If you suffer from pimples, you're far from alone--acne is the most common skin condition in the United States. More than 40 million people, mostly teenagers but also adults, have acne each year. Most sufferers turn to common topical medications to treat their pimples. Many people with acne find that laser and light treatments represent an important part of their fight against acne.
Significance
Although physicians aren't certain exactly what causes acne, they believe pimples and inflammation from acne result from a combination of factors. Glands beneath the skin's surface begin to produce too much oil, probably as a result of hormonal stimulation. This oil combines with dead skin cells to plug hair follicles and pores, resulting in whiteheads and blackheads. And bacteria that's always present on the skin begins to proliferate, causing inflammation that's often present in a bad case of acne.
Types
Dermatologists offer several different types of laser and light treatments for acne. Laser treatments use pulsed dye lasers and diode lasers, which can effectively treat both acne and the scars that result from severe acne. Meanwhile, increasing numbers of physicians offer blue light treatment for acne. This treatment, which does not involve laser light, uses targeted wavelengths of blue light to illuminate the skin and help clear up acne.
Function
Acne laser and light treatments generally target only one of these three acne causes. Dermatologists believe laser treatments fight bacterial infection by using heat and light to kill the bacteria that contribute to acne lesions and inflammation. Some laser treatments also help to shrink the oil-producing glands beneath the skin, which calms them and helps them to produce less oil. Blue light treatments also target bacterial infection.
Effects
Both laser and light treatments represent relatively quick fixes for active acne. Many patients, especially those treated with lasers, will see improvements in their skin after one or two sessions. For example, a study reported in the journal "Dermatologic Surgery" in 2009 followed patients who had three laser treatments, and reported up to 89 percent improvement in their inflammatory acne lesions after the third treatment. Blue light generally requires more treatments, but offers similar results.
Considerations
Dermatologists warn laser and light therapy usually isn't enough to treat acne by itself; patients considering either laser or light treatment for their acne likely will need other treatments to prevent their acne from returning. Acne patients seeking temporary relief from inflammation and lesions might want to consider laser or light treatments in combination with other therapies. Dermatologists can advise you whether laser or light treatment likely will have a positive effect.
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