| World of medicine is advancing, so do the | | | | microdermabrasion is not nearly as scary as you |
| treatments available for every type of disease | | | | might think. |
| and affliction. Acne is not excluded from this. | | | | All that it generally consists of is blowing small |
| Why are they not conventional treatments yet? | | | | crystals onto the skin of the affected area. |
| Well, while the techniques and treatments that | | | | How does that help? Well, it sort of polishes the |
| we're going to be discussing here have all shown a | | | | surface of the skin clean, removing clogs and |
| lot of promise, the result is still out on their | | | | clearing dead skin cells in the process. Once these |
| effectiveness as a whole. | | | | are vacuumed up, some acne will undoubtedly be |
| It's not like you're going to be a mouse lab for | | | | cleared. |
| some experiments. In fact, some of the | | | | When used together with other topical-type |
| treatments you'll find here have mild side effects, | | | | treatments, such as benzoyl peroxide products, it |
| if any. So you'll be in a no-risk situation when that | | | | has proven to be very useful. |
| is the case. | | | | In addition to polishing the skin surface, it makes |
| Violet Light Therapy (Blue and Red Light Therapy) | | | | the skin more susceptible to acne treatments of |
| Some people call it violet light therapy or Blue and | | | | the topical type, meaning that you could very well |
| Red Light Therapy. | | | | see vastly increased results from regular |
| The idea that visible light can actually help rid acne | | | | treatment. |
| is still relatively new, and it was only at the start | | | | For those for whom the conventional treatments |
| of this century that it started to be used as a | | | | just don't seem to cut it, this is a very viable |
| new acne treatment option. | | | | alternative that doesn't expose you to any |
| How exactly it works is slightly complicated | | | | additional risk. |
| though, but let's just say that violet light of a | | | | As always, it would be wise to consult a doctor, |
| particular intensity can actually end up creating | | | | particularly a dermatologist, before getting into |
| free radicals that go to work destroying bacteria. | | | | anything. While it is relatively harmless, playing it |
| In order to be successful, these treatments need | | | | safe doesn't hurt. |
| to be applied often. Best results obviously occur | | | | Chemical Peels |
| during daily treatments, but otherwise even | | | | Instead of the high-tech microdermabrasion, |
| twice-weekly is acceptable, but don't expect to | | | | chemical peels are an easier and cheaper |
| see great results as quickly. | | | | alternative that works around the same sort of |
| The advantages of light therapy of this kind are | | | | principle. |
| pretty clear cut, as they offer no side effects | | | | Through certain chemicals, particularly glycolic or |
| whatsoever, and by all indications, are just as | | | | salicylic acid (that are sometimes even included in |
| effective, or more effective, than benzoyl | | | | benzoyl peroxide products, if you remember), |
| peroxide treatments,the statistics even show that | | | | chemical peels can help remove blackheads and |
| the results are longer lived than benzoyl peroxide. | | | | whiteheads. |
| Needless to say, this is very appealing, but the | | | | Also, just like microdermabrasion, these chemicals |
| downside is the costs which can be prohibitive, as | | | | can remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, |
| well as the fact that most insurance schemes | | | | leaving the skin ready and more open to other |
| don't cover the costs. Put into perspective | | | | topical treatments. |
| though, the overall cost Is actually quite close, and | | | | Still, there is a downside. |
| you'd probably end up spending as much on a | | | | Unlike microdermabrasion with its nonexistent |
| continuous supply of benzoyl peroxide to apply as | | | | adverse effects, chemical peels often come with |
| you would on a light therapy treatment. | | | | the risk of several undesirable side effects. |
| Definitely consult a doctor before you either | | | | In the mildest cases, this could consist of |
| purchase the equipment yourself, or sign on for a | | | | something as harmless as skin redness. |
| treatment program. | | | | Unfortunately, in more severe cases it can even |
| Diode Laser Treatment | | | | cause blisters, scaling, scarring, and infections. |
| On the more high-tech front, lasers are now | | | | Thus it may actually end up worsening the |
| slowly being employed to treat acne.This is not a | | | | condition of your skin, instead of bettering it. |
| widely used form of treatment, but it is one that | | | | Cheaper as it is, the question that you want to |
| seems to show a lot of promise amidst the | | | | ask yourself is whether or not it is worthwhile |
| controversy regarding it. | | | | paying less for the additional risk. |
| For quite some time now, lasers have been used | | | | Bottom line is: Consult your doctor, and have him |
| to remove scars, but when treating acne itself, | | | | or her advise you on how to proceed, as well as |
| the approach is slightly different. | | | | recommend where it would be best for you to |
| Instead of simply reducing scars, the laser is used | | | | have this treatment carried out. |
| to destroy the sebaceous glands in the skin, thus | | | | Summing Up the New Acne Treatments |
| preventing oil from being produced. Additionally, it | | | | As you can see there are some exciting new |
| could also even destroy the follicle sac from which | | | | acne treatments that are currently available. With |
| hair grows, or even kill off bacteria. | | | | all the advances that seem to be made, it is |
| The downsides of using lasers are painful, and it | | | | entirely possible that one, or more, of these |
| can damage the skin on a more permanent basis. | | | | treatments will actually end up being the easy, |
| Slight damage may just cause redness or swelling, | | | | painless, and one-size-fits-all cure for acne that so |
| but there are concerns that it will cause even | | | | many people long for. |
| more long-term dryness of the skin. | | | | Till then though, in their existing form they still |
| While the pain factor can be lessened by using | | | | represent a nice selection of new options for you |
| analgesics, the price tag is slightly harder to beat. | | | | to work your way through. |
| Right now, laser treatment for acne is still very | | | | Sure, the price of most of these new acne |
| much experimental, but the hope is that | | | | treatments is a big hurdle to cross for many of |
| eventually the protocols and hiccups in this | | | | us - and if you don't really want to be spending |
| treatment will be solved. Till then, it is best to only | | | | so much on your acne treatment, it is completely |
| consider it when a doctor specifically advises it. | | | | understandable. |
| Microdermabrasion | | | | Which is why, sometimes looking at the past is |
| Despite the fact that it sounds very foreboding, | | | | just as good, or better, than looking to the future. |