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Free-Electron Laser targets sebaceous glands

September 13th, 2006, by Digital Davo | laser therapy

A new `free electron’ laser leads to the hope that in the future new treatments might be available that can selectively target sebaceous glands. This means that this new class of laser might be useful in treating conditions like seborrheic dermatitis and sebaceous gland hypertrophy.

From Free-Electron Laser Targets Fat

Scientists have shown, for the first time, that a laser can preferentially heat lipid-rich tissues, or fat, in the body without harming the overlying skin. Laser therapies based on the new research could treat a variety of health conditions, including severe acne, atherosclerotic plaque, and unwanted cellulite.

Rox Anderson, lead author on the study and a practicing dermatologist at Harvard, says the results provide a proof of principle for the use of selective photothermolysis, selectively heating tissues with light, for several potential medical applications. Dr. Anderson is most excited about the potential for using lasers to target sebaceous glands. “The root cause of acne is a lipid-rich gland, the sebaceous gland, which sits a few millimeters below the surface of the skin,” Anderson says, “We want to be able to selectively target the sebaceous gland, and this research shows that if we can build lasers at this region of the spectrum, we may be able to do that.”

He says a selective laser treatment for acne could potentially replace the best acne drug, which is isotretinoin (commonly known as Accutane®).

 

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