Light and Laser Acne Treatments: What's New in Acne and Acne Scar Removal
Acne Causes
Acne generally appears during puberty and is one of the many changes the body undergoes because of this period. One of the results of some of these changes is hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands. This leads to the secretion of excess sebum, a natural oil that, in normal quantities, moistens and protects the skin. If sebum cannot flow smoothly to the skin surface (due to excess production or follicle blockage), the dermis is injured. This injury to the dermis sets off an inflammatory reaction that forms the lesions and redness typically associated with acne. If the pore becomes clogged, sebum is forced to collect within the follicle, forming an environment that propagates bacteria.
Such infections place heavy demands upon the skin's natural components and structures, especially when acne is severe. Areas affected by frequent acne infections develop deficiencies in essential skin components, making it difficult for the body to properly defend itself as well as heal.
Acne lesions, because of the body's overzealous inflammatory response, destroy the skin proteins collagen and elastin, severs the microvascular system, and damages and/or kills other cells. If this reaction isn't moderated and damage is allowed to happen within the dermis, it can cause scarring.
There are two main types of scarring that are resultant of acne. Atrophic scarring refers to those caused by a loss of tissue, appearing as divots or depressions in the skin. Since acne commonly damages and sometimes obliterates important skin proteins and structures, atrophic scarring is expected. Although not occurring as often, hypertrophic and keloid scars can also result from acne. In both hypertrophic scars and keloids, one sees an excess of tissue. Quickly constructed scar tissue consists of collagen fibers. In both types of scarring, the normal functional tissue (skin) is replaced by connective tissue (scar) to close the wound.
How to Get Rid of Spots from Acne Using These New Acne Treatments
Light Therapy
Light therapy for acne, also phototherapy, treats acne by killing the acne-causing bacteria Propionibacterium acnes. High intensity blue light and pulsed light and head energy (LHE) are the two types of phototherapy currently being used to treat acne. In addition, LHE therapy has also been found to shrink sebaceous glands, reducing the amount of pore-clogging sebum produced.
Laser Acne Treatments
Although lasers have been utilized in the last half century for medical purposes, we are just now seeing its use in acne skin care. Today, there are two kinds of laser acne treatments. One works similarly to light therapy, where it treats acne by killing P. acnes and reducing sebaceous gland size. The second therapy is focused on removing the scars caused by it.
Laser skin resurfacing, the latter, eliminates skin layer by layer, effectively removing the topmost portion of scars. This controlled elimination of skin promotes healing and assists in more rapidly replacing damaged skin with healthy tissue. Also, the heat of the laser causes the skin to tighten, resulting in smoother scars. The lasers used in skin resurfacing are the carbon dioxide laser or the Erbium:YAG.
Acne generally appears during puberty and is one of the many changes the body undergoes because of this period. One of the results of some of these changes is hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands. This leads to the secretion of excess sebum, a natural oil that, in normal quantities, moistens and protects the skin. If sebum cannot flow smoothly to the skin surface (due to excess production or follicle blockage), the dermis is injured. This injury to the dermis sets off an inflammatory reaction that forms the lesions and redness typically associated with acne. If the pore becomes clogged, sebum is forced to collect within the follicle, forming an environment that propagates bacteria.
Such infections place heavy demands upon the skin's natural components and structures, especially when acne is severe. Areas affected by frequent acne infections develop deficiencies in essential skin components, making it difficult for the body to properly defend itself as well as heal.
Acne lesions, because of the body's overzealous inflammatory response, destroy the skin proteins collagen and elastin, severs the microvascular system, and damages and/or kills other cells. If this reaction isn't moderated and damage is allowed to happen within the dermis, it can cause scarring.
There are two main types of scarring that are resultant of acne. Atrophic scarring refers to those caused by a loss of tissue, appearing as divots or depressions in the skin. Since acne commonly damages and sometimes obliterates important skin proteins and structures, atrophic scarring is expected. Although not occurring as often, hypertrophic and keloid scars can also result from acne. In both hypertrophic scars and keloids, one sees an excess of tissue. Quickly constructed scar tissue consists of collagen fibers. In both types of scarring, the normal functional tissue (skin) is replaced by connective tissue (scar) to close the wound.
How to Get Rid of Spots from Acne Using These New Acne Treatments
Light Therapy
Light therapy for acne, also phototherapy, treats acne by killing the acne-causing bacteria Propionibacterium acnes. High intensity blue light and pulsed light and head energy (LHE) are the two types of phototherapy currently being used to treat acne. In addition, LHE therapy has also been found to shrink sebaceous glands, reducing the amount of pore-clogging sebum produced.
Laser Acne Treatments
Although lasers have been utilized in the last half century for medical purposes, we are just now seeing its use in acne skin care. Today, there are two kinds of laser acne treatments. One works similarly to light therapy, where it treats acne by killing P. acnes and reducing sebaceous gland size. The second therapy is focused on removing the scars caused by it.
Laser skin resurfacing, the latter, eliminates skin layer by layer, effectively removing the topmost portion of scars. This controlled elimination of skin promotes healing and assists in more rapidly replacing damaged skin with healthy tissue. Also, the heat of the laser causes the skin to tighten, resulting in smoother scars. The lasers used in skin resurfacing are the carbon dioxide laser or the Erbium:YAG.
About the Author:
Laser resurfacing acne treatment works well on shallow scars as well as those that need to be smoothed out or tightened.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment