Acne Treatments: The Next Generation
What if we could just have someone spot our break out zones with a solution, then shine a blue light on it that activates, selectively, the shrinking of oil glands and destruction of acne causing bacteria. Wouldn’t that be dandy?
We’re a good part of the way there. A substance called aminolevulinic acid combined with specific light wavelengths appears to do just that. Dusa, a pharmaceutical company that patented this technology, sells it as their (pricey) Levulan Kerastick. It comes in a tube, the ingredients are shaken vigorously together, and then applied to the skin and left to sit anywhere from a half hour to twenty-four hours before treatment.
From what I understand – and there’s only so far Chemistry for Dummies will take you – the acid is metabolized more quickly by certain parts of the skin – in this case by the oil glands and the bacteria, and this absorption amplifies the effects of the light, killing off bacteria and damaging the oil glands.
Most studies follow cases for about six months and there is, after a series of about four bi-weekly or monthly treatments, a significant decrease in acneic lesions and oil production.
The reason why this raised a hoot and holler when I read about it is that there’s really nothing else out there that can do this besides Accutane (decrease oil production, that is)– and what a comparatively non-invasive alternative! I spoke to doctors who use it and there is guarded optimism - they see it as a distant second place to Accutane as far as effectiveness in treating serious acne, but at least now we have a second place.
Downsides? You betcha. The solution makes the skin very sensitive to light – so much so that you need to shun sunlight altogether for 24 hours after using it (the longer it is left on the skin the more aggressive the treatment). And not just sunlight. Any light, even indoor light, can cause the skin to react. Also, treatments may leave you red and peeling. It’s not systemic like Accutane, so for people who have acne on their chest and backs it would be a much more expensive treatment – which brings us to price. It is not likely to be covered by insurance, and the Levulan Kerastick is expensive for doctors, so it will be expensive for all. Probably about $300 to $400 a treatment, and remember it will take several treatments.
There’s also the amount of time that acne will be kept at bay after a treatment series – no one knows really. A six month to yearly top-up would probably be needed.
Its early days of this new technology and no doubt effectiveness will increase as doctors share their results. And as the Levulan Kerastick was originally developed for a completely different skin condition, who knows what other happy accidents are out there waiting to happen…
