Teenage Acne - Patients ask, Dr. Ringpfeil answers
Please feel free to use the blog below to share information about Teenage Acne or to ask Dr. Franziska Ringpfeil a question that might be of interest to others.
Philadelphia and Mainline Center of Dermatology and Cosmetic Surgery
Teenage Acne Treatment
Dr. Ringpfeil treats her teenage son's acne
Dr. Ringpfeil's son, Jonathan, spent six months in Germany, attending the same high school Dr. Ringpfeil attended as a teenager.
During his stay in Germany Jonathan developed moderate acne. Upon his return, Dr. Ringpfeil created a treatment plan, and with Jonathan permission she documented the treatment progress.
Treatment Progress
Picture: Dr. Ringpfeil treats her 13 year old son's acne with a series of photodynamic therapy and glycolic acid peels treatments.
Procedure Efficacy
Photodynamic therapy and medication (e.g. Accutane) are most effective for the treatment of severe acne. Medications, facials and laser treatment with PDL (Pulsed Dye Laser) are most effective treatment for moderate acne. Mild acne is best treated by a combination of facials, chemical peels, and microdermabrasion.
| mild acne | moderate acne | severe / cystic acne | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Photodynamic Therapy | - | ++ | +++ |
| Medication | +++ | +++ | +++ |
| Facials/ Backcials | +++ | +++ | ++ |
| Chemical Peels | +++ | ++ | + |
| Micro-dermabrasion | ++ | - | - |
| Pulsed Dye Laser | - | +++ | ++ |
| Smoothbeam Laser | - | ++ | ++ |
Photodynamic Therapy
The best kept secret for the treatment of Acne
Effective at least as Accutane!
Prefer to take no medication? Photodynamic therapy is your best option!
My daughter had to stop accutane after 5 weeks becasue she got depressed (would not get out of bed for 3 days). It took us a while to realize it was the medicine but within a few days of stopping she was her old self. We are looking for other ways to treat her skin.
Your site is very helpful and I like the treatment program you did with your son. I’m in CT so we can not go to your practice. Is the PDT sometimes refered to as blue or red light lazer treatment?
Photodynamic therapy uses red and blue light for activation of the photosensitizing substance. red and blue light are also offered without use of photosensitizer and these treatments are not the same as photodynamic therapy. Please identify a dermatology office in youyr area that uses photodynamic therapy for skin cancer or precancer and ask if they also treat acne. If Boston is within reach, Dr Rex Amonette’s office provides photodynamic therapy for acne.
Thank you for the quick response. Based on my google search it looks like Dr Rex Aminette is based in Memphis not Boston. Is there another Boston Dr you can recommend.
A faux-pas: I meant Rox Anderson.
Dr. Ringpfield,
At 27, I’m experiencing hormonal cysts all over my chin that coincide with my menstrual cycle. Would photodynamic therapy over just the chin be an option for me?
Photodynamic therapy is an option as are Smooth beam laser treatments if you do not wish to pursue oral spironolactone or topical dapsone.