Smartphone app can not cure acne

Smartphone applications can not cure acne

10/09/2011

The technical achievements of a smartphone are diverse, but acne can not be cured by such an all-round phone. The US Telecommunications Agency (FTC) has banned two application providers from filing a suit to make promotional promises that have not been scientifically proven.

Smartphones provide users with a variety of small programs that can perform many functions on the phone. Users can rotate and watch videos, play various games, or listen to music on their mobile phones. But such additional applications can also cure diseases such as acne?

The US Telecoms Supervisory Authority FTC has accused two providers of making false promises to users. To accompany it, the FTC supervisory authority filed a criminal complaint. Producers had claimed by means of two applications, also called short „Apps“, to free the user of the programs from annoying pimples. To ostensibly achieve this, one should download the programs "Acne Pwner" or "AcneApp". With the cell phone you should then irradiate the acne on face or body parts with a special light and different shades. After that, the impure places would disappear, so the promise. However, a scientifically sound proof of the effectiveness of the alleged acne light therapy could not provide the manufacturer of the applications. In an app but should have helped a dermatologist in the development of the program.

After the download, the mobile phone user should start the app and hold the display only a few inches from the affected skin. According to the instructions, only a few minutes of daily use would be enough to achieve effective therapy success. Thousands of users have already fallen for this unfounded promise. According to the agency, the program "Acne Pwner" Google's Android Market has been downloaded over 3,300 times for 99 cents. The „AcneApp“ had even greater financial success and was bought for around 11.600 times at the price of $ 1.99 in the Apple Itunes Appstore.

Light source is not enough for acne therapy
The FTC authority has now banned both sellers of the acne apps from promoting the promise that the program would have a healing benefit. The other side argued that some scientific studies had pointed out that special light treatments acne treated promising (see study results in the British Journal of Dermatology). In order to carry out such a light therapy, one needs however substantially stronger sources of light, than those in the Ipdone or other Smartphones are installed, responded the supervisory authority.

The chairman of the FTC authority Jon Leibowitz clarified: „Smartphones can make everyday life easier in different ways. An acne can not be cured by the use of applications“. But you are in contact with the providers of the dubious programs. It has signaled that an out-of-court settlement by means of a fine and suspension of the advertising promise is possible. In the main thing is finally achieved the goal to make it clear to users and providers of such mobile phone programs that apps have no medical benefit. In addition, they wanted to send a signal, so that no one else thinks about unsuspecting people with useless programs and false promises to pull the money out of his pocket. (Sb)

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Picture: Kigoo Images