Acne Scar Laser Treatment Choices - Part 3: Light and 5 - Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA)

This therapy involves two steps. Initially, the acne is treated with a solution of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA). ALA will make the acne more sensitive to light. Usually, the acne is treated with ALA for short period of time - from 15 - 60 minutes. The time varies on the degree of acne development. After this procedure, the ALA is removed and light is used to expose the acne. The increased sensitivity of the acne to light dries up the acne. Red or blue light is effective but some side-effects have shown. These include swollen follicles resembling acne and mild darkening of the area. Another disadvantage of light therapy is that it promotes skin aging and makes it more vulnerable to skin cancers. However, more research is done on this.