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Acne is an inflammatory disease of the skin, caused by changes in the pilosebaceous units (skin structures consisting of a hair follicle and its associated sebaceous gland). Acne lesions are commonly referred to as pimples, spots, or zits. The condition is most common during adolescence, affecting more than 85% of teenagers, but frequently continues into adulthood. Several factors are known to be linked to acne: Hormonal activity, such as menstrual cycles and puberty, stress, accumulation of dead skin cells, bacteria, skin irritation or scratching, and so on.

There are many misconceptions and rumors about acne. Nowadays, there are some available treatments to solve this problem, and of them in: Laser surgery.

Laser surgery has been in use for some time to reduce the scars left behind by acne, but research has been done on lasers for prevention of acne formation itself. The laser is used to produce one of the following effects:

• to burn away the follicle sac from which the hair grows
• to burn away the sebaceous gland which produces the oil
• to induce formation of oxygen in the bacteria, killing them

Since lasers and intense pulsed light sources cause thermal damage to the skin there are concerns that laser or intense pulsed light treatments for acne will induce hyperpigmented macules (spots) or cause long term dryness of the skin.

The FDA has approved several companies, such as Candela Corp. to use a cosmetic laser for the treatment of acne. Laser treatments such as this have shown to have exceeded 98% reduction in lesion count; and have show to be effective in 4 treatments and with most seeing results in as little as 1.

However, laser treatment being relatively new, it can be quite expensive :-(

Topik: Medicines, Therapy