There’s a new acne system in town, according to the December 2007 issue of Health magazine. Called the PPx (Photo-pneumatic) Pore-Cleansing System, PPx has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2007 for treating stubborn acne.
How effective is PPx against acne?
PPx was originally developed for the removal of hair. However, one small study at Johns Hopkins University amongst 15 patients with mild to moderate acne demonstrated that PPx treatment resulted a 65 percent improvement in patients with inflammatory acne and a 70 to 80 percent improvement in patients with comedones (i.e., whiteheads or blackheads).
According to additional reports from Porcaro Surgical, 64% of “non-responders” to oral medications (like Accutane), topicals and lasers had over 75% clearance in acne symptoms. Overall, Porcaro Surgical reports that about 85% of patients respond to treatment; however, this based on a relatively small sample size.
How does the treatment work?
(Photo courtesy Porcaro Surgical). To clarify, PPx uses a gentle vacuum to remove excess oil. According to Drummartin Clinic, a “pulling up” motion gently lifts a small amount of the treatment area into a specially designed hygienic treatment tip. Targets (which include acne, unwanted hair, unwanted pigments and unsightly veins) are lifted and brought closer to the skin’s surface.
Next, a laser is used to dissolve away any remaining impurities in the skin. The light is converted efficiently to a form of gentle heat energy that is absorbed by the target to destroy it (i.e., acne, unwanted hair, unwanted pigments and unsightly veins). It is noteworthy that the PPx laser is more energy efficient than other lasers, so less energy affects the surrounding area than with other methods, to the extent that cooling gels are not needed after treatment, according to the Drummartin Clinic.
(Picture: Drummartin Clinic.) After, skin is then instantly returned to its normal position. The process is repeated until the entire treatment area is covered.
How much is treatment?
According to Health, treatments are $300 each, and five to six sessions (plus follow ups!) are needed.
Is it really painless?
According to the Aesthera company brochure for PPx, 100 percent of eleven patients reported no pain from the procedure. Again, this is a small study, but promising.
For whom is this treatment recommended?
PPx has been approved for the treatment of different types of acne, including pustular, comendonal, and acne vulgaris. PPx is not recommended for people with darker skin tones, according to Health.
How effective is PPx compared to Accutane or other forms of isotretinoin?
Although Accutane (oral isotretinoin, which is also sold as prescription Amnesteem, Sotret, and Claravis) is still considered to be the gold standard in curing acne, it is not for everyone. Accutane has been associated with negative side effects, ranging from minor (chapped lips) to severe (rare but serious reports of suicidal thoughts, as well as the link to severe birth defects). In addition, Accutane is not effective for everyone. According to Jeffrey Dover, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine in the December 2007 issue of Allure, “[Accutane] is a treatment that permanently cures 60 percent of people with severe acne.”
So what is the other 40 percent to do? Based on reports from Porcaro Surgical, 64% of “non-responders” to oral medications (like Accutane), topicals and lasers had over 75% clearance in acne symptoms.
So, based on current research, is this a viable cure for acne?
Based on current research, PPx looks like a novel treatment for patients with acne, especially those with acne that is resistant to isotretinoin (like Accutane). With about 45 million people affected in the U.S. each year, about 60 percent can be helped with isotretinoin (like Accutane). Unfortunately, this leaves 18 million acne sufferers who are resistant to (or who experience negative side effects from) orally administered isotretinoin. If one extrapolates the Porcaro Surgical small study statistic stating 64% of isotretinoin-resistant patients can be helped by PPx, approximately 11.5 million of the other 18 million acne sufferers could be helped with this procedure. Unfortunately, of course, this estimate is only extrapolated from data in a small study, and the treatment is not as effective for dark skin according to Health, so talk to your dermatologist.
Unfortunately, the procedure is expensive for many, at $300 per session with at least 5 to 6 required sessions. If you are interested, talk to a dermatologist in your area who offers PPx and whether or not it is a viable treatment option for you.