Brian Kamps examines his shiny complexion in the mirror, gently picking at potential blemishes and running his fingers over scars from years of ruthless breakouts. The strict skin regime begins. First the cleanser, which he aggressively rubs into a foamy lather. Rinse. Then the clay mask, which he leaves on for 10 minutes while he picks out his clothes for work. Rinse. Then the oil-free moisturizer that contains alpha hydroxyl acids, which he blends vigorously, deeply concentrating on thoroughly saturating every inch of his face. After years of treatments and medications, Kamps, 25, cannot seem to completely shake his awful acne.

Many people deal with acne, which can continue into adulthood and cause a painful and embarrassing complexion. Ranging from volcanic zits to minor, pesky blemishes, about 80 percent of the U.S. population suffers from various forms of this bacteria-based affliction, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

Clearlight is a new acne laser treatment that uses a high-intensity, blue-violet light to target the bacteria that causes inflammatory acne. Pledging safety, immediate effectiveness and no unwanted side effects, this new, UV-free therapeutic light technology, approved by the Food and Drug Administration late last year, is a promising candidate for near annihilation of acne.

Kamps, a constant acne sufferer since the eighth grade, tried every cream and cleanser at Long’s, Proactive Solution and various prescribed medications, which posed potential side effects such as liver failure and even rectal bleeding. “Every time I went to the doctor, they gave me antibiotics,” Kamps says of his teenage years. “It’s just not right. Doctors pass out antibiotics like candy.”

The Clearlight process, which is performed twice a week for four weeks, has been described as a relaxing experience. In a stark white, sterile-as-a-doctor’s-office room, the patient lies down on an examination table. After putting on safety goggles, the patient's face is illuminated by a gentle blue light for 20 minutes. Feeling no more than a gentle warming sensation, the rays dry out the Propioni-bacterium acnes (P. acnes bacteria), the bacteria that causes blemishes. This system, which can be done easily on a lunch break, is so laid-back that patients sometimes fall asleep.

“A lot of people are skeptical to the treatment because you can’t feel it,” says Danielle Pengelly, a medical esthetician at the Laser Center of Marin. She insists Clearlight is the safest holistic approach to acne treatment. “It’s not a cure,” she says, “but I’d say 80 percent of our patients have seen really good results.”

While most acne cases begin in those awkward, pubescent teenage years, 93 percent of cases resolve at about the age of 25, according to a Leeds University study. The remaining 7 percent are potential acne sufferers up until age 45.

For many of the patients at the Laser Center of Marin, who typically range anywhere from 14 to 25-years-old, Clearlight is a last resort. “The technology is somewhat new and not as well-known as other traditional methods,” says Karen Ogg, office manager at the Laser Center of Marin.

According to Pengelly, many people come in frustrated after trying numerous topical treatments. Even Accutane, a strong antibiotic with possible side effects including depression, psychosis, violent behavior and, on occasion, suicidal tendencies, has failed to zap the zits.

With the amount of studies on Clearlight limited, Dr. Issac Neuhaus, clinical instructor at UCSF’s Department of Dermatology, believes its effectiveness hasn’t been determined. “It’s promising, but it’s not there yet,” he says, adding it isn’t a commonly used treatment.

Kamps, a firm believer in natural solutions to acne like diet and exercise, says he’d give Clearlight a try, but is concerned with the cost. The treatment can run $80-$100 per session and is not covered by health insurance. Despite the hefty fee and early stages of clinical trials, Clearlight provides a promising option in the never-ending war against acne.