Regenlite Laser for Skin Inflammation
FRESNO, Calif. -- Skins conditions such as acne and rosacea can damage confidence and destroy self-esteem, but now a cutting-edge treatment is providing results faster than ever before.
For actress Shanae Harris, her face is her calling card.
Harris told Ivanhoe, "I'll feel like I'm there, I'm performing, and they're not looking at me. They're looking at that one pimple that's on my forehead."
Shanae has tried everything to clear her skin of acne, "Face washes, I've used other laser treatments, and microdermabrasion" she admitted.
But she didn't get the results she wanted.
So now she's trying a new treatment unlike any others she has used before.
It's called the Regenlite laser. The laser stimulates molecules in the body's cells needed to repair damage.
Neil Sadick, MD, Dermatologist at Sadick Dermatology and Professor of Dermatology at Weill Medical College of Cornell University told Ivanhoe, "It causes a signal to the skin surface to down regulate inflammation."
The laser is used over Shanae's entire face and she's done in about 15 minutes, with no downtime. Dr. Sadick says the treatment is effective on all skin types. "From very light skinned individuals to very dark skin individuals," he explained.
After two treatments, the laser has given Shanae her confidence back. She said, "I feel more comfortable being in front of a camera working on a project," letting her confidence show, instead of her blemishes.
The procedure costs between 350 to 500 dollars per treatment and it usually takes three treatments to see results, then a monthly maintenance until the condition is cleared. Right now the Regenlite laser is available in some large cities throughout the country, and widely used throughout Europe.
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BACKGROUND: As the most common skin disorder in the United States, acne affects 40 to 50-million Americans. While the red pimples, blackheads, and cysts can start during puberty, adults in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s can also develop acne. Most often acne appears on the face, back and chest. Acne can also lead to low self-esteem and depression. Permanent scars may also be left by acne cysts and nodules. Acne occurs when hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. Stress, family history, oily lotions and hormonal changes are all factors that can affect acne.
(Source: https://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/conditions/acne, https://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/a---d/acne/signs-symptoms, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/basics/risk-factors/con-20020580 )
TREATMENT: It is important that those suffering from acne do not pick at or squeeze pimples or blemishes. Doing this can cause scarring or infection. Washing the area with a cleanser twice a day is also recommended. There are over-the-counter treatments that may help clear acne. However, if the acne persists, dermatologists may recommend other treatments such as:
topical medications
oral medications
steroid injections
chemical peels
light therapy
skin surgery to remove scar sites
(Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/basics/lifestyle-home-remedies/con-20020580, http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/basics/treatment/con-20020580 )
NEW TECHNOLOGY: Sufferers of acne can now look to Regenlite to treat skin conditions. The laser treatment kills and reduces infection-causing bacteria and is effective on all skin types. The laser induces a mild thermal shock of the small blood vessels near the surface of the skin. This triggers a cascade which releases Transforming Growth factor beta. TGFneta is known to reduce inflammation and increase collagen production. The handheld laser targets specific problem areas and leaves healthy skin cells unharmed. Currently, the treatments are available in New York, Los Angeles, Denver, Minneapolis, Florida, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona. The treatments take about 30 minutes to complete and cost between $350 and $500.
(Source: http://www.regenlite.com/frequently-asked-questions/ )
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FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Krista Bohnert
212-772-7242
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What is this great laser you're using?
Dr. Sadick: The regenlite laser is sort of a reinvention of a laser that has been used in the past and has a long successful history. More recently, it has been used in a new mode called bio simulation. It is a low energy pulse dye laser that acts by decreasing inflammation through the up-regulation of an active chemical component called the cytokine that decreases inflammation in the skin for various inflammatory skin diseases.
What does it do?
Dr. Sadick: The regenlite is a laser that targets a given substance in this case being either collagen or blood. This particular laser again targets blood vessels and it acts by decreasing inflammation. It causes a signal to the skin surface to down regulate inflammation so all inflammatory diseases like Acne, rosacea, it's even being used for psoriasis, tend to have improvement without using any internal or even topical medications.
There are a lot of different things that can go wrong with patients on oral medications. This is a different approach to it. Is it a much safer approach?
Dr. Sadick: Many of my patients do not want to take any internal medication. Accutane has somewhat of a checkered history. Many women who are considering pregnancy don't want to take that drug. Many women don't want to be on internal medications for a long period of time. This is a new way of looking at acne without using any drying topical agents and without using any internal agents that may have a high side effect profile. It's just using again this light source to decrease inflammation and shrink the sebaceous gland. Any sort of device will decrease bacteria on the skin surface and in that way improve acne without using any the other approaches associated with high side effect profiles.
How dramatic are the results?
Dr. Sadick: The results appear to be very promising. This is a technology that's still relatively new, but the patients that we've treated using this technology seem to be having good improvement without having any side effects associated with topical or oral medications.
How long has this version of the laser been around?
Dr. Sadick: We've been utilizing this version for the last three to four months in our study. But it's been studied in other parts of the world and other studies have been ongoing in the United States for at least the last couple of years.
What is the downtime?
Dr. Sadick: There's no down time at all. We all live in a very fast, rapidly changing world. People want no down time procedures. This is a lunch-time procedure or something to do after work before you head to the gym. Women or men come in, they have the treatment, it takes just a few minutes and then they're off swimming, to gym class or whatever they need to do. There's no down time whatsoever.
You're not walking around with a red face?
Dr. Sadick: There's no redness, there's no after effect that you might see with other lasers used for other reasons. Again the reason for that is it doesn't directly heat the skin but acts by a new mechanism of action called bio modulation without heating the skin's surface.
How much does this procedure cost?
Dr. Sadick: This is a relatively cost-effective procedure. Usually the procedure will run somewhere between 350 to 500 dollars per treatment and we usually sell these treatments in packages. If you buy three treatment sessions you might get a fourth session for free. So it's relatively cost effective for patients again who don't want to use any of the internal or topical medications. It can be used with topical medications initially while the regenlite laser is taking its action.
How many procedures would you usually need to get?
Dr. Sadick: In our studies we performed a total of three procedures usually spaced out over a relatively short period of time. Then there's some type of maintenance program probably once a month to once every three months once their acne is under control with one single treatment.
For how long?
Dr. Sadick: Until the acne is cleared. And wouldn't it be a great thing for acne patients if once they are cleared, they would only have to come in once every three months for a fifteen minute treatment and acne never came back. That's what we're hoping this technology will accomplish.
Is this laser available widely across the United States or is this something that's only concentrated in certain areas?
Dr. Sadick: I think the company Chromogenic's is introducing this technology. It's been introduced around the world and now it's being introduced throughout the United States as well.
Is the procedure painful?
Dr. Sadick: There's no pain whatsoever. That's another thing, it's not only about no down time, it's about no discomfort. It's well known that the number one reason people don't have repeated aesthetic procedures is because of discomfort. There is no discomfort whatsoever associated with this because we're not heating the skin we're just acting by up regulating components in our skin that decrease inflammation without any direct heating.
What skin conditions does it work best for? Are there any conditions that it should definitely not be used on?
Dr. Sadick: Were still looking at what the optimal conditions that can be treated with this technology are. We know that it markedly decreases inflammation. Again the disease states or the conditions that's being targeted at least for this time are for acne, rosacea and psoriasis. However I'm sure as treatment programs evolve there will be other indications for many inflammatory diseases that this can be utilized. Sometimes people get boils under their arms; something called hidradenitis that might be an area where this could be very helpful. A lot of people get eczema or psoriasis in the scalp or bumps in the scalp called folliculitis. That's another area were an anti-inflammatory low-energy laser like this may be very effective as well.
Is there anything that the laser should definitely not be used on or a condition like a pregnant woman?
Dr. Sadick: With all laser technologies we don't advise treatments during pregnancy. It's not that there have been any harmful effects of this laser that have been shown but in general we don't like to expose fetuses or nursing mothers to any type of laser technology.
Is there any skin condition that it definitely should not be used on?
Dr. Sadick: Not really, I think it can be used on any individual, there are no contra-indications in terms of any underlying internal diseases or conditions or topical skin diseases where this knowledge cannot be utilized. Another great thing about this is compared to other laser technologies it can be used on all skin types. Very light skin individuals, very dark skin individuals, probably even tanned individuals. Because it really doesn't affect melanin which other lasers do. It can be used on any skin type.
That's a big deal for people like our patient. Some darker skin types can't use a wide range of lasers.
Dr. Sadick: That's right. This is one of the few lasers that can be used safely on any skin type.
What are the concerns of doctors who are not using this procedure and why do you think they're not using it?
Dr. Sadick: I think the reason that doctors may not be using the procedure is only because they don't have that awareness yet. It's a relatively new procedure. Again as our studies continue and as a company rolls this technology out and markets it to physicians around the country it will become widely popular.
Do you know who funded the study behind this procedure?
Dr. Sadick: The study that we are carrying out was funded by the company Chromogenic's.
Is there anything else you want to add about the laser?
Dr. Sadick: I would just say that low energy laser technology is a new and exciting advance in the laser world. Because it's basically side effect free it's acting on the mechanisms of disease to cut off those inflammatory mechanisms and that's how skin disease is improved. We're learning more about these technologies and I think there will be a wider number of indications for utilization of low energy lasers again like the regenlite down the road as more formation from studies are gathered.
