TREAT ACNE, SCARS WITH LIGHT

Acne and its scars treated with modern forms of light. This is Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, Speaking of Health. According to the American Academy of Dermatology -- which represents over 14,000 dermatologists worldwide -- “acne is the most commonly diagnosed skin disorder in the US, topping the list of reasons that patients seek out the help of a dermatologist.” And as long as people have had acne they’ve known that sunlight often lessens it.

Today the dermatologist can harness a variety of indoor light sources to help acne. Some are lasers with names like Cooltouch™ and Smoothbeam™ can reduce the sebaceous glands’ abilities to promote acne; and also affect the ability of skin bacteria to worsen acne. Non-laser light sources with names like Clearlight™, Blu-U™, and Quantum™, sometimes in association with new, treatment-enhancing skin medicines, can greatly improve acne in just a few treatments.

If acne has already left its mark on the face, some of these or other light-based devices can pump energy into the skin, cause sub-surface changes that can make scarring less obvious, improving texture and color.

Now many adolescents and adults with acne do well with medications alone. And the newer light based treatments may not be covered by insurance and out of the family’s price range or unavailable in a given locality. But, if acne is more to you or yours than a mild nuisance, ask your dermatologist if one of the newer treatments can cast that acne in a whole new light. Speaking of Health, I’m Dr. Steven Andrew Davis, for CBS News.

Ref: “Acne Patients Seeing the Light: New Laser Therapy prevents acne from graduating to scars.” American Academy of Dermatology. Press release Feb 9, 2004.

E-Mail drdavis@davishealth.com

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Dr. Steve Davis
7810 Louis Pasteur #200
San Antonio, Texas 78229
210/614-3355

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