Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/1315477
Listen to the ASCP Esty Talk podcast ascpskincare.com/podcasts 41 Up Your Acne Game by Maggie Staszcuk EVERYONE DEALS WITH AN ACNE breakout now and again. In fact, acne is the most common skin condition affecting both men and women—especially now. Thanks to the global pandemic, face masks, face shields, and mounting anxiety, client acne may be intensifying. According to a survey by research firm Dynata, 25 percent of adult women are experiencing more acne since COVID-19 began, and 55 percent of women under the age of 25 are experiencing acne flare-ups. 1 When conventional treatments like topical preparations and chemical peels don't cut it, several light therapy options can be used to target acne bacteria. Photopneumatic therapy is one of the most popular light-based acne treatments for its ability to both extract debris and purify pores. 2 WHAT IS IT? Photopneumatic therapy is a laser-light therapy that uses both vacuum and light therapy in a dual action process to safely treat acne by extracting pores, killing bacteria, and purifying the skin. This vacuum suction is applied to help loosen and extract dead cells, debris, and excess oil from the pores, while a broadband laser (BBL) or intense pulsed light (IPL) flashes against the skin, targeting the Propionibacterium (P. acnes) bacteria that leads to acne breakouts. This kills the bacteria and allows the skin to heal. 3 Depending on the type of acne being treated, topical preparations may be applied post- laser to further purify the skin and aid in healing. WHO IS IT GOOD FOR? Photopneumatic therapy treats all forms of acne and clogged pores, including blackheads, pustules, papules, and even hormonal, cystic acne. 4 It can even be used on the body to treat hormonal breakouts affecting the back and chest. One of the great benefits to this laser therapy is that it can be used on all skin types and Fitzpatrick skin types. Since this treatment incorporates the use of either an IPL or BBL, it also has the added benefit of targeting the postinflammatory pigment, uneven skin tone, and erythema that is common in acne sufferers. 5 ADVANCED MODALITIES