues to grow, the follicle wall will rupture and more oil and skin cells will

accumulate, forming a pimple. Bacteria can make acne worse, as it can trigger additional

inflammation and infections.

Laser acne treatment used in conjunction with other acne treatments works by reducing

oil production, accelerating the removal of dead skin cells and the growth of new skin

cells, and eliminating bacteria. Because it is able to reach into the deeper layers of skin

such as the dermis without damaging its outer surface, laser acne treatment and light-

based therapies are able to damage sebaceous glands, which causes them to produce less

of the oil that forms plugs. Laser acne treatment and light-based therapies can also target

Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), the bacteria that causes inflammation. Laser acne

treatment also stimulates the growth of collagen, which can be described as the

supporting structure of the skin. When collagen growth is stimulated, the appearance of

acne scars is softened.

If you choose laser acne treatment, you can expect to your dermatologist to make four or

five appointments for you. They will be scheduled two weeks apart. He or she may also

schedule some follow-up treatments every four to six months. Laser acne treatment can

be applied to your face, neck, back, and chest. If you choose to treat your face, a single

procedure will take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. It takes longer to treat large areas

such as your back. Because laser acne treatment is usually not painful, your dermatologist

will not need to give you any type of anesthesia. Your skin is cooled during the

procedure, so it may feel as if someone is pressing an ice cube on the area being treated.

Some people receiving the treatment may experience a mild tingling or stinging

sensation.

The results of laser acne treatment are gradual, so you will generally not see any changes

until after the second or third treatment. Laser acne treatment is also considered to be

safe. One of the most common side effects is a slight reddening of the skin, which goes

away relatively quickly. While it is rare, you may experience some darkening or

lightening of your skin. To prevent these effects, you dermatologist will recommend that

you avoid sunlight by applying sunscreen and wearing a hat. In addition to laser acne

treatment, your dermatologist may recommend combining it with other treatments that

improve the surface appearance of your skin, such as microdermabrasion.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only, and is not meant to serve as

medical advice. For medical advice, please consult your doctor.

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