BlueLight Acne Treatments
What causes acne?
Acne occurs when the oil produced by sebaceous glands does
not reach the surface of the skin but is trapped in tiny pores or follicles.
This plug may close off the pore, causing the follicle wall to bulge, which
creates a whitehead. If the pore stays open, the top surface of the plug may
become darkened, causing a blackhead. In both cases, the bacteria P. acnes
thrives in the clogged follicles. When the bacteria and pus leak from the follicle
into the surrounding tissue, pimples are formed.
Why is it so hard to control?
Unfortunately, acne is something most of us have
experienced at one time or another. As many as three out of four teenagers
have experienced it to some extent. It is most prevalent during adolescence
because hormonal changes stimulate the sebaceous glands (oil glands) into producing
more sebum (oil), increasing the chance of acne. While most people outgrow
acne in their late teens or early twenties, many continue to be affected much
longer. Aggravation of acne in later life may occur with menstrual periods,
use of birth control pills, use of oil-based products and stress.
Treating acne
In the past, treatments for moderate acne have included topical
antibacterials and antibiotics, oral antibiotics, Retin-A™, Accutane™,
astringents and exfoliants.
You may have heard that “blackheads are dirt”; “only
teens have acne”; “junk foods cause acne”; or “it
will just go away by itself”. These and other myths have prevented many
from seeking the appropriate acne treatment for years. Now there is a safer,
easier way to treat acne.
BLUE Light – the
new way to treat moderate acne
Your doctor may say treatments previously mentioned
are not right for your acne. BLUE Light PhotoDynamic Therapy is now FDA-approved
for the treatment of moderate acne and may be the treatment for you.
How does
BLUE Light work?
The BLUE Light PhotoDynamic Therapy kills the P. acnes bacteria
in your skin. The BLUE Light can be administered alone or in conjunction with
a topical application of ALA, or Levulan® (aminolevulinic acid), for the
treatment of acne vulgaris. Studies show that BLUE Light provides treatment
for both active lesions and other inactive sebaceous glands that are not creating
active lesions. Pretreatment with topical ALA may offer additional reduction
of lesions, pustules, and papules.
What are the treatments like?
Patients receiving BLUE Light only will simply
sit in front of the BLUE Light delivery system for about sixteen minutes. Treatments
are spaced at weekly intervals. The number of your treatments, your treatment
time and your treatment interval may vary with the severity of your acne.
Patients
receiving the topical application of ALA with their BLUE Light treatment sit
with the ALA solution on for about thirty minutes, then sit in front of the
BLUE Light delivery system for about eight minutes. Treatments are spaced two
weeks apart. The number of your treatments, your treatment time and your treatment
intervals may vary with the severity of your acne.
Are there any side effects?
Unlike other topical treatments, treatments with BLUE Light and ALA have shown
minimal adverse side effects or patient discomfort. The BLUE Light treatments
are gentle and do not harm surrounding tissues.
What results can I expect?
After two to four weekly treatments, most patients experience a reduction
in the severity of their acne and a reduction in the number of pustules and
papules. Studies have shown that the application of ALA, in conjunction with
BLUE Light treatments, also provides long term resolution of hyperactive sebaceous
glands.
Are you ready to treat your moderate acne? Schedule a private consultation
with our doctor to see what we can do for you.
This information is intended to supplement, not replace, a consultation with a board certified physician. To
find out if you could be a candidate for one of these procedures
or to learn more information about these procedures, we invite you
to contact one of our doctors for a private consultation.
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B & A photos may not be patients of the doctor featured in this
web site.
Your results may differ. Copyright • 2002 • MJD Patient
Communications
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prohibited.
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