Introduction to laser treatment of acne

Acne or Acne Vulgaris as it is medically called is one of the major skin disorders worldwide. 25 million adults and 40 million adolescents suffer from this ailment in US itself. It is unimaginable as to how many people suffer from it in the rest of world.

For some people acne vanishes with age, but even then, there are people who are left with such unpleasant scars on their face or other exposed areas, that it becomes a permanent mark for the rest of their lives. This is the reason why proper treatment at the proper time is very much required for such severe cases, before it becomes a matter of concern.

Modern medical techniques have come up with several treatments, which are not only painless but also cost effective. This makes the treatment reach a vast number of people makng this skin disorder a matter of the past or just a part of growing up.

Laser for acne prevention

Laser surgery has been in use for some time to reduce the scars left behind by acne, but research has also been done on lasers for prevention of acne formation itself.

Laser acts as the amplifier of light ray, produces a much-concentrated ray of light that can be focused on the affected area. As compared to oral therapies, such as intake of pills, laser takes less than half the time in curing the acne problem in people. Laser has become one of the leading treatments in various other conditions like eye operation, any form of cancer as well as in the treatment of acne.

There are several types of laser treatment for acne:

• Potassium titanyl phosphate laser (532 mm )
• Pulsed Dye Laser
• Diode Laser
• Er.glass Laser
• Photodynamic Therapy

Potassium titanyl phosphate laser

This was the treatment, which was faced with least side effects and also had a long lasting effect of almost 4 months without any kind of relapse. This treatment accompanied with topical therapy for almost 6 weekly sessions worked very well on the patients having inflammatory lesions, in this case pimples.
Pulsed Dye Laser

In this treatment a consistent yellow beam of light is applied to the affected area of the skin. This light is supposed to attack the oxyhemoglobin in the microvessels. But this treatment is said to have some discoloration on the skin, thus suggesting people with darker skin tone to avoid going for it.

Diode Laser

This treatment is opted mainly for facial rejuvenation. The laser works on the water content of the uppermost layer of the skin and thus improves the formation of collagen. This is turn helps in the elasticity of the skin. In this process, there was a marked decrease in the formation of acne too.

Er.glass Laser

This is the midinfrared range of laser treatment and works on the water content of the dermis. Patients were given four sessions in an interval of 2 weeks and had a marked improvement on their acne problem. The side effects are minimal and thus are quite a suggested option for acne.

Photodynamic Therapy

This treatment, commonly known as PDT though a bit painful is often the most effective in treating acne. As this deals in light rays, which are not only sensitive to the skin but also damages cells that are helping in the formation of pimples.

PDT has two main compounds, which are used in their procedure, they are described below:

Aminolevulinic Acid: This is the compound which acts on the sebaceous or sweat glands and tries to shrink as well as destroy the gland which is forming the lesion. A weekly session for 3 weeks gives a very long lasting effect on the acne, preventing them from re-appearing for almost 8 months.

Indocyanine Green: This compound is a kind of a dye which is mainly used in many other pathological test where photosensitive diagnosis is required. This is topically applied on the affected areas and it very conveniently accumulates in the sebaceous glands. After application of this Indocyanine Green (ICG), the area is then treated with laser so as to eradicate the lesions.

The above-mentioned treatments were tried over patients suffering from this disorder. The main motive of all these treatments was to come to a conclusion as to the effectiveness of the therapy, the longivity of the effects of the treatment as well as the amount of side effects (if there are any side effects).

The therapies are in a way subjective too, as each patient has their typical symptoms and their response to the therapy was unique. At the same time, the severity of the disorder is also taken into account, and accordingly therapies suggested to all.

Conclusion

We can conclude by saying that laser treatment is a very good alternative for patients who is unwilling to take drugs orally, and who are scared to get exposed to the side affects of anti-biotics. Nevertheless, laser treatment along with medication can have a faster and prolonged positive impact on patients' acne.