Phototherapy
Acne.org’s Real World Take
Laser therapy works by harming skin oil glands. That can lead to some improvement in acne, and perhaps even long-term relief of some acne symptoms. However, evolution gave us skin oil glands for a reason and what happens long term when you permanently disable them is still unknown. Proceed with caution.
Phototherapy
How to Get It
Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this procedure done. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one.
Used Lasers? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
April 20, 2009
Cons:
everything
I had the nlite with the glycolic peel. I had to go and visit them for my sessions once every week or 2. My acne only affected my forehead which was'nt alot. After my 6 course was finished i saw no improvements! come on i didn't even have alot and they could'nt even get rid of them!!! So i stopped going since it wasn't working for me after i stopped i started to break out like mad! I get really painful spots now and its not just only on my forehead any more its now my cheeks and my chin. I am so upset and angry with them. I went to the private clinic in harley street. I plan to try selfridges in oxford street since my face has gone so bad i'm very desprately looking for help. I am going to give the Nlite a 2nd chance and i am really hoping it will work. wish me luck
April 8, 2009
Pros:
it clears acne for the time it says it would. like 6 months for me
Cons:
it made my skin really sensitive, and i broke out more than before the treament, white heads all over my face
it made my skin really sensitive and now i feel after the laser treament it has made my skin worst! i have whiteheads all over my face when before it i rarely had that much acne. Also it made my skin rough! Please don't do it, it totally ruined my life. I feel soooo insecure and depressed because of my worsten skin. Just love ur skin and remember that when ur hormones stop raging, ur acne will be better. when u get older,your acne will impreove. I really regret doing laser treatments. I wish i can go back in time and not do it. It has been 5 months since the treatments and I really hope my acne will go away in time. I am 19 and my family memebers said they stoped getting acne at 22, so hopefully it will improve by then. Yet i am afraid that sinc ei had laser and have very sensitive skin due to using other products, i might break out all my life. Please don't do, its not worth damaging your face and self esteem. Also,
April 1, 2009
Pros:
Very minor improvement
Cons:
Extremely expensive, painful, and has shown little to no results.
Starting 12/09 through 3/09 I under went a series of 5 smoothbeam laser treatments and ended with 1 microdermabrasion. About half way through my laser treatments I got back on birth control pills, which by the way I noticed almost immediate improvement along my most problematic area; chin and jawline (proven to be hormone related acne). After purchasing a few products from the medispa, along with all 6 treatments, I spent a total of $675! My skin still broke out, really didn't look better at all, as I was still mortified going out in public with no make up on. After randomly googling one day I came upon the idea of epsom/sea salt facials. Ive been doing them for about a week. My skin is wayyyy better, as Epsom salt is natural and meant to be used for inflammation. PLEASE TRY EPSOM/SEA SALT ($6) BEFORE TRYING LASOR TREATMENTS ($700)! GOOGLE IT YOULL FIND A TON OF INFO. TRUST ME ITS WORTH TRYING.
March 8, 2009
Pros:
My skin has become smoother and softer and a little less breakouts this is after 1 n lite and 2 microdermabrasion treatments
Cons:
Not fast results but nothing is instant in this world....just had my second n-lite (yesterday) and have some real bad bruising all over my face its smooth bruising though :S
but she did put the laser on MAX level and said we need to traumatize the skin and long term results will be better, but ill keep everyone informed on a weekly basis. But so far from what my skin use to be id recomond looking at the microdermbrasion aswell as the n-lite, now the packages dont come cheap i payed 800 pounds. the microdermbrasion is a little vacuum that lifts off the dead skin and sprays some kind of crystals onto the skin, they said this helps with the n-lite aswell, the microder..... makes the skin softer and smoother the place i went to are also taking pictures to keep track on my improvements so i will be able to see the before and after results.
March 6, 2009
Pros:
non yet
Cons:
no improvments
hi about 5 days ago i went and had my first nlite treatment.the dermatoligist did no skin testing!
szo now im in dy 5 and i have no results!did anyone else no see results in the first week? ty
January 30, 2009
Pros:
hyperpigmenation less by 5-10% after the 1st tx
Cons:
small white rashes and itchy
i had my 1st tx last jan.15 on my neck and upper arms and everything well but after 2 weeks, i had small white cysts probably milia. this is probabaly the response of my skin which is hypersensitive after the laser tx. and im not gonna continue my other 3 treatments since im afraid it will even get worse. my advice for those who have filipino-asian skin, better go to a derm doctor that specializes on your skin type/race.i will just continue with my derma sweep microdermabrasion eventhough it has minimal results, at least it will not cause more harm to my skin. fraxel is the trend right now but wait till everyone is happy with it.
January 14, 2009
Pros:
Decreased the "pea" sized bumps under my skin along the jaw line. Comparable in price if you consider all the things I've spent money on trying to rid my acne... proactive, mirad, microdermabrasion etc.
Cons:
Not the results I expected considering it a rather extreme procedure. My face seems somewhat more irritated than before I tried Smoothbeam. [side note] I also purchased over $120 worth of Skinceuticals products.... not doing much so far. Anyone else?
In the last year I've stopped taking birth control pills thinking it was making my skin break out, only to realize my skin got WAY worse without the pill. I researched Smoothbeam laser treatment and decided to do it. I got an alright deal; 5 treatments for $500. I've had 2 so far, about 3 to 4 weeks apart. So far I've noticed a bit of improvement as there are way less bumps along my jaw line, but as for the more surface acne on my chin it seems worse. Is there truth to the "it has to get worse before it gets better?" Previous to starting these treatments I would use the tanning bed to get control over my break outs, after my counseltation with the dr. I swore never to tan again; I'm tempted though as I've barely noticed any results so far....
December 30, 2008
Pros:
Leaves your face really smooth for a couple of days.
Cons:
Even with the numbing cream, it hurts like hell, especially where you have a pimple. I also didn't notice it getting rid of any pimples. Your face is really red afterwards and, if you don't wear sunscreen, you can get brown marks.
This procedure is too expensive for what you get. I had about 6 or 7 treatments. I like the way my face feels afterwards - smooth and soft but, it didn't do anything for my acne (my face only had 1 or 2 small pimples at that time), didn't prevent new acne from forming and did not decrease the size of my pores, which is why I tried the procedure in the first place. Bottom line - at a cost of $400 each time, totally not worth it.
December 2, 2008
Pros:
My skin is soft. Some blotchiness/redness is gone. Some brown spots are gone. I had some broken blood vessels, which are almost completely gone.
Cons:
I have rosacea, and the last fraxel laser treatment I had made it worse (I had 3). I also had clear skin for the most part before my treatments, but now I feel like I'm constantly battling pimples. My skin is more sensitive now, too.
I paid a lot of money for disappointing results. I did do a lot of research before I did this. I went to a dermatologist that specializes in laser treatments. If you're thinking about doing this, keep in mind you may just end up trading some skin problems for other kinds of skin problems. I wouldn't do the fraxel again, just the pulsed light laser to even out my skin tone and get rid of some sun damage.
November 10, 2008
Pros:
Works but only as maintenance. Not permanent resolution.
Cons:
Expensive for treatments.
I am a nurse in Ontario who performs this procedure in a Dr.s Clinic. I want everyone to understand that from what I have experienced with my patients is that the smoothbeam works as long as your always doing it. As soon as my patients stop this treatment for any certain length of time their acne always comes back. I would consider this treatment, but it seems to be working as a ACNE MAINTENANCE and NOT a cure. I find it to be expensive for maintenance and personally wouldn't recommend it. Some of my patients love this treatment, but agree they have to always do it or their acne will come back. If you have the money to use this treatment as maintenance then go for it, but there are better solutions such as Clear Light, and or Accutane. Accuaten isn't as bad as some of ths stuff I have read. I know, I deal with people on it everyday. Worst Side effect usually is dry craked lips.
Pros:
cleared up some scarring but very little