Acne is one of the most prevalent skin conditions in today’s society, negatively affecting millions of people of all ages. While many of us may associate acne with adolescence, one study from the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that in the United States, 54\\% of women and 40\\% of men over the age of 25 suffer from some degree of facial acne.
As anyone who’s suffered from acne can attest to, choosing the best treatment for your blemished skin can be a very daunting task. Take a stroll down the skincare aisle at any drug store in the country and you’ll see a countless array of various products that promise to clear up your skin once and for all.
While many of these products may have a proper place in your skincare regimen, one of the newest treatments on the market today involves various forms of laser and light therapy. In this post, we’re going to explore the effectiveness of these treatments, and see if they could be a worthwhile addition to your acne treatment plant.
One of the primary aims of treating acne is to address the bacteria that lies at the root of your acne troubles. While traditional methods use topical treatments such as creams and gels to do this, laser and light therapies are non-invasive ways to kill this bacteria by exposing the skin to the different rays of light for varying lengths of time.
These treatments are typically performed by a medical professional, though there are at-home devices available on the market as well. Whether you choose to go the at-home route, or prefer to have the treatment done by your doctor, it’s important that you consult with your dermatologist so that they can customize a treatment plan based on your specific needs.
There are several different types of light therapy, and which one is best for you depends on the type of acne you are treating. For instance, Visible Light and Infrared Light treatments are best for treating pimples, whereas Photopneumatic Therapy can be used to treat blackheads and whiteheads as well.
According to this study by the Indian Dermatology Online Journal, “light- and laser-based treatments… are not associated with long-term complications.” The adverse effects most commonly reported include dry skin, redness, itchiness, and tingling, all of which are reported to be mild, short-lived, and self-resolving.
Treatments and treatment plans vary from person to person, and just how many treatments you need depends on the severity of your acne. Some people see results right away, and others may need several months of treatment before they see the results they desire.
If you or someone you know have been having a hard time finding an effective treatment plan for your acne, laser and light therapy could be the missing piece of the puzzle you’re looking for.
While there may still be some variance in the definitive effectiveness of these treatments, consulting with your dermatologist about the possibility of adding them to your skincare regimen would be worthwhile.
And while we may still be in the early stages of learning how to best use these therapies to treat acne, studies indicate that they will become more and more prevalent in the coming years as scientists continue to discover how they can best be utilized to give you the blemish-free skin we all desire.
- BJ
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