|
Acne
Acne is a localized inflammation and or infection of
the pilosebaceous glands of the skin. The pores of
the skin become blocked with white heads and/or black
heads. The pores become inflamed and the bacteria propionibacterium
acnes may increase in the blocked pores and cause actual
infection. Treatments have traditionally involved removing
the whiteheads and blackheads, exfoliating the skin,
and treating the bacteria with antibiotics or other
topical bactericidal creams. Salicylic Acid topical
is usually recommend to chemically exfoliate the skin.
Many patients with active acne cannot tolerate mechanical
exfoliation with microdermabrasion. Occassionally,
a micropeel, mechanical scraping with a scapel can
be performed around the active acne lesions. The bacteria
can be killed with topical chemical agents such as
Benzoyl Peroxide or topical antibiotics. Systemic oral
antibiotics are occasionally recommended. A Vitamin
A derivative such as Retin A is very helpful for acne
control. It treats the hyperkeratinization of the pore
linings that cause the blockage with whiteheads and/or
blackheads. More severe cases may require a systemic
vitamin A derivative, Accutane, which can cause serious
side effects. Most patients find the traditional treatments
frustating, difficult to follow, and with limited effectiveness.
At Truffles, we are proud to present a most revolutionary
treatment for acne, Photodynamic
Therapy (PDT).
The face is treated with a topical medication, delta
amino levulinic acid. The medicine is left to incubate
for one hour. The incubated amino levulinic acid
is preferentially taken up by the fast growing bacteria
and sebaceous cell. The 5 amino levulinic acid (Levulan
Kerastick) is then activated with a BLU-U
light which
is in the visible light spectrum and therefore safe.
The BLU-U light contains no ultraviolet light. The
activated molecule will destroy the bacteria and
shrink the hyperactive sebaceous gland thus clearing
the acne. This may take a series of four treatments,
each spaced about 3 or 4 weeks apart. To maximize
the long term results, we recommend that patients
continue with acne washes that contain salicylic
acid and use Retin A in low doses.
PDT with BLU-U and 5 amino levulinic acid (Levulan
Kerastick) is an excellent treatment with minimal
side effects. One peer reviewed study using Levulan
Kerastick and BLU-U light reported greater than 75%
improvement in global severity score with no adverse
reactions. Disease free periods of up to 13 months
with one investigator reporting clearance of moderate
to severe acne for more than 2 years in 50% to 60%
of patients who had 3 treatments.
|
