Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, nearly everyone will see some pimples pop up at some point, generally in their teen years. Since 2000, dermatologists have been treating bad acne with laser surgery techniques. Although results from medical studies are mixed, many patients see good results with laser surgery treatments for acne.
Significance
Acne generally results when the body's hormones are out of balance, causing glands below the skin's surface to enlarge and overproduce sebum, a thick oil. The sebum then clogs pores, leading to inflammation. Also, oily skin provides an ideal environment for acne-causing bacteria to flourish. These factors, taken together, point to a bad case of acne.
Function
Laser surgery, available from dermatologists, targets the glands that produce the sebum oil. In laser treatments for acne, the light energy from the laser device heats water that surrounds the oil producing glands in the skin. This shrinks the glands themselves, causing them to produce less oil, and also kills some of the bacteria responsible for any infection.
Time Frame
In a laser acne treatment, the patient first applies cream to the treatment area that makes the skin less sensitive. Next, the dermatologist zaps the skin with the laser. This can cause a stinging sensation, even with the pre-treatment numbing cream. Each treatment takes up to 20 minutes, and patients generally have few side effects afterward, although treated skin may appear sunburned. According to the AAD, three to five monthly treatments should clear acne for six months or even longer. Patients likely will start to see improvement in their acne after the first couple of treatments.
Benefits
Many acne patients seek treatments that don't involve applying messy ointments or taking pills every day, according to the AAD. For these people, laser treatment can help, the AAD says. Still, studies show mixed results. In a 2004 report in "Dermatological Surgery," acne lesion counts decreased 83 percent after three laser treatments in 19 patients. But another 2004 report, this one published in the "Journal of the American Medical Association," found no benefit from laser treatment for acne.
Considerations
Despite some promising research, the American Academy of Dermatology warns that laser surgery for acne still is in the experimental stage, and more research is needed. Because of this, insurance likely won't cover laser treatments. Dermatologists who use laser surgery to treat acne most often combine it with other treatments, such as prescription-strength medicated skin lotions and oral medications.
References
- American Academy of Dermatology: Common Acne
- AAD/Skin Care Physicians: Are lasers really light-years ahead of conventional acne therapy?
- "Dermatological Surgery"; Treatment of Inflammatory Facial Acne Vulgaris With the 1450-nm Diode Laser: A Pilot Study; February 2004
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Treatment of Acne Vulgaris With a Pulsed Dye Laser: A Randomized Controlled Trial; June 2004
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