Sebacia Gold Microparticles for Acne Treatment

The entire treatment should take about 30-45 minutes, and since there’s no downtime, you can go right back to work or other activities. Facial cleansing: First we deep clean the skin to ensure it’s free from debris and ready to have the microparticles massaged deeply into your pores. Massage of Sebacia Microparticles into your skin: A gentle massage works the golden microparticles into the pores where they will help to heat-treat the oil glands. Skin Cooling: We cool the skin prior to treatment to make the procedure comfortable. Laser Treatment: A Nd:Yag laser is used to heat the microparticles up, which reduces the oil production of the sebaceous glands.

In clinical trials, patients were treated 3 times, with 6-10 days between each treatment.2 In practice, we find once a week on the same day, for 3 weeks in a row, is the easiest plan for patients to stick to, and sticking to the treatment plan is critical to getting the results Sebacia can create. The good news is that it’s just for 3 weeks, and then results usually last for around a year or more.

In clinical trials, most patients saw significant improvement in acne by week 12, but best results were measured at week 16.2 Those who follow a regular, prescribed skin care regimen can expect to see the best results, soonest. Your cosmetic physician at Reflections will discuss with you a specific skincare routine designed to keep your skin clear and healthy.

Because acne is created by several underlying causes – overproduction of oil, hormonal surges, stress, clogged pores, bacteria (p. acnes bacteria), etc., the most effective treatment plans treat all or most of the underlying causes. Sebacia works to reduce oil production, so it works best when paired with treatments that address the other underlying causes. For example, in a new study, patients who first used a daily topical treatment gel containing 0.1% adapalene and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide for 2-4 weeks before undergoing 3 treatments with Sebacia, spaced 1-2 weeks apart, saw an improvement of 66% at 3 months, as compared to those who had Sebacia alone (in the clinical trials), and showed 49% improvement at 3 months. Both groups continued to improve over time, and at 6 months those who only had Sebacia treatments were 65% improved, versus 79% for those who also did the pre-treatment. These improvements were the average among those treated.3

Like oral isotretinoin (brand name Accutane), Sebacia also targets the overactive sebaceous glands that are part of the multifactoral underlying causes of acne. Accutane is a closely controlled substance known to have many other effects, some of which can be very negative, including the risk of birth defects. For that reason, many patients try to avoid Accutane, and many doctors view it as a treatment of last resort. Sebacia can be a good option for those looking to avoid Accutane, but it’s not the right choice, or the only choice, for everyone. That’s why we warmly welcome you to our offices for a free in-person consultation with a physician, to discuss the best options for your acne treatment.

Spironolactone is often prescribed for acne, and it works to turn down androgen, a hormone that regulates oil production, and thus, reduces oil gland activity. Similarly, Sebacia reduces oil gland activity. Spironolactone is safer than Accutane, and so it’s very much preferred by many dermatologists these days, but that doesn’t mean treatment is convenient. Patients on Spironolactone can look forward to regular blood draws (for lab work-ups) and around 3 months of medication before they see results. Sebacia works much faster, and doesn’t interfere with your body’s other systems in the way Spironolactone does, and it doesn’t require rearranging your life around visits to the doctor – and we think that makes Sebacia the clear winner here.

PDT, or photodynamic therapy, is most-similar to Sebacia in that they both use a topical product and a light source to effectively heat-treat sebaceous glands and reduce their function (or in this case, over-function). The drawback with PDT is that it’s incredibly painful. This treatment was originally designed to remove skin cancers and pre-skin cancers, and it did so by basically burning off several layers of the skin. Doctors noticed patients had less sebaceous gland production, as well as nicely exfoliated, new skin afterward, and it became a treatment of last resort for some, and a way to avoid Accutane for others. But it has never gained widespread appeal because of the intense discomfort and long recovery. LED Therapy for acne works differently, using wavelengths of light that kill off the bacteria responsible for acne. In general, patients with moderate or severe acne tend to have overactive sebaceous glands that produce too much oil, which clogs pores, trapping bacteria in the pore, which then festers, creating painful blemishes. Killing off the bacteria is helpful in clearing up breakouts, but without treating the overactive oil glands, this treatment usually doesn’t produce the kind of long-lasting results patients are looking for. It’s a good adjunct, though, to add to Sebacia or other acne treatments. Acne Laser Treatments vary by laser. For example, Smoothbeam works to reduce the sebaceous glands, Vbeam works to reduce redness (and help prevent red/purple scars) as well as killing off the bacteria that cause acne. These 2 lasers are often used in combination and are most popular with patients who are well on their way to clear skin and are wanting to be proactive in preventing future scarring while treating their last few break-outs. Isolaz is often called an acne laser, though it’s technically a light-based therapy. Isolaz uses suction to gently remove clogs from pores, while a burst of light therapy kills bacteria. It’s one of our most popular treatments for patients with stubborn, medication-resistant acne.