Non-invasive prescription free alternative acne treatment works for Sarasota teen

SARASOTA, Fla. - 16-year-old Elton Roberts has acne and it's cramping his style. “It was a lot of red and I didn't like the way it looked. I definitely wanted my skin to clear up."

What teen doesn't?

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Brad Abrams treats Elton. "He had moderate to severe acne. He was a patient who needed to start on antibiotics or Accutane."

But Elton's parents worried about possible side effects of medication so Abrams suggested an alternative treatment -- approved by the FDA for treatments like pre-cancerous lesions -- but used by Abrams off label for acne. It's called Photodynamic Therapy.

"We use a product called ala amino levulni acid and it's a solution we put on a patients face and leave it on for half an hour," says Dr. Abrams.

That product marinates into the skin, so to speak.

"Once it's absorbed we put them under a light source called a blue U. It's a visible light spectrum. It's about 415 nanometers. Once the light hits the medication it activates the medication and it can destroy bacteria that causes acne. It will decrease sebum production," Abrams says.

Elton says it doesn’t hurt. “I just sit there for fifteen minutes and it makes this wooooo sound."

The teen had four treatments. Abrams says he doing well. “On a scale of one to 10 when he came in he was an eight. Now he's a four or five, so he's really improving."

And Elton couldn’t be happier. “I like it. It's more satisfying when I look in the mirror and I go "Wow it's getting better." I feel good about myself."

Abrams says most teens need 3 to 4 treatments, 2 to 3 weeks apart. And you can’t go in the sun for 48 hours after treatment or you could get a really bad sun burn. Insurance doesn't usually cover the treatment since it is off label but the average cost is about $200 a treatment.

For more information:
Dr. Brad Abrams, D.O.
3328 Bee ridge Rd
Sarasota FL 34239
941-926-2300