Those with significant acne issues know what an impact it can have on all aspects of daily life. It can lead you to feel self-conscious and cause your self-esteem to plummet. You may even avoid social situations, affecting your relationships in a negative way.
What you may not know is that there are treatments for acne, beyond over-the-counter creams, that are convenient and effective. One of these acne treatments is Blu-Light, or simply blue light, technology. This is an innovative therapy that helps to reduce acne by targeting the bacteria that cause it. Accutane is a prescription drug used to treat acne. It can also be effective, but many prefer to turn to non-pharmacological methods of treatment. It is a good idea to understand the differences between Blu-Light acne treatments vs. Accutane in order to fully understand why blue light therapy may be the best choice.
About Blu-Light Acne Treatments
PropioniÂbacterium acnes is the bacteria that causes acne to form and leads to inflammation. Pesky bacteria are quite sensitive to blue light, though. In fact, blue light effectively kills Propionibacterium acnes in the skin’s oil glands when used to treat patients with moderate to severe acne. When the blue light kills this bacteria, the inflammation, or redness, of the acne pustules begins to decrease.
Our dermatologist can recommend a series of treatments to eliminate the acne completely over time. The number of sessions required will depend upon the severity of the acne along with factors such as your skin type and texture. Blue light therapy is effective on all skin complexions and types.
About Accutane
Accutane, or Isotretinoin, is an oral prescription drug treatment for acne that falls under the category known as Retinoids. The topical alternative to Accutane is called Isotrex. Accutane can be quite effective in eliminating acne; however, there are also a number of significantly serious side effects associated with its use. Let’s first take a look at how it works. The drug is effective in the treatment of pimples because it reduces the activity and size of the glands that produce oil in your skin. These are sebaceous glands, and the oil they produce is sebum. A decrease in sebum makes it difficult for the acne causing bacteria to grow.
A side effect of Accutane comes into play because sebum is actually a necessary component of healthy skin. Without adequate levels, your skin is likely to become excessively dry with irritation. These effects can continue even after stopping Accutane. An even more serious risk is that of possible birth defects in the children born to women who are pregnant while taking Accutane.
The Verdict
Blu-Light acne treatments are a far safer bet for women when it comes to eliminating pimples. Not only Blu-Light safe, but it is also effective and does not cause skin irritation. Visit The Dermatology Office to learn more about the benefits of Blu-Light therapy for acne treatment. Our team is happy to answer any questions you may have. We have locations in Paragould and Poplar Bluff. Contact us today to schedule your consultation.
