Agnes offers solution for acne

The UK spends millions of pounds every year on products just to treat the symptoms of problematic skin such as acne, however a pioneering new treatment could resolve acne in up to 98% of cases.

Agnes could revolutionise the treatment of active acne by removing the issue at source whilst leaving the healthy skin glands intact.

According to Natalie Blakely of the Light Touch Clinic in Surrey, "Acne is a disease, it's not something which is caused by hormones, or age or bad diet.  What is important is that we treat this condition properly.  We now have the solutions to either stop acne in its tracks or reverse some of the scarring from long term acne problems."

Acne affects around 80% of 11-30 year olds and is most commonly associated with the face, although the chest and the back can also be affected¹.  However, long term sufferers of acne don't just suffer from the physical issues, there are many long term emotional problems such as low confidence or self esteem. depression (92% of sufferers²) and suicidal thoughts (14%ⁱⁱⁱ). Previously, 50-70% improvements have been seen with existing treatments; the 98% reduction in lesions with Agnes, therefore, is a major breakthrough.

Although many therapeutic options exist for the symptomatic treatment of acne, relapse often occurs after treatment is stopped.  The Agnes technology has been used in several clinical studies and has been shown to be a safe and effective method of achieving consistent remission in acne. The new system works via an insulated needle (to prevent skin burn) which uses radio frequency energy to destroy the sebaceous gland causing the acne.  This also means that only the affected glands are targeted, leaving the healthy glands intact.

A recent study³ showed that at only one month, the reduction in lesions was over 98%, which continued at over 80% after 1 year, with the only observable side effect being slight erythema, which typically faded after several days and seldom persisted for a week.

Agnes was invented by Professor of Aesthetic and Dermatology Surgery Dr Ahn Gun Young who is Professor at the University Medical College, Seoul, Korea and will be available in the UK at approximately £500 per treatment.  A full course typically takes three treatments and will be available in the UK through BioAesthetics.

This could be the answer to anyone suffering from persistent adult acne – an ultra-fine insulated wire is inserted into each infected pore to kill it with radio frequency energy and destroy the sebaceous gland that produces the oil causing the acne. Typically only 100-200 pores out of thousands are treated, so the healthy ones are left alone, meaning less redness, dry skin and general irritation.

  

1. http://www.nhsinform.co.uk/health-library/articles/a/acne/introduction
2. http://skinhealth.workswithwater.co.uk/skinhealth/our-survey-reveals-strong-links-between-acne-and-feeling-depressed/