Home based laser acne treatments, ThermaClear and Zeno, have been gaining popularity. These acne treatments use heat to penetrate the layers of the skin, killing the Bactria and heal the lesion faster. So how do these devices really pan out?

Both Zeno and ThermaClear cost about $150 and in the market of home acne treatments that does lean towards the higher end treatments. These laser acne treatments have not been compared against other acne treatments so there is no proven fact that they work better. Although the FDA approved the devices, stating that they clear 90 percent of blemishes in 24 to 48 hour, it is not effective blackheads, whiteheads or cystic acne. So what does it work on then?

These devices are only meant for people that have clear skin that get the occasional single red blemish. These manufacturers, such as Houston-based Tyrell Inc. and Therative in Livermore, Calif , realizing they wasted money making devices that really don’t help acne sufferers, put it out on the market anyway knowing that if they put what it really does in the fine print it is the consumers fault for buying it. These acne treatments give false hope to acne sufferers.

It is better to keep the $150 and go to a dermatologist. Find out what triggers your breakouts and get the right acne treatment and regiment that will actually clear your acne. Clearing and controlling acne takes time and there is no “miracle cure.” Maybe someday there will be a good home laser treatment and these devices may be the stepping stone to that but until then I wouldn’t recommend these devices.