Question
Is there a laser treatment for acne?
Is there an acne laser treatment available? I'd like to zap the acne from my face!
Asked by: Olivie, Charlotte, NC
Answers (4)
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1
May 14, 2008
Photo Dynamic Therapy (PDT)
Board Certified
Facial Plastic Surgeon
Facial Plastic Surgeon
Answer by Michael A. Persky, MD
I have been extremely impressed with the results of PDT for acne. Patients are pre-treated with a topical medication stick called Levulan, and then undergo IPL or blue light therapy. The results are amazing. Good luck.
Dr. P
2
May 5, 2008
Laser Acne Treatments Should be Individualized
The majority of our services are for acne and acne scars. Because acne is associated with many emotions, we find it very rewarding to be able to offer effective treatments. However, not every treatment plan is appropriate for each individual.
We currently achieve good, consistent outcomes with a variety of laser treatments combined with other modalities. Because there is no "cure" for acne, our goal is to reshape and restructure the sebaceous glands so they cannot over-produce oil/sebum.
The "gold standard" for our patients is the Aramis Quantel, which is an excellent laser that heats up the oil in the sebaceous glands, which causes them to shrink in size. This laser is safe for all skin types and does not involve any downtime.
We also utilize the Q-Switched technology (Palomar QYag V and Medlite C6), which effectively destroys bacteria and has a photoacoustic delivery of energy, which allows for dislodging of sebum plugs. Using the Vstar (pulsed dye laser) also works well.
Although we use Aminolevulinic Acid with Photodynamic Therapy, most of our patients are good responders to the laser treatment.
Combining lasers with good skin care products, superficial chemical peels, and the Blu-U Light, we are able to achieve good outcomes for our patients.
3
April 4, 2008
There Are Several Lasers for Active Acne and Acne Scars
Answer by Joel Caschette, MD
Lasers that treat acne include:
- Lasers that treat active acne problems
- Lasers that reduce scars due to past acne
The lasers that treat active acne usually heat oil glands. When these glands are heated, they shrink in size. Smaller glands mean less oil. Less oil can mean less acne. The shrinking of oil glands seems to be especially helpful in severe acne cases, where deep cysts form.
Some lasers that shrink oil glands include:
- Quantel Aramis II 1540 nm Erbium glass laser
- Cooltouch CT3 1320 nm Nd:YAG laser
- Sciton Profile 1319 nm Nd: YAG laser
When acne causes depressed acne scars, laser skin resurfacing is helpful. I prefer fractionated laser skin resurfacing, which usually requires more than one session, but has less downtime after each treatment.
Two examples of fractionated skin resurfacing lasers are:
- Fraxel re:store 1500 SR 1550 nm Erbium laser
- Lumenis Active X 10600 nm CO2 laser
Skin resurfacing carries some risks, including pigment change. This is especially true for darker skin types.
Remember - It’s Your Face! Find a medical doctor in your area with extensive experience in laser therapy for acne, and ask which laser is best for you.
4
March 30, 2008
Acne and Laser Treatments
Yes, we use the MedLiteC6 1064 to treat active acne and acne scarring.
Our treatment protocol involves much more than just the laser treatment because Active Acne can be difficult to treat. First, you should be on a good medication plan with topicals (benzoyl peroxide, retin-a and salacylic acid) and possibly oral medications (antibiotics, birth control pills, spironolactone and possibly Accutane).
Next you can add lasers and light treatments. We use the MedLiteC6 and Photodynamic Therapy with Levulan, Blue Light and Intense Pulsed Light at 560 nm.
Successful acne treatment involves a comprehensive plan and diligent home care with topical medications and possibly oral medications. The lasers and light devices help bring the acne under control quickly and can be used for maintenance.
In our clinic, we do everything to get the acne controlled quickly and effectively and then we back off in a stepwise fashion to make sure the acne continues to be well controlled.
Many of our patients cannot take Accutane or do not want to take Accutane. We find that our treatment protocol is almost as good as Accutane without the risks and side effects.
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