Newbie

Posts: 3
From:southern IL
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 04-24-2003 08:56 AM            

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I am the mother to 4 teens and my oldest son who is 17 has been battling acne for 2 years. He went from a perfect complection 2 years ago, to horrible acne and oily skin. We had tried everything but accutane, when I saw an ad in our local paper for the Clear Light system. It was expensive and was not covered by insurance, but I read everything I could find about it and decided to try it. He had his first treatment on Tuesday 4/22, and his next treatment Friday 4/25. I am amazed because we can tell a HUGE difference already. Redness has decreased by half or more, and almost every pimple is small and dry. I am a nurse and I have never seen results like this so fast. Now I have no idea how the whole course of treatment will be, or if it will last as long as they say, 6-12 months, but so far I am IMPRESSED! Stephanie

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Senior Member

Posts: 142
From:
Registered: Jan 2001

posted 04-24-2003 09:06 AM            

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I'm glad it worked! Please keep us updated! I completed my 8 treatments several months ago. Good luck!

Joe

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Senior Member

Posts: 103
From:NJ
Registered: Feb 2003

posted 04-24-2003 09:10 AM            

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JoeK...did it work for you?

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Senior Member

Posts: 117
From:sacramento ca
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 04-24-2003 02:20 PM            

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HOw much is the treatment costing you???

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Newbie

Posts: 3
From:southern IL
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 04-24-2003 02:25 PM            

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It is 8 total treatments, 2 per week for 4 weeks, and it is $472.00 I looked at the web sites of some other clinics offering the treatment and it ranges from $50 per session, to $100 per session. I am hoping that insurance companies will approve it very soon. It was too much money for me, but I would try to pay any amount for it if it works. After 2 days and 1 treatment, I think it looks more then promising for my son.

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Member

Posts: 29
From:Australia
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 05-11-2003 08:09 AM            

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Does the treatment help fade/heal acne scars or pitted scars?

I'm so happy to hear that the treatment is working for your son..good luck to him!!

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Senior Veteran

Posts: 1502
From:
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 05-11-2003 01:52 PM            

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Sporter, what about oil? PLEASE keep us posted!

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Senior Member

Posts: 77
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 05-11-2003 02:32 PM            

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I think it is SO beyond LAME that insurance companies do not cover the Clear Light treatments for acne! My husband has psoriatic (may have spelled that wrong) arthritis and has dealt with numerous treatments over the past years to manage the dry scaley patches on his legs and forehead...then his new derm suggested the clear light...AMAZING! At first he went 3x weekly (for about 6 weeks) and then to two and now he goes 1x every other week. Our insurance foots the entire bill! The truly amazing thing...his derm is recommending he purchase one of the home systems and insurance cover it! I know my husband's psorisis was bad and truly bothered him but what makes the insurance industry think THAT is more major than what acne sufferer's go through?
Long post...sorry. I am thrilled for your son! After what my husband's results were, I feel confident your sone will have a happy ending too!

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Member

Posts: 26
From:Salt Lake City, UT
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 05-11-2003 02:34 PM            

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Bama, what home systems are available?

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Senior Member

Posts: 77
From:
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 05-11-2003 05:07 PM            

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My husband brought home a booklet that talked all about clear light at the start of his treatments...it also mentioned three or four different home systems. I remember thinking the price was beyond outrageous. We go to the same derm (after he had such great results I finally decided to do something and went to her...she is the one who put me on accutane)and at my appointment last week she asked about Randy and told me to tell him she submitted the request to our insurance company. If he goes without the treatments, the psorisis comes back so since he has to go regularly and long term, she thinks this is not only more convienent but economical. I will post when he finds out and share what I learn.

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Newbie

Posts: 3
From:southern IL
Registered: Apr 2003

posted 05-12-2003 01:06 PM            

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Here is an update. My son is having his 7th treatment today, so it is his 4th and final week. He is doing great! As far as scars and pitting is concerned, it does seem to help both. I studied his face really good over the weekend because he told me that he felt that his face was the best that it had ever been. The scars have not "gone away", but they seem less noticeable, like how a scar might look several years after the initial scar, and the redness is so much improved, that I think that is half the battle. I think it helps tremendously with that residual red look you keep after a pimple heals. Also the skin is really smooth again, when you run your hand over his cheek, it is very smooth. If he were a female and wore makeup, I think it would look like he had never had acne. I had acne as a teen, like my son's and if I would have had results like this, then with a small amount of cover up, like Derma Blend, or even just cheap cover up it would have looked as though I never had a spot. As far as the oily skin is concerned, I think it is better, but not a huge difference. I think maybe other medications control the oil better then the Clear Light treatment. His oil production is always at its worse in the summer, so it is starting to get hot where we live and it is not as bad as it usually is. Some hints that the nurse gave us at the Clear Light treatment center was to be sure and use a fresh pillow case every night and even wash his pillow case with a small amount of bleach, and to keep his hands off his face. He has done all of that too. I am really impressed, and he is too. They want to take before and after pictures to use for advertisement of the Clear Light Treatment. It is not covered by insurance and that makes me really angry. My son said that in 6-12 months he would earn the money to have it done again if he needed it because it would be that important to him.

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Member

Posts: 48
From:
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 05-16-2003 05:59 PM            

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I had the eight treatments of clearlight and it completely put a halt to my acne. Yeah. It didn't do much to my scars, but i am most pleased with the acne stopping finally. Sporter, did they tell him to come back in 6-12 months for maintance or another eight treatments? Bama, i found your post so interesting. My husband too suffers from psorisis. Please let me know if you find out any more info and any names of home treatments. thanks

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Member

Posts: 69
From:Fremont, CA
Registered: May 2002

posted 05-16-2003 06:28 PM            

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to all who've had this treatment:

what kind of acne did you have before the treatment? Does it decrease the oil on the face?
Once your acne stopped, did you have any breakouts what so ever from eating unhealthy foods or anything?

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Member

Posts: 48
From:
Registered: Oct 2002

posted 05-16-2003 10:22 PM            

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vik: I had cystic acne. It didn't clear up the current acne, but it completely stopped any new ones from coming. I haven't had a break out since the day i started it(a couple months) I would say it decreased oil. However, I had started a new bc (marvelon) about five months ago and I don't know if that is contributating to my good luck. But I am greatful to clearlight. Everything stopped at that time so I am assuming it was the clearlight. Oh and I have been eating any and everything; even those totally unforbidden foods that I knew made me break out.

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Veteran

Posts: 266
From:usa
Registered: Mar 2003

posted 05-16-2003 11:31 PM            

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That's great that you are getting good results. What exactly does clear light do to the skin to stop acne?

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Newbie

Posts: 1
From:florence sc usa
Registered: May 2003

posted 05-17-2003 10:25 AM            

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My 16 yr. old daughter just completed 12 sessions of clear light and this did not work for her..she is in her 3rd week of treatment taking Accutane...and her skin is almost clear....

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Junior Member

Posts: 19
From:
Registered: May 2003

posted 05-17-2003 09:17 PM            

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I'm really happy for everyone who is seeing great results from the Clear Light Therapy. I had only mediocre results.
Let me clarify by stating that I had mostly whiteheads, blackheads, and red bumps (small to moderate in size). I don't seem to get cysts etc. on my face. I should also point out that I had to drive out of state for the treatment. B/C of this, I received the treatment once a week for 23min for 6 weeks as opposed to twice a week for 15min for 4 weeks.
By the end of the treatment: the red bumps were much fewer and much less inflamed (smaller etc.), the blackheads and whiteheads were mostly unaffected, oilyness (which I only have a problem with in the T-Zone area) was basically unaffected. Verdict=Clear Light did not clear my skin but made it approx.20-30% better.
Anyone considering this treatment option should be aware that the magnitude of your results depends on how much your condition is caused by the bacteria P. acnes. The Clear Light stimulates things in the skin which destroy the bacteria. However, if this is only part of your problem (remember: there are FOUR causes of acne), Clear Light is not the answer.

Good Luck to all.

[This message has been edited by acnesucks (edited 05-17-2003).]

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