Acne Blemish Laser Treatment

Dermatologists offer remedies for nearly every case of acne, even the most stubborn cases, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Unfortunately for busy patients, most treatments involve applying lotions frequently to the affected area, or remembering to take prescription oral medication. However, many dermatologists now offer laser treatment for acne blemishes. Although study results have been inconclusive, patients report it can clear acne for up to six months in a few treatments.

Identification

Teenagers and those in their early 20s often have surging hormones. These hormones can overstimulate the sebaceous glands, which produce the oil that lubricates the skin. If these glands are overstimulated, they swell and produce too much oil, which then can clog pores on the skin's surface and cause blemishes. Oily skin also is the perfect habitat for bacterial colonies, which lead to inflammation. Taken together, these factors can result in moderate or severe acne.

Function

In acne blemish laser treatment, the light energy from the laser creates heat in and around the swollen sebaceous glands. This causes the glands to shrink in size and stop producing so much oil, which curbs pimple formation. The heat from the laser also can kill some of the acne-causing bacteria that live in the sebaceous glands.

Features

According to the AAD, acne blemish laser treatments generally take no longer than 20 minutes. Patients first have the option of using a cream that numbs the area to be treated. Next, the dermatologist applies the laser to the skin's surface in small, short bursts that treat only a square inch or so at a time. Skin might show some brief reddening after treatment, and doctors recommend ice to soothe any irritation.

Effects

Three to five laser treatments, given over the course of a few months, can clear skin for up to half a year, according to the AAD. However, researchers haven't determined how long the effects of laser treatment can last, and some patients report that their acne returned or significantly worsened six months after their laser treatments ended. Medical studies have been mixed on acne blemish laser treatment. In one study, published in 2004 in Dermatologic Surgery journal, clinicians treated 19 patients and achieved 83 percent clearance of blemishes after three laser treatments. But in another study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association that same year, researchers reported that a different type of laser was not effective against acne.

Considerations

Many physicians offer laser treatment in combination with other therapies, such as prescription medications applied to the skin or taken by mouth, according to the AAD, which urges potential acne blemish laser treatment candidates to talk with their dermatologists about treatment options and to carefully screen physicians to make certain they have experience using lasers to clear acne blemishes.