The latest non-invasive acne treatment worth knowing about

There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for acne sufferers. For some, a strict skin care routine packed with salicylic acid and antibacterial ingredients like tea tree oil is enough to keep pimples under control. Those with severe cystic acne may need the help of a dermatologist and a hardcore prescriptive medicine like Roaccutane to banish breakouts. And for others, the search continues for something that delivers clear skin results.

One of the acne treatments receiving a lot of buzz lately is Kleresca. Kleresca is an acne treatment that uses light therapy to kill acne-causing bacteria, reduce inflammation and treat skin below the surface to prevent future breakouts and boost collagen so acne scarring is less visible. Here’s everything you need to know...

How does Kleresca work?

“Kleresca is a non-invasive biophotonic treatment that uses fluorescent light energy to stimulate your skin’s own repair mechanisms,” says dermal clinician and owner of Skin Clinic at Blyss in Sydney, Jodie King. “Kleresca will reduce the inflammation associated with acne, kill the bacteria that causes acne and normalises the skin’s cellular activity,” she adds.

Who is the Kleresca Acne Treatment best suited to?

King recommends Kleresca for anyone suffering from acne that would prefer an alternative to systemic prescription medication. Kleresca isn’t just for facial acne either; it can also be used to treat neck and back acne.

What is involved in a treatment session?

“Your skin is cleaned with a gentle cleanse; we then apply the Kleresca gel to the face,” explains King. The unique gel, which is bright orange in colour, converts light waves from the lamp into a fluorescent light energy of different wavelengths that are able to penetrate various depths of the skin to stimulate the skin’s natural repair function. “The gel is illuminated for nine minutes using the Kleresca multi-LED lamp. We then cleanse the skin again to remove all of the gel, and moisturise.”

Is it painful?

While the warmth from the lamp is likened to the feeling of sunbathing in full sun, it is not painful. And no harmful UV light is emitted from the lamp.

Is there any downtime?

While you may experience some redness post-treatment, it will generally subside within a few days.  

How soon will you see results?

King notes that the results are not always immediate. “While you will see improvement during the course of the treatment, full results are seen 18 weeks from the first treatment.” The more immediate improvements in skin include a reduction in redness and inflammation, and towards the end of your treatment course you should expect a significant reduction in breakouts.

What is the recommended treatment plan?

“Clinical trials show best results are two treatments per week for six weeks (a full course is 12 treatments), but we are able to ‘stack’ treatments and administer two treatments - one after the other, on the same day, therefore only needing one treatment per week,” says King. “This is also dependent on the grade of acne. Some patients may only require six treatments. We may also recommend ‘top-up’ treatments at 34 weeks after treatment.”

How much does the treatment cost?

Kleresca prices will vary depending on where you go, but as a reference, at Skin Clinic at Blyss, King says, “The course treatment cost is $2200 for 12 treatments or $1100 for six. Top-up treatments are $220 each.” To find other dermatologists and clinics that offer Kleresca treatments, check out Kleresca’s website at kleresca.com.au.

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Have you tried Kleresca? Or do you have another acne treatment you swear by?

Main image credit: @lucyhale