Combined Phototherapy Applications for Acne

Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands of the hair follicle associated with overproduction of sebaceous glands, hyperkeratosis of the ductal epithelium, proliferation of acne-causing bacteria, and inflammatory factors.

The rash is predominantly in sebaceous gland-rich areas, such as the face , chest and back; it appears as pimples, papules, pustules, nodules and cysts; the rash is recurrent, and some patients with acne develop atrophic scars (pimples) and hypertrophic keloids due to heavy inflammation.

Acne often leads to low self-esteem, depression and even loss of confidence in life, so it needs to be treated as soon as possible, without delay. Treatment is based on local cleansing, a light diet, and a treatment plan that depends on the severity of the rash. Traditional treatments include topical medications (antibiotics) and systemic oral medications (retinoids). The former has the disadvantage of slow and poor efficacy, while the latter has some systemic adverse effects.

Therefore, photoelectric combined repair product therapy is currently the most common and effective treatment for acne and the atrophic scarring it causes, and I will give you an analysis of each of these treatments.

The most effective acne treatments

LED red and blue light therapy

Among the many factors that contribute to the development of acne, infection with the bacterium Propionibacterium acnes is one of the major ones. The metabolites of P. acnes contain porphyrins, which absorb light to form free singlet oxygen, which is highly active and kills bacteria. The peak absorption of porphyrins is at 415nm, which is in the wavelength range of blue LED light. Red light is less effective, but the wavelength of red light penetrates deeper into the skin.

Therefore, a combination of alternating red and blue light therapy with 2% salicylic acid will work particularly well.

A quasi-monochromatic semiconductor device that uses alternating red and blue light (633nm for red light and 470nm for blue light) is preferred because of the yellow skin tone. For about 4 weeks of treatment, blue light can be applied for 10 minutes, then 2% salicylic acid can be applied, and red light can be applied for about 7 minutes. After the last treatment, a VISIA 7 skin test can be used to evaluate the results with the pre-treatment results, and give the client a satisfactory answer based on the decrease in the number of inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne.

IPL intense pulse light

Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) uses a xenon lamp to emit a spectrum of visible and near-infrared light (410-1200nm) that can improve skin texture, telangiectasia, pigmentation, increase collagen, and also activate endogenous porphyrins to generate singlet oxygen and kill Propionibacterium acnes, and its photothermal effects can also promote inflammation, reduce skin inflammation, and improve microcirculation, thus playing a role in the treatment of acne.

Depending on the severity of the acne, IPL treatment can be performed using three wavelengths: 560nm/470nm/640nm. The 640nm wavelengths are effective in treating inflammatory papules, pustules and cystic acne because of their deep penetration, while the 470nm and 560nm filters are effective in treating mild to moderate acne.

CO2 fractional laser

The CO2 fractional laser emits tiny laser beams in a fractional arrangement that act on the epidermis and dermis, the CO2 fractional laser has a wavelength of 10,600nm, which is absorbed by water inside and outside the cells, resulting in vaporization of the tissue and focal photothermal effects that can damage the dermis in a controlled manner, inducing collagen formation and dermal remodeling through thermal damage reactions, thereby improving the symptoms of acne and acne-induced scarring.

If the customer's acne pits are more serious, using CO2 fractional laser energy 30mJ, pulse width 1-2ms, spacing 0.6-0.8mm, 2*2cm spot size, full-face scan, local multiple times, apply collagen mask and gel after treatment, once every three months, about 5 times of treatment, there will be especially obvious improvement effect.

In addition, CO2 fractional laser can also be combined with salicylic acid for the anti-inflammatory treatment of acne skin; using CO2 fractional laser energy 20mJ, pulse width 1ms, spot spacing 0.8-1mm, 2*2cm spot area to play out the columnar microscopic holes for the skin to open the channel, the whole face scan, and then apply 2% salicylic acid mask is very easy to be absorbed. The photothermal action combined with the anti-inflammatory power of salicylic acid is fantastic for improving inflammatory acne!

RF system

Radiofrequency technology (RF), unlike laser, has a stronger penetrating power and is a latest skin rejuvenation technology that uses electromagnetic energy to heat the dermis to a depth of 3-4mm, thereby inhibiting the excessive secretion of oil by the sebaceous glands, reducing acne inflammation, and protecting the epidermis with a low-temperature refrigerant probe.

The perfect treatment shouldn't be a single one.

1.RF combined with salicylic acid for inflammatory acne treatment

2.RF combined with CO2 fractional laser + collagen to repair acne pits.

3. IPL (E light) with RF technology for acne treatment.

4.Gold radio frequency micro-needle treatment for acne pits

The combination of oral and internal and external treatments such as these have been shown to be great for acne treatment.