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Blue and Red Light Acne Treatment

Sunlight can improve skin care in the short-term. However, recent studies have shown that exposure to sunlight worsens acne in the long-term [citation needed]. More recently, visible light treatments (phototherapy) have successfully treated mild acne--in particular intense violet light (405-420nm) generated by purpose-built fluorescent lighting, dichroic bulbs, LEDs or lasers. Used twice weekly, this procedure resulted in a reduction of the number of acne lesions by about 64 percent. Studies show that this treatment is even more effective when applied daily. Scientifically speaking, the method of violet light treatment is effective because porphyrin (Coproporphyrin III), produced within P. acnes, generates free radicals when irradiated by 420nm and shorter wavelengths of light. Over the course of a few days, these free radicals ultimately kill the bacteria they spawned from. Since porphyrins are not otherwise present in skin, and the UV light applied is safe in its spectrum, this treatment is safe and licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The ultra violet treatment works even better with red visible light (660nm) resulting in a 76 percent reduction of lesions after three months of daily treatment for 80 percent of patients. The overall skin clearing was similar or better than benzoyl peroxide. Unlike most of the other treatments, there are few if any negative side effects to this treatment and a development of bacterial resistance seems very unlikely. After treatment, a patient can achieve clear skin with topical or oral antibiotic treatments. The equipment or treatment, however, is relatively new and expensive, although the total cost of ownership may outweigh other costs (such as the total cost of benzoyl peroxide, moisturizer, and washes) over a couple of years.

Nail Bed

The nail bed is the skin beneath the nail plate. Like all skin, it has two types of tissues: the deeper dermis, the living tissue fixed to the bone, which contains capillaries and glands; and the superficial epidermis, the layer just beneath the nail plate, which moves forward with the plate. The epidermis attaches to the dermis by tiny longitudinal grooves as the matrix crests or crests of nail matrix. As we age, the plate grows thinner and these ridges become evident in the plate itself. A nail is a horn-like envelope covering the dorsal aspect of the terminal phalanges of fingers and toes. The nail is made of a hard protein called keratin. Nails can dry out, just like skin. They can also peel, break, and become infected. The nail protects the ends of the fingers and toes from trauma and helps pick up small objects. Care of the fingernails and toenails is important. Poor nail care causes problems. Recommendations for maintaining nail health include: keeping nails clean and dry in order to keep bacteria and other infectious organisms from collecting under the nails; cutting nails straight across with only slight rounding at the tip; using a fine-textured file to keep nails shaped and free of snags; and avoiding nail-biting. Nail changes, swelling and pain can signal serious problems that may require a physician and medical nail care.

Services to Fit Criminal Needs

Tailoring services to fit the needs of the individual is an important part of effective drug abuse treatment for criminal justice populations. Individuals differ in terms of age, gender, ethnicity and culture, problem severity, recovery stage and level of supervision needed. Individuals also respond differently to different treatment approaches and treatment providers. In general, drug treatment should address issues of motivation, problem solving and skill-building for resisting drug use and criminal behavior. Lessons aimed at supplanting drug use and criminal activities with constructive activities and at understanding the consequences of behavior are important. Treatment interventions can facilitate the development of healthy interpersonal relationships and improve the ability of the participant to interact with family, peers and others in the community.

Monitoring Treatment of Criminal Drug Abusers

Specialists should carefully monitor drug abuser during treatment. Individuals trying to recover from drug addiction may experience a relapse or return to drug use. Triggers for drug relapse vary. Common triggers are mental stress and associations with peers and social situations linked to drug use. An undetected relapse can progress to serious drug abuse, but detected drug use can present opportunities for therapeutic intervention. Monitoring drug use through urinalysis or other objective methods, as part of treatment or criminal justice supervision, provides a basis for assessing and providing feedback on the treatment progress. It also provides opportunities for specialists to intervene to address unconstructive behavior. Specialists can determine rewards and sanctions to facilitate change and modify treatment plans according to progress.

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