Mar 28, 2009 12:26 am US/Eastern
Expert: Thermaclear Treatment Effective On Acne
PITTSBURGH (CBS) ―
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Thermaclear, an over-the-counter, handheld device, delivers a zap of heat to a pimple.
KDKA
A new device claims to clear your acne lesions as much as four times faster than any acne product on the market.
Thermaclear, an over-the-counter, handheld device, delivers a zap of heat to a pimple. The user turns on the device and applies the heated tip directly to the lesion.
Peter Scionamara, Thermaclear founder, says the device is FDA-cleared and has been tested in clinical trials to deliver faster results than products alone.
It sounds like a hefty promise, but local dermatologist Dr. Suzan Obagi says heat has always been an effective treatment for acne.
"What's speculated is by generating heat in the skin, you're increasing blood flow into the area--increasing migration of white blood cells to help fight the acne lesion," says Obagi.
For the most effective treatment, users should use Thermaclear at least twice a day, but no more than once every four hours to each acne pimple. Scionamara says as soon as someone feels a pimple beginning to form, he or she should begin using Thermaclear.
Meghan Boyles, a mild acne sufferer, has been using Thermaclear for about a month now. The Pitt student says she is already seeing results.
"Normally when I break out and get a pimple, it would last a week--maybe a week to 10 days. And now I can see it going down in two to three days," she said.
But frequency is key. Users should keep the device handy to get the full benefit, which Obagi says can be a hassle.
"You have to keep it around and use it, otherwise you miss the opportunity to shrink the lesions," the doctor said.
Obagi says a more cost-effective way of treating pimples is to apply warm compresses several times a day. It can give similar results, but without the $150 price tag that comes along with Thermaclear.
And, she says, developing a good skincare routine will prevent pimples from even forming. Obagi suggests a 2.5 to 10 percent concentration benzoyl peroxide treatment under a daily SPF, and a retinol moisturizer at night for the best benefits.
But for Boyles, the results she's seeing are worth the price tag.
"I feel like that is completely reasonable if you think about all the creams someone would buy from a high-end store, or a prescription from a dermatologist. I think it would really help be better off in the long run."
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