Special Report: Acne eraser

Amber Moore of Boston says she's tried every thing to banish her blemishes.

Amber Moore, Smooth Beam patient
"It's really embarrassing and sometimes you don't even want to go out in public."

Like many, she's used "creams, and pills, over the counter," and prescription medications. But it was only after a new breakthrough laser treatment that her acne cleared up.

Amber Moore, Smooth Beam patient
"Life changing."

It's called the "smooth beam," an infrared laser that penetrates deep into the skin targeting acne's root -- an overactive sebaceous gland.

Tom Rohrer M.D., Skincare Physicians of Chestnut Hill
"What the smooth beam does is heat up the sebaceous glad and shrinks it a little bit."

Allowing for oil and bacteria to unclog the pores.

Dr. Rohrer says the laser alters the oil glands so they create less oil -- and that means less bacteria and fewer pimples.

Tom Rohrer M.D., Skincare Physicians of Chestnut Hill
"It doesn't seem to matter which type of acne for this to work."

Another benefit -- smoothing out the marks left behind from past breakouts.

Tom Rohrer M.D., Skincare Physicians of Chestnut Hill
"The results last a long time."

Sometimes up to a year, but you'll need a several treatments to see results.

Amber Moore, Smooth Beam patient
"The third one is when I started to see a significant improvement."

The Smooth Beam is not the only way to zap away zits. Another way is with a laser called V-Beam, but you treat the skin with this chemical called Levulan first.

Lynn Baden, M.D., Center Dermatology & Aesthetic Medicine
"The use of V-Beam and Levulan is called photodynamic therapy."

While it's similar to the smooth beam, Dr. Baden says the Levulan helps the laser penetrate deeper into the skin.

Lynn Baden, M.D., Center Dermatology & Aesthetic Medicine
"It makes the V-Beam much more effective."

19-year-old Peter Rau is ready to give it a try.

Peter Rau, patient
"Normally I've just done over the counter stuff like creams and face washes."

The Levulan is applied to Peter's face and sits for about an hour. Then it's washed off and the laser treatment begins.

Peter says it's was a little painful but optimistic he's going to clear up..

Peter Rau, patient
"The one thing reassuring about there being a little bit of pain is it maybe makes you think the results are gonna be that much stronger."

Experts say side effects may include swelling, redness and sensitivity to sunlight.

It can be costly: treatments run anywhere between $200 - $600 per treatment and it's not covered by most insurance plans.

Dr. Thomas Rohrer
Skincare Physicians of Chestnut Hill
1244 Boylston Street, suite 302
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
617.731.1600

Lynn Baden M.D.
Center Dermatology & Aesthetic Medicine
1400 Center Street Suite 208
Newton MA 02459
617.558.0077

Smooth Beam laser
V-Beam laser
Candela Corporation
530 Boston Post Road
Wayland, MA 01778
508.358.7400
800.733.8550

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