Monday 14 October 2013

Effectiveness of laser treatment for acne - Health

A decade ago it was difficult to find any kind of fast, effective acne treatment at all. Doctors

realised that diet, skin creams and even some antibiotics had little, if any, effect on the development

of acne. So, despite being a very common condition and distressing to millions of people (both teenagers

and adults alike), combating acne was a frustrating experience.

Thankfully, things are changing.

Laser acne treatment is now an

affordable, safe and effective way to get rid of acne and the scarring it can cause. You can usually see

results weeks after treatment, and you don't have to stick to a regimen of pills and lotions.

What is acne and how does laser treatment affect it?

It's natural for everyone to get spots from time to time. However, acne is triggered when the sebaceous

follicles on the face, neck, back and chest produce excessive amounts of an oily substance called sebum.

Comedones (another name for blackheads) start to form, collecting a large amount of dead skin cells.

These cells block the pore, causing it to fill with oil and a resident skin bacterium called P.Acnes.

The result is often inflamed red spots which can eventually lead to scarring. A variety of factors can

determine the progression or severity of the condition. For example, the bacteria P.Acnes has developed

up to 65% antibacterial resistance in some parts of the UK.

Laser treatment for acne works by

targeting and destroying the P.Acnes bacteria. N-Lite, possibly the most effective laser treatment,

delivers a yellow light which also promotes the growth of collagen to aid scar healing (in fact, the

treatment was originally used as an anti-ageing therapy). There is also some evidence that the lasers

decrease the size of sebaceous glands.

Does it work?

In an interview with the BBC, Dr. Tony Chu - one of the world's leading dermatology experts and

consultants - described N-Lite as The first major advance in acne treatment in 30 years. Dr. Chu's

trials in London's Hammersmith Hospital found that 87% of people treated improved after just one

treatment, with 58% seeing their visible signs of acne decrease by half after one session. Some clinics

can offer consultation and treatment in under an hour.

What should you consider before getting treatment?

Acne laser treatment is a safe procedure but it's important to use a qualified medical professional

operating from a Healthcare Approved and Registered practice. Poorly administered laser treatment can

cause irritation in some cases. Avoid this by using a reliable surgery.

The treatment is not suitable in every case. Make sure that your clinic offers an initial consultation

and ensure that this is with a doctor or nurse practitioner, and not with a salesperson.

The surgery should also offer a range of alternative treatments, such as micro-dermabrasion,

antibacterial agents, cleansing lotions and in the case of acne damage, dermal fillers.





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