Has IPL helped your adult acne?
April 27, 2013 1:10 PM Subscribe
Since switching birth control as an adult in my early thirties, I've started getting acne again on my face and back. Retin-A helps control, but does not eliminate pimples. Has IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) worked for you in similar circumstances?
I can't switch back to the hormonal birth control for medical reasons, I'm still on a very dose of birth control (Mirena IUD). I've never had acne on my back in my life and loathe it. The face acne mostly manifests as under the skin redness on my cheeks that 1-2 times a week erupts into a whitehead. I've recently read several studies of use of IPL for acne which suggest it can be effective in the treatment of acne (here's one that isn't paywalled). Has it worked for you? And in what frequency?
Some providers have outlandish claims (e.g. two treatments interrupt acne bacteria production and no acne for the rest of your life), but everything I read suggests its effects are temporary, so you have to keep getting treatments to stay acne-free. Is that your experience, too?
I can't switch back to the hormonal birth control for medical reasons, I'm still on a very dose of birth control (Mirena IUD). I've never had acne on my back in my life and loathe it. The face acne mostly manifests as under the skin redness on my cheeks that 1-2 times a week erupts into a whitehead. I've recently read several studies of use of IPL for acne which suggest it can be effective in the treatment of acne (here's one that isn't paywalled). Has it worked for you? And in what frequency?
Some providers have outlandish claims (e.g. two treatments interrupt acne bacteria production and no acne for the rest of your life), but everything I read suggests its effects are temporary, so you have to keep getting treatments to stay acne-free. Is that your experience, too?
That study shows a reduction in what looks like cystic acne after four IPL treatments. Does your skin look similar to the before shots right now? It sounds like a milder case to me based on what you've described, and given the expense of IPL treatments from a real doctor, it may be overkill for you.
IPL and laser treatments for acne, rosacea and related conditions don't give you permanent relief. People typically have to return every year or so to maintain their improvements. (Some caveats: other treatments can keep the conditions under control without laser, and hormonal changes may mean that adult acne can burn itself out independently of any treatment.)
Are you getting treatment from a dermatologist?
When you say you get "under the skin redness", then whiteheads, do you mean that 1) One or more little red spots on your cheeks turn into whiteheads, or 2) Your cheeks have become reddish all over, and you get some whiteheads in those reddish areas? If the latter, you may want to see a dermatologist and have them assess whether or not you have rosacea instead of acne, allowing you to switch to an appropriate treatment. Many treatments for acne, like Retin-A, are bad choices for rosacea.
posted by maudlin at 3:16 PM on April 27, 2013
IPL and laser treatments for acne, rosacea and related conditions don't give you permanent relief. People typically have to return every year or so to maintain their improvements. (Some caveats: other treatments can keep the conditions under control without laser, and hormonal changes may mean that adult acne can burn itself out independently of any treatment.)
Are you getting treatment from a dermatologist?
When you say you get "under the skin redness", then whiteheads, do you mean that 1) One or more little red spots on your cheeks turn into whiteheads, or 2) Your cheeks have become reddish all over, and you get some whiteheads in those reddish areas? If the latter, you may want to see a dermatologist and have them assess whether or not you have rosacea instead of acne, allowing you to switch to an appropriate treatment. Many treatments for acne, like Retin-A, are bad choices for rosacea.
posted by maudlin at 3:16 PM on April 27, 2013
Response by poster: Maudlin, I have a constellation of little tiny red spots on the apples of my cheeks, 1-2 of which turn into whiteheads each week.
posted by arnicae at 5:12 PM on April 27, 2013
posted by arnicae at 5:12 PM on April 27, 2013
I had photodynamic therapy with Levulan twice, a few years ago. I can't remember why twice. I do remember catching myself in a rear-view mirror a week after and being all Oh my gawd and nearly in tears, so unfamiliar was the complexion; I had a child's spotless and even-toned skin. Not permanent but effects were wow for maybe a year and dwindled slowly from there.
If things started to flare up I would head straight back to that dermatologist's office without considering looking for anything else, for what that's worth.
But...1-2 whiteheads a week? Retin-A isn't the only thing out there. Exfoliate gently while washing with hot-warm water until it breaks through, and slap a hydrocolloid dressing* on and go to bed and forget about them. My take would be that your money would be better spent on topicals and maybe a good concealer if you really can't stand it, but talk to a dermatologist, ideally one whose practice is centered on these things (but not the sort who slaps their name on a clinic that sells a lot of Groupons and who you won't actually see, if you see what I mean).
* Not easy to find in some areas, but cheap on eBay; search for the 3M Nexcare acne patch. Reviews on makeupalley.com rate it 4.8/5
posted by kmennie at 6:47 PM on April 27, 2013
If things started to flare up I would head straight back to that dermatologist's office without considering looking for anything else, for what that's worth.
But...1-2 whiteheads a week? Retin-A isn't the only thing out there. Exfoliate gently while washing with hot-warm water until it breaks through, and slap a hydrocolloid dressing* on and go to bed and forget about them. My take would be that your money would be better spent on topicals and maybe a good concealer if you really can't stand it, but talk to a dermatologist, ideally one whose practice is centered on these things (but not the sort who slaps their name on a clinic that sells a lot of Groupons and who you won't actually see, if you see what I mean).
* Not easy to find in some areas, but cheap on eBay; search for the 3M Nexcare acne patch. Reviews on makeupalley.com rate it 4.8/5
posted by kmennie at 6:47 PM on April 27, 2013
What you describe sounds more like acne than rosacea. I agree with kmennie that taking a tiny bit of the money you would otherwise spend on IPL and getting looked at my a dermatologist would be a good first step because they could actually look at your skin and judge it professionally.
A good topical like a BHA lotion (salicylic acid: safe for both rosacea and acne) might be enough to help your breakouts occur less often and heal faster, or even stop them completely. (As always, people's results can vary. It may do little or nothing for your specific skin.) Try applying something like this every night. You can order a small sample packet, enough for about 4 nights, for 80 cents, or several packets if you prefer. There's a free shipping offer on until Tuesday, April 30.
posted by maudlin at 8:00 PM on April 27, 2013
A good topical like a BHA lotion (salicylic acid: safe for both rosacea and acne) might be enough to help your breakouts occur less often and heal faster, or even stop them completely. (As always, people's results can vary. It may do little or nothing for your specific skin.) Try applying something like this every night. You can order a small sample packet, enough for about 4 nights, for 80 cents, or several packets if you prefer. There's a free shipping offer on until Tuesday, April 30.
posted by maudlin at 8:00 PM on April 27, 2013
Response by poster: I use a moisturizer with salicylic acid as well as Retin-A. I see a dermatologist, who is happy with my treatment and says that my skin problems should "go away in the summer" [once I spend some time in the sun] (Yes, finding a new derma is on my to do list)
posted by arnicae at 12:43 AM on April 28, 2013
posted by arnicae at 12:43 AM on April 28, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
I know somebody who got IPL, but for wrinkles and sun damage instead of acne. It made a tremendous difference, but only lasted for about a year.
Sorry I can't answer your question directly, but hopefully this helps. Good luck!
posted by icanbreathe at 1:35 PM on April 27, 2013