How Laser Therapy Can Treat Acne?

Last updated on July 27, 2023

Why do some people continue to suffer from acne well past their teenage years?

Although acne is often associated with teenagers due to the hormonal changes that take place during puberty, it is actually very common in adults as well. In fact, it is the most common skin disease, with up to 85% of Australians being affected by acne during their lifetime.

WHAT CAUSES ACNE?

The sebaceous (oil-producing) glands within the skin’s pores produce sebum, which is normal for skin protection and development. But when excessive sebum is produced it can combine with the dead skin cells and bacteria already present on the skin, causing the pores to become clogged. This is how acne develops.

The condition usually starts during puberty due to natural hormonal changes that cause the enlargement of the sebaceous glands and production of excessive sebum.

A combination of factors can cause acne to occur more excessively in some individuals than others. These include:

Medications (such as the contraceptive pill)
Health and hormonal conditions
The menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause
Mental factors such as depression and high stress levels
Certain cosmetics and moisturisers
Diet (excessive consumption of dairy products, meat protein, sugars)
Genetics

WHAT DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACNE EXIST?

Acne commonly occurs in the following varieties:

Whiteheads – These are formed when the follicle becomes clogged with excess sebum and dead skin cells, creating small blemishes with a white “head”.
Blackheads – These occur when the debris inside the clogged pore becomes oxidised, causing a black appearance; they are “open”, while whiteheads are “closed”.
Papules – These are characterised by skin inflammation and irritation, as well as the absence of pus. They are caused by the presence of bacteria, sebum and dead skin cells under the skin, and can be very painful.
Pustules – These are similar to papules, except they contain whitish pus causing them to look a lot bigger and “angrier”. They may also be quite painful.
Severe acne (nodules, cysts, acne conglobata) – These are large, inflamed blemishes that are long-lasting and indicate a deeper, more severe skin condition.

WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE A LASER TREATMENT?

The dermal clinicians at EST Clinic recommend that laser treatments be combined with other treatments and products in a series to generate the best results for acne. While laser is an effective and rejuvenating solution for the skin, a multi-modality approach to acne is usually the most practical.

Laser is utilised not only in aiding the treatment of acne, but can also help to clear acne side effects. For example, Laser Toning is very effective in treating brown marks (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) left behind by acne on the skin, while Gold Toning treats post-acne redness.

Laser therapy works in one of two ways:

By heating the sebaceous glands, causing them to shrink and produce less oil without affecting the outer layers of skin;
By creating oxygen within the clogged pore to destroy the acne bacteria. Sebum levels and acne symptoms will be reduced.

The treatment is generally more effective in preventing papules and pustules than non-inflammatory acne (whiteheads and blackheads) and severe acne. As well as minimising the occurrence of acne, it will also minimise any dark superficial scars, resulting in brighter, clearer skin.

EST Clinic offers Revital laser treatment, which delivers light deep into the skin to destroy acne bacteria and reduce both the size of the sebaceous glands and the appearance of large pores. The heat created by the light also regenerates collagen, improving skin firmness and tone.

The number of treatments required will depend on the condition of the skin being treated. It is suitable for those with low pain threshold and there is no down time – you can expect to return to your usual activities immediately after treatment.

For more information or to book a consultation, contact EST Clinic Melbourne on (03) 9650 6085.