Phototherapy for Acne
Acne may have
persisted for thousands of years and still continues to plague mankind
today, but modern advances in technology are providing us with new and
innovative methods of dealing with this persistent skin affliction.
Sunlight has long been perceived as a potent way of treating acne, as
it is supposed to be antibacterial, and the ultraviolet spectrum also
apparently has beneficial effects on acne comedones.
However, long-term exposure to sunlight causes skin cancer and other
skin damage, rendering any form of sun-based treatment non-viable.
Consequently, scientists sought a means of isolating the beneficial
elements of sunlight from the harmful aspects, and reproducing it
artificially, so that it could serve as a new form of treatment.
What they discovered was that the visible violet light at the edge of
the spectrum of sunlight causes an effect that destroys bacteria and makes
it impossible for bacteria to fester in the affected area.
All they needed to do now was duplicate that specific effect, beaming
that specific quality of light at an acne outbreak to remedy the condition.
Fortunately, they succeeded, and the revolutionary treatment known as
phototherapy, or intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy emerged.
Deep penetrating light
therapy over a period of several consecutive days has been demonstrated in
studies to reduce bacteria accumulating in skin follicles by as much as 99.9
percent, due to the rapid oxygen infusion caused by the light.
The treatment takes about 3 months to show distinct improvement.
Research comparing it to substances such as benzoyl peroxide has
shown that it is superior in performance, and is less likely to cause
adverse effects on one’s skin.
Generally, phototherapy treatment is considered safe except for those rare
individuals who are particularly sensitive to light, though eye protection
during the therapy is still recommended to avoid damaging the retinas
through accidental exposure.
Recently, laboratory
studies have revealed that the reason for the effectiveness of phototherapy
lies not with its ability to eradicated bacteria, as earlier proposed, but
in the fact that it suppresses the activity of certain cells, known as
Langerhans cells, within the skin.
Langerhans cells form part of the body’s immune response, reacting to
the presence of foreign agents by activating other immune cells to attack
the alien organisms. This
reaction, particularly of white blood cells against bacteria, is considered
a primary step in the formation of acne lesions.
Consequently, by suppressing the Langerhans cells or decreasing their
number, the immune response against bacteria in the follicles is lessened,
and acne outbreaks are prevented or minimized.
Thus, it appears that, while phototherapy does have some effect on
the bacterial infections that precede acne, it is more integral in reducing
the body’s immune response, so that inflamed acne lesions do not arise.
On a related note, phototherapy seems to be much more effective
against inflammatory acne, such as pustules and nodules, and does little to
alleviate non-inflammatory acne, such as whiteheads and blackheads.
Whichever way you look
at it, what is clear is that phototherapy provides a decent alternative to
conventional acne treatments, and the technology behind it can only improve
with the passage of time.
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