"Acne treatment has become easier to treat in recent years with lasers and special polarized light devices."
Dermatologist Sofia Symeonidou spoke to the newspaper VIMAGAZINO about acne:
"Acne is of one of the most common skin disease, people visit the dermatologist and though it is not a serious threat to human life, it can cause low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety’’.
Over 75% of adolescents and young adults will experience acne at some point and very often people in their 40s or even 50s will continue to have this problem.
It is a disease of the sebaceous glands. Excess secretion of sebum and change in the composition of its lipids are observed, as well as obstruction of the excretory duct of the sebaceous gland. Responsible for these changes are the androgens (blood hormones) and bacteria that infect the skin (P. acnes).
Treatment varies depending on the severity of the disease and patient's age. Treatments used to date, include topical preparations such as azelaic acid, topical antibiotics, retinoids, as well as oral medications such as antibiotics, isotretinoin, contraceptives, spironolactone. In addition, chemical peeling treatments, comedones cleansing, cyst opening with concomitant cortisone infusion are used.
In recent years, lasers and special polarized light devices have been increasingly used to treat acne. Their action is similar to that of isotretinoin, without its known side effects. They achieve reduction of P. acnes and shrinkage of the sebaceous gland. Their use is contraindicated in people with photoallergy, suffering from diseases that become worse by the sun exposure (e.g. systemic lupus erythematosus) or are being treated with drugs that cause photosensitivity.
The treatment is safe, short and very well tolerated by patients. It creates a mild redness, which is restored within the next few days. These sessions are repetitive and are usually combined with other topical treatments. In addition, the lasers used to treat acne also have anti-aging properties because they promote the synthesis of collagen making these treatments excellent in people with acne> 35 years old.
In some cases, in addition to light sources, we use photosensitive substances, which are applied to the skin 30-60 minutes before exposure to the light source. Patients experience redness and sometimes flaking, which gradually subsides. After the session, the use of sunscreen is necessary, as well as to avoid sun exposure for 24-48 hours.
The need to implement treatments with less systemic side effects has led to the incorporation of lasers and other light devices in the treatment of acne. Undoubtedly, for the treatment of this persistent disease, combination treatments are those that are applied in daily practice and give the best results. "