An early trial of a new approach to treating acne, combining light therapy with skin suction, has provided positive results.
Researchers says during the small-scale test, after as few as two to three weekly treatments, fifteen sufferers of severe acne experienced significant improvements in their acne conditions.
The findings were reported at the 27th Annual Conference of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) in Texas, by study researcher Gilly Munavalli, MD.
The new approach is known as photopneumatic therapy (PPX), and uses a vacuum device to combine pulsed light treatment with skin suctioning. It is thought the suctioning helps clean blocked pores and intensifies the effects of the light treatment by bringing the oil glands nearer to the skin’s surface.
“The suction really unclogs the pores, which allows the oil to flow more normally to the surface,” Munavalli reveals. “The light helps kill the bacteria that cause acne.”
However, despite the encouraging results from this small study, experts suggest more research is needed.