According to the American Academy of Dermatology, acne (also called Acne Vulgaris) is the most common skin disease in the United States. Acne is traumatic at any age, but especially for teens. As a mom, it’s hard to watch your child’s self-confidence decline. No matter how you to try to boost their esteem, conveying again and again that “what matters most is on the inside,” they just don’t buy it. It’s not only about the scars you can see; it’s about the ones you can’t.

Most people in their teen years are afflicted with “pimples.” Mild acne will clear with a good skin care regimen and some help from topical products, but those with moderate and severe acne need some additional assistance. Aside from the embarrassment and the effect on their self-esteem, moderate to severe acne can result in permanent scarring.

Some of the treatment options, such as medications like Accutane, are scary! Accutane use has been linked to serious side effects including ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, liver damage, suicide, depression, and birth defects. This often leaves teens with few alternatives, resigned to just “deal with it,” hoping to grow out of this painful phase.

There is now a safer and relatively pain free option— Photo Light Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) Therapy. IPL targets and kills the inflammatory bacteria and shrinks the sebaceous glands that cause acne.

The Journal of Drugs for Dermatology and the American Academy of Dermatology report that the use of IPL technology appears to be a safe and effective treatment, providing long-lasting relief from acne. Another study published in Dermatologic Surgery compared treatment using Photo Light IPL therapy to the use of benzoyl peroxide and found that Photo Light IPL therapy was better at treating certain types of acne and evening out the red inflammatory scars. There are special pricing packages available just for teens and we find that after just a four-week treatment, relief from acne is typically experienced for at least six months.

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DR. PHILIP CHANG is board certified by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. An an innovator in the medical field, he has created procedures like the Mini-Facelift, the Mini Scar Breast Augmentation, and the Mommy Makeover. Dr. Chang has offices in Loudoun, Fairfax, and Winchester.