Unfortunately, it's not easy to treat. Traditional therapies (see below) have a
variety of side effects and sometimes require months to work. Some prescription
creams and lotions can cause redness and irritation. Oral antibiotics can cause
stomach upset, light sensitivity and yeast infections in women, and studies
indicate about 40% of skin bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics,
making them a doubtful ally in the fight against skin breakouts.

Silhouette now has two NEW options available for the treatment of acne:

Blue U Light Therapy Acne Treatment

An effective new light-based therapy is now revolutionizing the treatment of acne
for teens as well as adults. BLU-UŽ Blue Light Photodynamic Therapy destroys
the most common bacteria that cause acne - without drugs, without pain and
without downtime. The Blue-Light system is the first medical device to receive
FDA clearance in 2003 for the treatment of moderate inflammatory acne vulgaris.

The BLU-U is a special blue light that can kill the p. acnes bacteria in your skin.
You simply sit with your face close to the light for a short time at a schedule set
up by your Skin Care Consultant, usually a 30-minute session once per week.
The treatments may go on for five weeks or so. After some weeks, the blue light
can control your acne, or clear it up for a very long period.

LEVULAN PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY

Acne treatments using Levulan Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is the most recent
advance in acne therapy. Photodynamic acne therapy involves the application of
Levulan ( 5-aminolevulinic acid), a photosensitizing agent, which is then activated
with the Blu - U. This results in significant improvement in moderate to severe
cystic acne.

Levulan acne treatment involves three mechanisms of action against acne. The
application of Levulan inactivates the bacteria that trigger acne, exfoliates the
skin to unclog pores, and the most exciting mechanism is that Levulan
treatment shuts down the sebaceous glands in the skin. This is exciting
because sebaceous glands are the root cause in the formation of acne so it has
a long lasting effect even on severe acne.

Levulan acne therapy can even work in patients who have failed Accutane (an
oral medication). Accutane also targets the sebaceous gland but has fairly toxic
side effects and health risks. Levulan is a very safe alternative to Accutane
treatment.

For more information on Levulan and Photodynamic therapy please see:
IPL/Photorejevenation.

Some traditional acne treatments include:

Topical Antibiotics: These "prescription only" products help fight acne by killing
the bacteria that infect the pores. Sometimes acne may become resistant to the
antibiotics, rendering them useless. Side effects can include dry, red skin and
an increase in sun sensitivity.

Oral Antibiotics: These systemic medications affect the entire body and
therefore can cause serious side effects. Some antibiotics, such as tetracycline,
need to be taken on an empty stomach. Side effects can include nausea and
dizziness.

Vitamin A Derivatives: These retinoid medications prevent skin cells from
clumping together and encourage shedding. Usually applied once a day, these
medications can increase sensitivity to the sun, so it's important that patients
use sunscreen. Other side effects can include dryness, redness and irritation.
Common Vitamin A derivatives include Retin-A, Differin and Tazorac. One
particular retinoid, Accutane, has been shown to cause more serious side
effects, including psychological disorders and, in rare cases, birth defects.
Sexually active women who take this medication must use contraception during
treatment and have monthly lab work performed.

Birth Control Pills: These are prescribed for women who have flare-ups that
occur at the same time each month during the menstrual cycle. The pills help
control the hormones that prompt oil production in the skin. Women should
consult their physician to determine which birth control pills are most appropriate
for particular skin conditions.