With the Pulse Dye Laser Treatment System

Lasers and acne?? Most people don’t know about this secret! If you have acne and either have tried many other treatments without success or just want to see results faster consider laser therapy.

I have to admit that I too believed Acne was directly caused by bacteria. As I hope to explain that is not necessarily the truth. What is true is that once the inflammation is present that lasers may give both adolescents and adult a chance for fast improvement minimal discomfort and no downtime.

There is no single factor that alone causes acne. Acne occurs when sebaceous (oil) glands attached to the hair follicles are stimulated. Sebum (oil) is a natural substance which lubricates and protects the skin. When skin cells mature, along with increases in oil production, it predisposes follicular openings or pores to become congested and blocked. This leads to gradual enlargement of the follicle, producing a bump. As the follicle continues to enlarge, the walls may rupture, allowing debris and normal skin bacteria access into the deeper layers of the skin causing inflammation and discomfort.

If the trapped oil gains access to the surface, the result is a “whitehead.” If the oil accumulates pigment (melanin) or becomes oxidized, the oil changes from white to black, and the result is a “blackhead.” Blackheads are not dirt trapped beneath the skin and do not result because of poor skin care. Some other terms that you may hear in regard to acne are:

• a papule which happens when there is a break in the wall of the follicle and white blood cells rush in and the pore becomes inflamed.
• a pustule which forms several days later when white blood cells make their way to the surface of the skin. This is what is generally recognized as a “zit” or a “pimple”.

As I had mentioned there is no direct link between acne and bacteria.

Propionbacterium Acnes (P. Acnes) is present naturally on the skin and usually causes no clinical problems. The problem begins when a follicle becomes blocked and the P. Acnes gets trapped under the skin and begins to multiply. As this occurs it causes inflammation and changes that cause acne eruptions.

As the initial redness and swelling progresses white blood cells enter the area attempting to clear the bacteria resulting in the formation of a pustule.

The treatment of Acne really depends on the stage at which you catch it. The best way to prevent acne is to keep your skin well cleansed and control oil production preventing the follicles from getting blocked. Unfortunately, this is not always possible and acne breakouts occur. Once this happens there are many different methods to try and some work better than others depending on the individual.

For the treatment of mild acne (whiteheads, blackheads, or pimples):

• Gentle cleansing with warm water and a mild soap, such as Dove or Cetaphil
• Applying benzoyl peroxide
• Applying salicylic acid

If these treatments do not work you may need a prescription for a mild Retin-A or a topical antibiotic.

For moderate to severe acne treatments with stronger medicines or a combination of therapies may be required. Deeper blemishes, such as nodules and cysts, are more likely to leave scars. These treatments may include:

• Using benzoyl peroxide
• Applying prescription antibiotic gels, creams, or lotions.
• Applying a stronger strength Retin-A.
• Applying azelaic acid
• Taking prescription oral antibiotics

One method that most people are not aware of is the use of lasers for the treatment of acne. Once the inflammation is present secondary to the trapped bacterial the use of a Pulse Dye Laser can show significant improvement, with minimal discomfort and no downtime, in as little as 48-72 hours. The science of how the laser treats acne is that the laser triggers a photo-porphyrin in the bacteria causing the bacterial to essentially self destruct. Porphyrins are proteins found in all living organisms . Some porphyrins, when exposed to light can act as a photosensitizer by absorbing light or laser energy and transferring that energy to oxygen molecules, creating highly reactive Singlet Oxygen, which is capable of damaging nearby cellular structures including cell membranes, proteins, and DNA causing cell death and in this case destruction of the bacteria. This leads to decreased inflammation and clearing of the acne breakout. This therapy may need to be repeated for optimal results and does not prevent future acne breakouts.

If you would like to learn more about acne treatments using the laser technology please give us a call at (703) 421-6000 to schedule a complimentary consultation.