Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disease of the sebaceous units of the hair follicles. It mainly occurs in adolescents and has a great psychological and social impact on them, but it can often be naturally reduced or cured after puberty. Clinical manifestations are characterized by polymorphic lesions such as acne, papules, pustules, and nodules, which are often found on the face.
Causes of acne
1. Excessive sebum secretion
After puberty, the level of androgens in the body, especially testosterone, rises rapidly, promoting the development of sebaceous glands and producing large amounts of sebum.
2.Duct blockage
Abnormal keratinization of the hair follicle sebaceous gland ducts causes duct blockage, resulting in sebum discharge obstruction and the formation of keratin plugs, or microcomedones.
3.Propionibacterium acnes infection and secondary inflammatory reaction
A variety of microorganisms, especially Propionibacterium acnes, multiply in the hair follicle, and the lipase produced by Propionibacterium acnes decomposes sebum to generate free fatty acids to stimulate epithelial hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis at the opening of the hair follicle sebaceous gland, thus blocking the sebum secretion channel.
4.Other
It is related to genetics, immunity, endocrine disorders, emotions and diet.
Acne treatment methods
1, Daily care
Wash your face with warm water once or twice a day to clean the skin. Avoid squeezing or scratching the lesions with your hands. Avoid using oily and powder cosmetics and ointments and creams containing glucocorticoids.
2.Common methods of acne treatment
(1) Topical topical drugs Vitamin A acid (Vitamin A acid cream, adapalene gel, tazarotene gel), benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics (clindamycin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, etc.), azelaic acid, sulfur lotion, etc.
(2) Oral antibiotics The first choice is tetracyclines (minocycline, doxycycline, etc.), followed by macrolides (erythromycin), avoiding antibiotics commonly used to treat systemic infections such as levofloxacin. The antibiotic course is usually 6 to 12 weeks.
(3) Oral isotretinoin For severe acne, oral isotretinoin is the standard of care and is currently the most effective treatment for acne. The course of treatment is aimed at achieving a minimum cumulative dose of 60 mg/kg.
(4) Anti-androgen therapy Such as the oral contraceptive compound cyproterone acetate tablets for women with moderate or severe acne with manifestations of excessive androgen levels (such as hirsutism, seborrhea, etc.) or polycystic ovary syndrome. The application of oral contraceptives may also be considered for female patients with late-onset acne and pre-menstrual acne that is significantly aggravated.
(5) Oral glucocorticosteroids are mainly used for fulminant or coalescing acne, following the principle of short-term, low-dose, combined application with other methods.
Regardless of the treatment method used, maintenance treatment should be continued after the lesions have subsided significantly. Topical retinoids are preferred and maintenance treatment should be given for 6 to 12 months, and benzoyl peroxide can be combined if necessary.
III. LED red and blue light treatment for acne
Principle: Using LED output narrow spectrum 415nm narrow spectrum blue light, almost all the energy of high purity blue light effectively acts on the target acne bacillus, which in turn clears the acne from the skin. The course of treatment is 4 weeks, and for severe cases, a second course of treatment may be recommended, performed twice a week for 20 minutes each time, without causing skin burning or causing discomfort.
Advantages of LED-powered red and blue light for acne treatment
1, Directly attack the root cause – Remove the reproduction conditions of acne bacteria and mites on the skin surface, inhibit acne regeneration from the source, and achieve the ideal acne removal effect.
2, high safety – cold light source, which does not produce thermal effects, will not induce skin inflammation. The laser beam is highly targeted, and it only destroys the bacteria that induce acne, without affecting the normal skin tissue, leaving no scars or bleeding after treatment.
3. Multiple effects – Not only can it treat stubborn acne and pimples, it can also reduce pores, brighten skin tone, regulate skin oil secretion, and improve excessive skin oil production.
Four, Ira photodynamic acne treatment
ALA photodynamic therapy, also known as ALA-PDT, is a new technology that selectively destroys Propionibacterium acnes and repairs the skin through a photodynamic reaction by combining the application of 5-aminoketovaleric acid and the corresponding light source. First, a colorless, odorless, and non-irritating photosensitizer is applied to the acne-prone area and then a photosensitive hanging eardrum is used to cover the light, resting for 1-2 hours like a mask on a regular basis, allowing the photosensitizer to slowly and fully penetrate into the hair follicles and sebaceous glands of the onset, followed by irradiation with specific red light, with the therapist selecting individualized treatment parameters that vary from person to person. The photochemical reaction occurs at the site of the disease, directly killing Propionibacterium acnes, inhibiting sebum production, anti-inflammatory, and promoting collagen synthesis and repair. This is a normal reaction to photodynamic therapy. After the treatment, the redness and burning sensation will gradually disappear. Each photodynamic treatment process takes about 3 hours. 10-15 days to do once, most patients can do 3 times to achieve more satisfactory results, some serious patients need several consecutive treatments to achieve satisfactory results. After each treatment, you need to protect yourself from the sun for 2-3 days and minimize going out between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Elar Photodynamic Therapy for acne is suitable for
Patients with moderate to severe acne with mainly papules, pustules and nodules; refractory acne that has not been treated with various treatments; acne patients with underlying diseases such as gastrointestinal diseases and poor liver and kidney function; acne patients who are growing and developing and allergic to antibiotics.
Effectiveness and advantages of Ira Photodynamic versus other treatments
1, Fast, safe, no side effects, no nausea, depression, thirst, etc. with local treatment compared to systemic treatment (oral medication) programs
2, reduce sebum secretion, contribute to the self-inflammation, to achieve the rapid elimination of acne and acne marks
3.Reducing pores, reducing pigmentation, and smoothing out fine wrinkles
4.Enhance skin elasticity, make the skin smooth and moist
5. The treatment process is gentle and non-irritating, and patients feel comfortable, and the treatment is fast and effective.
In short, Ira Photodynamic has become the preferred treatment for moderate to severe acne. We believe that with the joint efforts of our dermatologists and you, we will be able to win the battle against acne and confidently conclude the years of acne.
What do acne patients need to do to prevent acne?
1. Adopting a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a good state of mind is the key to acne prevention.
2, pay attention to the diet more rich in high-quality protein, a variety of vitamins and minerals nutrient-rich food, especially to eat more vegetables and fruits, especially green leafy vegetables, less or no spicy food, fatty meat; to prevent constipation, to develop a good habit of regular bowel movements, and to drink more water, drink water often, do not wait for thirst, do not drink sugary carbonated drinks or strong coffee;
3, to maintain adequate sleep, to develop a good habit of early to bed and early to rise;
4, keep your face clean, wash your hands often, and prevent the bad habit of often touching your face with your hands and holding your cheeks in your hands;
5, do not squeeze with your fingers, the more you squeeze, the heavier it is, and even cause acne to fuse to form pus or abscesses, and finally leave scars.