I think anyone with super oily skin has, at least at some point, wished they could completely get rid of their oil glands. One dermatologist is actually doing just that.
R. Rox Anderson, MD, Harvard Medical School Professor in dermatology and director of the Wellman Center for Photomedicine, has been using high-dose red light photodynamic therapy (PDT) to destroy sebaceous glands (those glands that create skin oil).
Phototherapy isn't a new concept when it comes to acne treatment. Light therapy is used to reduce acne-causing bacteria, reduce inflammation, and shrink sebaceous glands.
But high-dose red light PDT is a giving light therapy a new twist. High-dose red light PDT will basically "kill" the sebaceous glands. Without those oil glands, moderate to severe acne is improved. Dr. Anderson even goes so far as to say "cured".
But there are drawbacks: a series of long treatments are needed, it's painful, and there is downtime. The skin is red, swollen, and crusting for several days afterward.
Currently, high-dose red light PDT is being used off-label, which means it's used to treat other skin problems, but not acne. Because it's still a novel approach to treating acne, it's not widely available (I wasn't able to find one dermatologist anywhere who offers this to their patients.)
Still, considering that we don't have many options for treating severe acne (with the exception of isotretinion, which comes with its own set of side effects) I'm really excited about this option. I hope Dr. Anderson continues with his efforts. There's definitely a need for more effective, and more long-lasting, ways to treat severe acne. This sounds like a good start.
Sources: Jancin, Bruce. "High-Dose PDT May Offer Cure for Acne." Internal Medicine News. 18 Mar 2011. Accessed 23 Mar 2011.
Hongcharu W, Taylor CR, Chang Y, Aghassi D, Suthamjariya K, Anderson RR. "Topical ALA-photodynamic therapy for the treatment of acne vulgaris." J Invest Dermatol. 2000 Aug;115(2):183-92.
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Can you please tell me what treatment is considered the best against back acne?
Back acne can be really stubborn, so it takes a bit of time and patience to get it under control. If it’s just a mild case, a benzoyl peroxide body wash may be all that’s needed.
Large, inflamed, or painful breakouts respond better to prescription treatments. This could be oral or topical treatments, or a combination of the two.
Because not every medication works for everyone, there is unfortunately no best treatment for back acne. The right treatment for you depends on your skin and the severity of your acne.
This piece might be helpful to you: Treating Back Acne
It can take some time to see results, so be patient. Good luck!
Angela