Most people who get acne can treat it successfully using over-the-counter products. However, those with moderate to severe acne may need help from a dermatologist to rid themselves of the problem. Dermatologists increasingly are using new photo-activated acne treatments to assist those patients in getting rid of their acne.
Types
Acne is caused by four factors: overproduction of oil in the skin, a bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), clogged pores and inflammation in the glands that produce the skin's oil, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Moderate to severe acne generally penetrates more deeply than mild acne and causes more inflammation, larger pimples and even scars.
Function
Lasers have been used for more than a decade to treat moderate and severe acne. Lasers work to treat acne by targeting the P. acnes bacteria and also by reducing inflammation, according to the AAD. But more recently, dermatologists began combining laser treatment with a cream that is sensitive to the laser light. This treatment, called photo-activated acne treatment or photodynamic therapy, is gaining favor among dermatologists, who say it can be more effective than laser light alone in treating acne.
Effects
Photo-activated acne treatments address the overproduction of oil in the skin, blocked pores, and the bacteria P. acnes. The photo-activated cream, when applied to the face, is absorbed by the skin. Then, when hit by the laser light, the cream shrinks the oil glands and kills the bacteria. Studies have shown improvement after one treatment, although the AAD advises that in many cases, more than one treatment may be necessary.
Considerations
Photo-activated acne treatments can take up to several hours, depending on how much time is needed for the photo-activated cream to be absorbed into the skin, the AAD says. Side effects can include temporary burning or itching, swelling or peeling of the skin.
Benefits
Getting control of acne lesions can be a challenge, but several medical studies have shown that photo-activated acne treatment can provide at least temporary relief from moderate to severe acne. In one study, published in 2009 in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, clinicians treated 45 patients with three different techniques and concluded that photodynamic therapy is an effective treatment with few side effects.
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