Acne is an incurable problem. It can be treated with medicines and physical procedures but no guarantee can be given that it will not crop again. This is made doctors look at more effective treatments for acne. Laser is one such procedure that is being tried to treat acne quickly. If it succeeds, it can be a big boon not only for acne on face but also acne on the back where it is difficult to apply medication.
Commonly the medicines used to treat acne include- Benzoyl Peroxide, Sulphur, Resorcinol, Salicylic Acid, Vitamin A derivatives such as Tretinoin, Adaplene etc. and other medications that are used topically. Antibiotics are commonly used orally to treat the inflammation caused by the P. acnes bacteria. Lasers are new entrants in this field. Let us find out the status of lasers in treating acne.
Laser is not used extensively to treat acne. Diode laser has been used to treat acne but the results are not yet conclusive. Diode laser destroys the sebaceous glands and treats acne by stopping any production of sebum. It is sebum that is blocked by the dead skin and fills a pimple. This sebum then gets infected and the pimple becomes inflamed. By removing/destroying the sebaceous gland, laser removes the root cause of acne. The laser may cause pain but that can be reduced using local anesthetic. Side effects are very mild and temporary and include- redness, swelling etc.
Pulsed dye laser has not given satisfactory results. Some studies have been conducted with lasers but they are not being commonly used to treat acne. If you feel that you can get help from lasers, you should consult your doctor.
This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advice and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for all your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author or the website Doctorgoodskin are not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.
