Breakthrough in Dermatology: Treat Acne with a New High Tech Procedure

Scientists from the University of California Santa Barbara and Sebacia have developed a novel approach to treat acne using a high-tech combination of ultrasound, gold coated particles and lasers.

Acne is caused by a build up of oily sebum and the hair, dirt and other materials which it traps leading to blocked pores. This blockage results in inflammation and infection, which manifest as lesions on the skin.

The technique inhibits the production of sebum, getting down to the root cause of the issue. It works by injecting gold-coated silica nano particles into the sebaceous glands and heating them up.

The injection is done with the assistance of an ultrasound transducer. The transducer shakes and pushes the nano particles through the follicle and into the sebaceous glands. Once the 150 nm particles are in position, a conventional dermatology near-infrared laser light is illuminated over the treatment sites.

The nano particles are sensitive to this frequency of light, in turn resonating and generating local points of heat. This heat is able to prevent the treated sebaceous glands from generating any more sebum.

The technology has so far demonstrated positive results in two European clinical trials.



Source: Medindia