Scarring from acne may be cleared up easier with a new dermal filler treatment that was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday, the Daily News reported.
Bellafill, created and privately owned by Suneva Medical, is made of cow collagen and, when injected into the skin, it smoothens dark spots and scaring to the color of the rest of the skin. Patients who suffered from moderate to severe acne on the cheeks that are over the age of 21 are eligible to have the medicine administered.
This is the first cure for acne of its kind. Though topical gels and lasers are already on the market for acne treatment, nothing has had long lasting, satisfactory results until now. The laser acne treatment was rolled out in July, but the reach of this treatment is hindered by its expensive price tag, pain associated with it and having to go for more than one treatment.
Bellafill was tested against a placebo in 150 acne patients and showed a large improvement in patients receiving the treatment for over a year.
"Until now, multiple laser treatments or other injectables have been used but are limited both in terms of efficacy and longevity and are hampered by potential side effects," said Dr. Ava Shamban, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at UCLA, who was involved in the Bellafill study.
The recommended treatment process includes a touchup a month from when the first administration is given, but there haven't been tests yet to see how long Bellafill lasts. Whether natural or synthetic, collagen disintegrates over time, according to Refinery 29.
