Emerging and Effective Therapies for Clearer Skin

Sometimes the acne treatments that you have been using just are not effective. There are some people who have acne that just does not respond to the available creams and medications. There are emerging therapies that are new, but showing promise for hard-to-treat cases of acne. These are generally used on those who do not have results with traditional treatments.

Blue Light Therapy

Low-intensity blue light is thought to help in destroying P. acnes. There is an even newer technology available that uses both blue light and a red light and this is thought to be even more effective. Ongoing treatment is generally necessary and the procedure itself is painless. Possible side effects may include temporary dryness and redness.

Diode Laser Therapy

This type of therapy works to destroy the dermis' sebaceous glands. However, the outer layer of skin is not harmed. This therapy may be painful so topical analgesics are generally used to help calm the potential pain. Temporary swelling and redness are possible side effects.

Pulse Light and Heat Energy Therapy

This therapy works to do sort of what both of the above therapies do. It shrinks the sebaceous glands and is believed to destroy P. acnes. When the sebaceous glands are shrunk, the production of oil is reduced. Temporary redness is possible.

Photodynamic Therapy

This therapy is a combination of light-based therapies and topical medications. During this therapy, the effects of light therapy will be enhanced by a type of medication known as a photosensitizing agent. Next, a pulsed, blue, red light is done. There are possible side effects such as swelling, redness, acne flare-ups and crusting.

Photopneumatic Therapy

With this therapy, dead skin cells and oil are removed using vacuum suction. They are removed from the sebaceous glands. Next, a red and blue light therapy is administered to reduce inflammation and destroy P. acnes.

Steroid Injections

If you have cysts or nodules, steroid injections may be discussed with you by your healthcare professional. This is a very effective treatment, taking an average of two to four days for results. There are possible complications though. These may include small blood vessels appearing on the skin's surface, thinning of the skin and the skin turning lighter than it normally is.

Steroids are not generally used as a single treatment option, but as an occasional or temporary fix for lesions that are stubborn. The potential complications prevent steroids from being a regular treatment option.