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Acne patients lighten up with laser skin treatments

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Just because the teen years are far behind you may not mean that acne is, too. According to Modern Medicine, the condition is most prevalent during adolescence, but can develop at any age. Although the characteristic red pimples, whiteheads, blackheads and lesions are temporary in many cases, they can be frustrating and embarrassing for those who have them.

Over the years, numerous treatments have been developed to address this skin disorder. Topical ointments like benzoyl peroxide, retinoids and antibiotics have helped some, but others seek a more intense course of skin clarification. After all, numerous studies have linked acne to psychological health, as some patients suffer from psychiatric illnesses as a result of having the condition.

“Traditional therapies are useful, but in many cases, they do not result in complete clearance of lesions,” wrote dermatologist Joely Kaufman in her article.

She mentioned that oral retinoids have been an effective alternative for some individuals, but that these drugs are associated with side effects.

“Acne is a condition that affects more than 85 percent of adolescents and adults,” said expert Coralie Ecublin. “Many of them leave their blackheads and whiteheads untreated, and are then experiencing inflammatory acne breakouts and even acne scarring.”

So what is a self-respecting acne sufferer to do? Perhaps it may be time to look into laser acne removal. The application of light has been used to treat the skin condition since the early 1990s, according to the news source.

Physicians apply the laser to target the bacteria that causes acne, called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). The technique also has an anti-inflammatory effect and reduces the appearance of blemishes and scars resulting from the disorder.

Laser acne treatments use light within the red, blue and green wavelengths to activate the production of porphyrins, compounds that are released by P. acnes. When these chemicals are excited by light, they damage the bacterial wall, killing the pathogen.

The procedure is quick and painless in addition to being effective, and has been used for patients of all ages, from teens to older adults.

Undergoing a laser acne treatment may be a good way to stop the problem at its source and help patients get on their way to clearer, better-looking skin.