In the quest to cure acne, numerous new treatments have been developed, taking full advantage of available technology. One acne treatment that has gathered the curiosity of every acne sufferer is laser acne treatment. It’s quite humorous to think of the Science Fiction genre of entertainment—TV, movies, video games, performance art—and think to yourself, “I wonder if those lasers could be used to treat acne?”

How Did Laser Acne Treatment Evolve?

The process of laser acne treatment actually stems from the known fact that sunlight has been “treating” many skin ailments for many years, yet with an unfortunate side effect of skin damage; damage at times that can manifest in the form of cancer cells. While the sun is too powerful to harness, laser light is controllable to a certain extent, and able to effectively treat acne for certain patients.

Is Laser Acne Treatment For Me?

The one thing that many people want to know right off the bat: Am I eligible for acne laser therapy? Probably not. This type of therapy is generally reserved for those who are unresponsive to more traditional methods of treatment. And for anyone who wants to skip traditional methods of treatment and jump right into the laser acne therapy treatment center, it helps to know that the technology has yet to be perfected. When it comes to cost efficiency, more traditional methods are still the wiser choice.

Different Types of Laser Acne Treatment

Diode Laser Therapy is used on patients who have problems with excess sebum (skin oil) production from their sebaceous glands. This type of acne laser treatment actually destroys some of the sebaceous glands by treating specific areas where there is too much oil production. The diode laser is able to perform this function without harming the dermis. This type of treatment can be painful and actually requires the use of topical analgesics during and after treatment. This treatment also results in redness and swelling of the treated area.

Blue Light Therapy is more of a “cool light” therapy and less of a laser therapy. It is a painless procedure that requires several treatments, exposing problem acne areas to a series of blue light sources. Side effects include dryness and/or redness on the treated areas. This is performed to help effectively kill P. Acnes, the bacteria responsible for causing acne. This type of laser acne treatment requires multiple treatment sessions.

Heat Energy combined with Pulse Light Therapy utilizes a combination of pulsed light and heat to kill P. Acnes, as well as decrease the production of the sebaceous gland. The side effects of this relatively pain free treatment are similar to that of blue light therapy.

Photodynamic Therapy is a laser acne treatment that involves the application of substance on the outside of the skin, creating a photosensitized environment. This is to be followed with the use of blue, red, blue and red or pulsed light therapy to effectively kill P. Acnes. Again, swelling and redness are common following treatment, yet more adverse side effects exist for this laser acne treatment, including crusting and increased acne post-treatment.

Photoneumatic Therapy has become increasingly popular. A multi-step process includes suction to remove dead skin cells and oil from within the sebaceous glands, followed by a combination blue and red light therapy to destroy bacteria. This has been found to be one of the most effective laser acne treatments, addressing the three components that cause acne to develop.