New Acne Treatment Options: Can They Help Your Skin?
November 28th, 2008
By Beth Ibarra
Acne is a big problem for many people. There are many different types of treatments available, and it can become very overwhelming to determine which one is best for your needs. You need to make sure that you take the time to discuss your options with your doctor. When it comes to medical intervention for acne treatment, having a doctor to help can make all the difference in the world.
Relatively new treatments for acne include blue light acne treatment and laser treatments which address problem skin. The light treatment works by exposing the face to a blue light, which seems quite simplistic. It is, but it is also an effective treatment. By killing the bacteria that produces acne in the first place, blue light therapy is actually an effective alternative to invasive and otherwise intensive procedures. It is not suitable for certain types of acne however, including cystic acne which is deeply embedded in the pores.
Laser treatments for acne help to remove skin which is damaged and scarred and assist with the clearing up of skin as well. Blue light acne treatment is effective at killing bacteria and preventing acne breakouts. However, if you want to also get rid of acne scars and blemishes, you can do red light therapy as well, as this will smooth the skin and rejuvenate your face. This is where laser treatments help out. Lasers are better at the removal of scarring on the skin.
During a typical laser or blue light treatment patients wear protective eye covering so that the eyes are not damaged by the light. For the light therapy, you should also turn your head frequently to make sure that you get even distribution of the light across your face. Once you have begun noticing some clearing, you can then reduce your treatments to once every other day.
There are no direct side effects to blue light acne treatment. It can darken the skin tone of Asian patients, but there is not any UV in the bulb, so sunburn and skin cancer are not an issue. You should not use this light therapy if you are taking medicine that produces light sensitivity or photosensitivity.
Light therapy is safe and just as effective without painful after effects. Laser treatments tend to require a longer healing time however they may also offer more drastic results in the removal of scarring. Both types of treatment are approved by the FDA.
Blue light acne treatment generally costs less than $200, and you can get it from your dermatologist. You can use it anywhere on your body to get rid of troublesome acne, and the kit is fully customizable in most cases. Laser treatments are performed by a licensed laser technician who is experienced with laser usage for cosmetic skin care. You should discuss this option with your doctor if you think it will work for you, because your doctor will be able to help you make an informed decision about your acne treatment.
More information on Blue Light therapy, Blue Peel and a Irvine Cosmetic Dermatologist in your area is just a click away.
