Lifeline: New Treatment Reduces Aftermath Of Acne

Lifeline: New Treatment Reduces Aftermath Of Acne
Sep 29, 2007
Dennis Douda
wcco.com CBS4

(WCCO) Acne is a curse 85 percent of people experience as teenagers and up to a quarter of adults have scars that last a lifetime.

However, a Twin Cities doctor is testing a new way to reduce the trauma of acne.

"Oh, it was a remarkable difference," said Andy Ulrich, an acne patient.

Ulrich's smile is a bonus. It came with his new and improved complexion.

Severe acne in Ulrich's youth left scars that were more than skin deep.

"I do presentations as part of my job -- get up in front of the public. And it always bothers you. It's always in the back of your mind and you say, 'jeez, I wish I could do something about this,'" said Ulrich.

Those with severely pitted skin from acne can opt for skin sanding. That's done mechanically or with harsh chemicals, but 20 percent of those patients end up with permanent scarring from the procedure.

Reliant's Fraxel Lasers have had some success at treating acne scars and now the company has developed a new generation of laser, called Repair.

"Works by creating small injuries within the skin that allow the skin to heal up and improve the tone and texture of the skin," said Dr. Brian Zelickson, a Dermatologist.

Zelickson is conducting a small clinical trial with 15 patients.

He says cross section samples of skin show why the new laser should be more effective on deep scars than current treatments.

"So it's akin to sort of having your lawn aerated, where we have these ... deep vertical injuries or holes in the skin that are microscopic. And then normal skin in between there to heal up," said Zelickson, "replaced by new collagen, elastic tissue, blood vessels and epidermal cells."

A special three-dimensional camera maps the contours of patients' skin. Zelickson said early computer analysis shows a 50 to 60 percent reduction of acne scars.

The results are expected to be permanent. Ulrich had three treatments, one month apart.

Reliant plans to make them available to everybody before the end of the year.

The cost is still being figured out.

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