Ways and Means of Acne Control
Every problem, when it becomes chronic, demands an approach quite different from the one it demands when it is in an early stage. So treatment of a chronic acne problem can be quite different from a mild one. Or, some people, because of their psychological reaction to the condition, may require a different type of acne help. Or acne cure may be different based on the type of acne.
One of the common forms of acne cure, which has been in use for pretty long, is exposing the affected area to ultraviolent light. The light kills the acne-causing bacterium known as ‘propionibacterium acnes.’ The downside of this treatment is the purported carcinogenic properties of UV, which made people cautious of using it for acne cure.
There are other light sources like the blue light and LHE that are acne remedies and these do not have the carcinogenic problem.
Blue Light for acne cure
Exposure to blue light is considered comparatively safe because it contains very little of UV light. Blue light also works by killing the acne-causing bacterium. Its negative effect as acne cure is that it makes the skin dry.
Complete acne cure was reported in some cases by the use of the blue light, and inflammatory lesions came down in the case of 59% to 67% of users. There was an overall 40% decrease of lesions. Blue light may not be the best acne treatment for chronic or sever acne, but is quite effective on the rest. Treatment period is generally a month with light exposure twice a week.
Light Heat Energy
LHE, or light heat energy, also affects acne cure by killing the bacteria. LHE also tends to make the skin dry by depleting the natural oil of the skin. Extra skin oil, or sebum, in the skin is believed to make a setting that is highly conducive to acne formation. LHE depletes oil secretion by shrinking sebaceous glands.
LHE, where the light is green colored, is an approved FDA treatment for acne cure. Like blue light, this too has a schedule of twice a week sittings for one month. Inflammatory acne and non-inflammatory acne were seen responding well to LHE treatment.
Drugs are also used for acne control but drugs may take two to three months to show results. Sometimes drug treatment and light treatment are done side by side for acne control.
5-aminolevulinic acid
5-aminolevulinic acid, or ALA, has no effect as a direct acne cure, but it is applied on the affected area when a patient is undergoing light treatment because it increases the skin’s sensitivity to light. It can be applied for anything from 15 minutes to one hour, while the area is exposed to the required light source. Studies conducted so far has pronounced it to be effective and without side effects.
Laser treatment
Laser treatment is yet another method for acne control. There are laser beams of different wavelengths and those used for acne cure should ideally produce waves of 1450 nanometers, which is one billionth of one meter.
Laser treatment has been adjudged to be safe, and produces good results. One course of treatment was found to bring down acne lesions by 40% and two subsequent treatments brought down lesions to 60% and 80% respectively. Since the treatment can be slightly painful, some local anesthetic is used in this method of acne control.
The best way to get rid of acne is to use some effective acne cure creams that have been manufactured by specialized companies. You can buy these acne lotions online and use the cream in the comfort and privacy of your own home.
