What is acne?
Acne is an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands in the skin. Acne vulgaris, or pimples, usually appears on the shoulders, arms, neck and face and are caused by an excessive tallow production, causing blackheads. In these clogged and expanded sebaceous glands the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes is located, which produces stimulating substances and causes inflammatory symptoms. Red lumps appear, that can cause pus filled pimples and abscesses on the face and specifically on the back after infection with Staphylococcus aureus. Acne starts around puberty. Men with acne tend to have more severe issues compared to women. That is because the excessive tallow production is stimulated by the male hormone (androgens).
Girls can start to experience pimples around age eight, boys typically around age fourteen. Hormones and hereditary traits can also be a factor. Pimples are usually the most severe in between the ages of sixteen and nineteen. That's when it usually stops. But not for everyone: some people can suffer from adolescent acne until well beyond thirty. People who have suffered severe acne can often retain the scars for life, as pockmarks and skin irregularities.
Acne is harmless but primarily unsightly. This can cause tremendous psychological effects.
The goal of the treatment with IPL/DPL is the destruction of the Propionibacteria.