Smoothbeam Procedure For Acne

Most teenagers get at least a few pimples and generally cope with it by using over-the-counter topical products designed to clear acne. But teens and adults who get moderate or severe acne need more help. For them, treatments with the Smoothbeam laser, potentially in combination with other therapies, can help clear their acne.

Significance

According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), acne has four main causes: too much oil from the skin's sebaceous glands, pores that clog due to the excess oil, overgrowth of bacteria that normally live on and in the skin, and inflammation. The Smoothbeam laser works by targeting the over-producing sebaceous glands.

Function

Prior to treatment with the Smoothbeam laser, a patient's dermatologists likely will apply a numbing cream to the treatment area. Next, the dermatologist or technician uses a wand-like device to apply the Smoothbeam laser energy to the area. The device can treat only a very small area at once. During treatment, patients might feel a stinging or zapping sensation as the Smoothbeam energy hits their skin. Treatments take up to 20 minutes and patients can manage post-treatment soreness with ice packs.

Effects

Although relatively little research has been done on using lasers, including the Smoothbeam, to treat acne, the studies that have been done are encouraging, according to the AAD. For example, a study reported in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2006 looked at laser treatment using a device that operates the same way as the Smoothbeam laser. In that study, 20 patients received three treatments each on just one side of their face; the other side of the face was used for comparison. Acne lesions fell by 70 percent after three treatments and the patients' acne stayed mostly in remission for 12 months.

Time Frame

Patients shouldn't expect immediate results with the Smoothbeam laser, although many will see significant skin clearing after two to three laser treatments, according to the AAD. Dermatologists generally recommend three to five treatments, given monthly, in order for patients to see the best clearance of pimples. Some patients seem to have permanent resolution of their acne, while in others, acne eventually returns.

Considerations

Because the Smoothbeam laser targets only one of the four root causes of acne, dermatologists generally don't recommend it as the sole treatment for moderate to severe acne, according to the AAD. Your dermatologist may prescribe topical or oral medications to take in conjunction with Smoothbeam laser therapy. In addition, because laser therapy for acne is considered experimental, insurance companies may not cover it.