A Scottish company is today launching a revolutionary new product for treating acne.
Ambicare Health is unveiling the Lustre Pure Light at the International Master Course on Ageing trade show in Paris.
All 500 of the first batch have been bought on pre-order by skincare clinics and private health practices, including Aberdeen's Temple Aesthetics and Medicalternatives in Edinburgh.
The Lustre is a portable device that provides intensive photodynamic (PTD) therapy. It consists of a handheld control panel attached to three small lamps that are worn on the face and which are fitted with light-emitting diodes.
The light from the LEDs – which comes from the safe, blue part of the light spectrum – produce a harmless natural chemical called porphyrin which summons free radicals to destroy acne-causing bacteria.
According to Ambicare, the device provides the same amount of safe acne-destroying light as would be received standing at the equator on a clear, sunny day.
The system can be worn at home which gives more flexibility than traditional methods involving lamps in hospitals or health centres where patients have to wear goggles and remain still during the treatment.
The Fife firm hopes to sell £500,000 worth of the devices by the end of 2012 after lining up European distribution deals.
Gary Conroy, sales and marketing director, said: "It is an exciting time for the business. We have signed distributors in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg and are in discussions for France, Germany and Scandinavia, with a view to launching in Australia and the Far East later this year.
"Historically phototherapy has been delivered using lamps with patients having to wear goggles. Getting access to the lamps has traditionally been difficult.
"This is a technological breakthrough. Even sitting in front of a lamp at home you are stuck in one place but in our product you are free to do other things.
"You can be quite active, you could probably do zumba in it."
There are no plans to place stock with high street retailers, with the focus on distributing Lustre though private clinics and dermatology professionals.
Mr Conroy, former head of aesthetic dermatology in the UK and Ireland for Sanfi-Aventis, confirmed there would need to be an increase in staffing numbers to handle the expected increase in business.
He added: "The first step will be rolling out a commercial team to service the accounts we have attracted so far."
The company's lead product, Ambulight PDT, launched commercially two years ago, is a plaster for treating skin cancer using photodynamic therapy. It is sold in Europe through distribution partners including Bo Pharma, Alpharad, Biosonic and Fritsch Medical.
Ambicare was spun out of Ninewells Hospital in Dundee and St Andrews University in 2004 by dermatology professor James Ferguson and organic semi-conductor professor Ifor Samuel.
Investors include Longbow Capital and the Scottish Venture Fund.