Laser Treatment for Acne

If you’re struggling with persistent acne breakouts, you’re not alone. Laser therapy offers an advanced solution that effectively targets and treats active acne, providing clearer, healthier-looking skin. Unlike traditional topical treatments, laser therapy can penetrate deeper layers of the skin, offering more lasting results. At Schweiger Dermatology Group, whether you’re dealing with mild, moderate, or severe acne, our laser treatments can be tailored to your acne needs and goals.

Treating Severe and Persistent Acne

Severe, persistent acne can be frustrating, to say the least. Whether from genetics, an outbreak caused by C. acnes, hormones, or another cause, acne can be painful and leave scars that change the look and feel of the skin. The good news is that an acne specialist can treat severe and persistent acne. Laser treatments are recommended for those with stubborn acne, particularly when other methods have proven ineffective.

What To Expect During a Laser Procedure for Acne

Patients can expect a relatively quick and straightforward procedure during a laser treatment for active acne. After cleansing the skin, your dermatology provider will apply a cooling gel to protect the skin’s surface. The laser device is then carefully moved over the affected areas, emitting pulses of light that penetrate the skin to target acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation.

You may feel a warm sensation or mild discomfort, often described as a rubber band snapping against the skin. The treatment typically lasts 15-30 minutes, depending on the size of the area being treated. Afterward, you might experience some redness and slight swelling, which usually subsides within a few hours to a day. Most patients can immediately return to their daily activities with minimal downtime. A series of treatments is often recommended for the best results, usually spaced a few weeks apart.

Laser Acne Treatments

Laser acne treatments come in many forms and are an excellent way to get rid of acne. Although acne often affects teens, it can also impact younger children and adults. These treatments target bacteria, helping resolve the core problem for people of all ages.

Isolaz Laser

Isolaz® laser treatment uses light and suction to target the pores and help get rid of active acne lesions, breakouts, and scars. It’s completely painless and can be done in the office. It’s used for acne on the face and acne that develops on the chest and back.

AviClear® Laser

The AviClear laser is a non-ablative laser treatment approved by the FDA. It has long-lasting effects and can be used on all skin types. It provides the exact outcome expected with oral acne medications but without the risk of the side effects those drugs can cause. The treatment targets and suppresses the sebaceous gland to reduce breakouts.

Light Therapies for Acne

Light therapies for acne might seem ineffective because they’re not invasive. However, these laser treatments work because they tackle the root causes of acne: bacteria, clogged pores, and cell turnover. The most popular light therapies to help with acne include the following.

Blue Light Therapy

Blue light therapy affects the outer layer of the skin and kills the bacteria that cause acne. By eliminating the bacteria, you will see a reduction in outbreaks and notice clearer skin more regularly. Blue light therapy works quickly and can help long term.

Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy is another to consider if you want to stimulate collagen production and reduce the appearance of scars and other damage caused by acne. Another thing to note about red light therapy is it reduces inflammation, so your skin can feel and look better.

Photodynamic Therapy

Photodynamic therapy, also called PDT for short, is a blue-light treatment combined with medications that kill the bacteria that cause acne. This procedure is a favorite of patients because it doesn’t cause any pain and is performed in the office during a short visit. Additionally, photodynamic therapy can also help improve the texture of the skin and get rid of brown or red spots caused by acne lesions.

What Light Therapy Is Best for Acne?

According to current research, blue light therapy has emerged as one of the most promising light therapies for treating acne. A 2021 study showed faster improvement with home use of a blue light device compared to placebo, showing approximately 40-50% reduction in lesions over 8-12 sessions.

Will Laser Treatment Get Rid of Acne Permanently?

Results from ablative and non-ablative laser acne treatments are generally long-lasting, but not permanent. Most patients need follow-up treatments once or twice a year to maintain results, however, improvements continue to develop weeks after the procedure. For those with mild acne, the results may be nearly 100% acne-free skin, while more severe cases may see a reduction but still have the occasional breakout. Combining laser treatment with topical creams can also improve results.

Is Laser Removal of Acne Covered By Insurance?

Light therapies for acne and laser acne treatments are two different approaches to treating acne, and their insurance coverage can vary. Light therapies for acne, such as blue light therapy or photodynamic therapy, can sometimes be covered by insurance when they are deemed medically necessary, although this is highly variable and plan-dependent. This typically occurs in cases where:

Topical acne medications or oral antibiotics have failed to control severe acne.
A dermatologist determines that light therapy is the most appropriate treatment for a patient’s specific condition.
The acne is causing significant physical or emotional distress that impacts quality of life.
There’s a risk of permanent scarring if the acne is left untreated.

However, insurance companies often view laser acne treatments differently. These treatments, which include various types of laser therapies such as CO2 and AviClear, are frequently categorized as cosmetic procedures because they are focused on improving appearance rather than a condition. They also treat acne scars which is an aesthetic concern. For any insurance-related questions, be sure to check to see what is covered by your specific plan.