Science of Heat Treatment of Acne

With Tyrell’s ClearPoint™ acne heat treatment technology, P. acnes is destroyed by a process called heat shock response. Heat shock response is the reaction bacteria have to heat, whereby they transcript a number of their genes and activate heat shock proteins. These heat shock proteins participate in the bacteria’s death by causing the bacteria to self-destruct. P. acnes self-destruct in the acne lesion preventing infection and allowing the skin to return to a healthy state. Fortunately, the level of heat required is not sufficient to cause damage to the skin.

Tyrell performed numerous lab studies on P. acnes to assess the temperature range in which heat shock response occurs in this bacteria, including a waterbath and a thermal cycler study, known for accuracy to tenths of a degree. DNAtrix, Inc., a molecular pharmaceutical company jointly owned by Dr. Conrad and the Board of Regents of the University of Texas, performed the thermal cycler testing, which was critical in determining if P. acnes’ heat shock response occurs below the point of heat damage of human skin. Furthermore, these tests were critical in assessing the rate of P. acnes death at various temperatures over time (temperature versus time). The results indicated significant death of P. acnes at a temperature well below the thermic damage of human skin.

Clinical Study Results (PDF 346 KB)
Significant Efficacy and Safety of Low Level Intermittent Heat in Patients with Mild to Moderate Acne.