Treatment FAQ

how successful is blue light treatment

by Hollie Gottlieb Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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To put it simply, blue light therapy is just as effective as laser treatment — not effective at all. Blue light therapy for spider veins is often recommended by medical spas because they don’t have to be administered by trained doctors. And, yes, after several expensive sessions, you might start seeing a difference.

Shining blue light onto acne-prone skin can kill the bacteria and clear up blemishes. But it's not magic. Blue light therapy doesn't work for everyone, and it might take several sessions to find out if your acne is sensitive to blue light.May 6, 2021

Full Answer

Does blue light therapy really work?

Aug 04, 2017 · Blue light therapy is an effective treatment for skin conditions when used repeatedly and when the individual being treated makes maintenance appointments. To treat a …

What is blue light treatment for skin cancer?

Mar 12, 2022 · The Healing Powers of Blue Light Therapy Acne. Blue light therapy can be used anywhere on the body to reduce and reverse signs of acne. So whether pimples are... Skin …

What are the risks of blue light therapy?

Blue Light therapy, or photodynamic therapy, can be an effective treatment for severe acne.Blue Light therapy is an outpatient procedure that's also used to treat certain types of cancer. How …

What is blue light therapy treatment for dark circles under eyes?

May 06, 2021 · Blue light therapy can help clear acne and treat sun damage and some kinds of skin cancer. A dermatologist explains how it works and who can benefit from feeling blue.

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Is blue light treatment effective?

Blue light therapy is an effective treatment for skin conditions when used repeatedly and when the individual being treated makes maintenance appointments. To treat a condition, it takes: one to four treatments for actinic keratosis (precancerous sun spots), with annual maintenance.Apr 5, 2019

How long does it take for blue light therapy to work?

Anywhere between two and five sessions are necessary, at 2-4 week intervals, for optimal results. Some people may notice results after a single session.

How many blue light treatments are needed?

Treatment is typically administered every two to four weeks, and most patients require a series of three to five appointments. The number of treatments needed depends on your skin type and the severity of your acne.

What does your face look like after blue light treatment?

Following PDT, the treated areas can appear red with some peeling for 2-7 days. Temporary swelling of the lips and around your eyes can occur for a few days. Darker pigmented patches called liver spots can become temporarily darker and then peel off leaving normal skin. (This usually occurs over seven to ten days.)

Can you watch TV after blue light therapy?

Stay out of the sun and away from bright indoor lighting for 48 hours after your treatment: Limit your time in front of a computer screen and do not watch TV for long periods of time. You should sit at least 10 feet from the TV.

Does Blue Light Therapy remove age spots?

This treatment can help get rid of unwanted freckles, age spots and hyperpigmentation. The energy that is emitted from the light is able to create micro pores within the capillaries which causes them to shrink. In 3 to 4 week intervals, the procedure is repeated until the desired results are achieved.

Can I wash my face after blue light therapy?

Keep skin moisturized with Hydrocortisone 1% ointment or Aquaphor for the next 3 to 4 days. Wash your face with the Gentle Vitamin Cleanser. You may experience mild swelling for 1 to 3 days after treatment.

Does Bluelight remove spider veins?

Blue-light therapy may be more likely to work on smaller spider veins than larger varicose veins, but it may not have a noticeable effect. However, blue-light therapy has been shown to work as an acne treatment, so it may help people with other issues related to the appearance of the skin.Sep 9, 2021

Can you wear makeup after blue light therapy?

Continue to avoid sunlight/UV light, remain indoors during the daytime for 48 hours after treatment. If you need to go out, wear a hat or protective clothing, use a SPF 30 sunscreen with zinc oxide. Mineral based makeup may be used. Avoid shaving the treated areas while skin is still irritated.

How long do you have to stay out of the sun after blue light therapy?

Again, you should avoid all direct sun exposure for 48 hours after your PDT light treatment. During the 48 hours after your PDT light treatment you may experience redness, swelling, and stinging of your treated skin, similar to the reaction that you might have with a bad sunburn. Your skin may feel hot.

How often can you do blue light therapy?

You can use your blue light therapy device up to three times per day. We recommend making light therapy a part of your skincare routine so that you use your device at least twice a day — once in the morning, and once before bed. That way, consistent use is easy!Mar 19, 2021

How long does it take for actinic keratosis to become cancerous?

The length of time for an AK to progress to an SCC was determined to be 24.6 months (95% confidence interval, 21.04-28.16 months).

How Blue Light Therapy Works

Blue Light therapy uses a blue light laser to kill P. acnes, the bacteria that cause acne. When too many of these bacteria grow in your skin, you'll suffer severe acne inflammation that could even lead to scarring. However, these bacteria are vulnerable to blue light, and it kills them.

The Blue Light Procedure Explained

Originally, Blue Light therapy was administered by dermatologists, who performed the procedure in their offices. When the procedure was new, dermatologists used a medication called Levulan, which contains ALA, to sensitize the patient's skin; this medication was applied about thirty minutes before the direct application of blue light.

What to Expect from Blue Light Treatment

If you're receiving Blue Light therapy from a dermatologist who feels that you require a sensitizing agent to make the therapy more effective, then he will apply Levulan about half an hour before your treatment, though you may need to wait as long as an hour for the sensitizing agent to take effect.

What is blue light treatment?

Blue light treatment for skin cancer. Blue light treatment is most often used as part of a treatment called photodynamic therapy . This therapy can treat some kinds of skin cancer and precancerous spots known as actinic keratoses. These reddish, scaly patches are caused by severe sun damage.

How does blue light affect skin?

However, blue light does have some side effects when it’s used with a photosensitizer as part of photodynamic therapy for skin cancer or sun damage: 1 Irritation: After treatment, your skin will probably be red and may feel slightly burned, like a sunburn. “You can apply a cool compress and use gentle moisturizing creams to help with the discomfort,” Dr. Benedetto advises. 2 Sun sensitivity: Your skin will be more sensitive to sunlight for two or three days, so skip the beach and rock your biggest hat. “It’s important to be really good about using sunscreen,” Dr. Benedetto says. 3 Peeling: Over the next week or so, the treated areas will flake or crust over, then peel away. You might feel a little like a lizard, but that peeling is a good thing: It leaves behind fresher, healthier skin.

Can a dermatologist help with acne?

Dermatologists can steer you toward the acne treatments that are most likely to work for you. If blue light is a good option, the devices in the doctor’s office are more powerful than those you can buy for at-home use.

Is blue light therapy effective?

To put it simply, blue light therapy is just as effective as laser treatment — not effective at all. Blue light therapy for spider veins is often recommended by medical spas because they don’t have to be administered by trained doctors. And, yes, after several expensive sessions, you might start seeing a difference.

What is blue light therapy?

Blue Light Therapy for spider veins is a method in which blue light or laser is used to treat spider veins. The laser is non-UV in nature and emits photons that generate heat. The heat can destroy the damage blood vessel over time. As such, the damaged vein shrinks and eventually dissolves.

What is a spider vein?

Spider Veins, scientifically called Telangiectasias, are a small network of blood vessels visible just under the surface of the skin.

What is the best treatment for spider veins?

Sclerotherapy is the most effective and permanent method to treat spider veins. It is a minimally-invasive procedure in which a medicine called Sclerosant is injected into the damaged vein.

How long does it take to get rid of spider veins?

It works immediately and you don’t need to come back for multiple treatment sessions. It can get rid of spider veins permanently. The entire process takes just about 30 minutes.

What is the name of the veins on the skin?

Spider Veins, scientifically called Telangiectasias, are a small network of blood vessels visible just under the surface of the skin. They are called “spider veins” because they look like red spider webs. Spider veins generally occur on the legs, feet, thighs, and the face.

Can spider veins cause ulcers?

While spider veins themselves aren’t dangerous, vein disease is extremely risky and needs to be treated immediately. If left untreated, venous insufficiency can result in bleeding, skin infections, and ulcers.

What is blue light therapy?

Blue light therapy is an FDA approved in-office treatment for Actinic Keratoses (precancerous lesions). Insurances typically cover the full cost of the treatment, but this varies by insurance. During the treatment, we apply a topical photosensitizing drug to the skin. This medication is absorbed preferentially by the precancerous skin cells within ...

Can you get blue light therapy for actinic keratoses?

Blue Light Therapy is a great option for anyone with multiple actinic keratoses on the face, scalp, or ears. Speak to one of our board-certified dermatologists at your next full body skin check to get the process started. We will need to get insurance prior-authorization before scheduling your Blue Light treatment.

What is the best treatment for precancerous lesions?

June 24th, 2020. One of my favorite treatments for precancerous lesions, called Actinic Keratoses, is Blue light Phototherapy. Many of my patients who have tried Blue Light Therapy have a strong opinion about it. It is a bit like licorice in that way—you either love it or hate it.

What is blue light therapy?

What Does Blue Light Therapy Work for? Photodynamic therapy is used by oncologists, cosmetic surgeons, optometrists, and dermatologists. It’s especially helpful at treating multiple types of cancer, especially those with tumors or growths that lie close to the skin’s surface.

Does blue light therapy help with jaundice?

Jaundice. Chinese researchers found that combining blue light therapy with a probiotic product known as bifico can significantly improve jaundice in babies and speed their recovery. Non-melanoma skin cancer. Psoriasis. Rickettsia. A bacterial infection transmitted through the bites of lice, mites, fleas, and ticks.

Does doxorubicin help with breast cancer?

According to Brazilian researchers, combining the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin with low power blue light emitting diode (LED) can decrease the negative side-effects of chemotherapy in breast cancer patients. Enlarged sebaceous glands.

What is the effect of blue light on oxidative stress?

According to Loknath Chen, Associate Professor, Biotechnology Department, Mingchuan University, Taiwan, “Visible blue light irradiation triggers the natural photosensitizer molecules (curcumin or Flavin derivatives) to produce the reactive oxygen species (ROS) to increase the oxidative stress at local zone in a sort time.”.

What is the best treatment for onychomycosis?

Spanish researchers found that photodynamic therapy can cure onychomycosis, a fungal infection of toe or finger nails. Light sources used in photodynamic therapy include lasers, intense pulsed light, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), red light, blue light, and other visible lights such as the sun.

How long does it take for blue light to fade?

Overall, Hu says, blue light therapy “is safe and well tolerated.” Most patients experience a temporary sensitivity to light following their treatment; however, this will fade within about six weeks.

How long does photosensitivity last?

This can last anywhere between 24 and 72 hours. Therefore, it’s important to wear proper sun protection (e.g., a hat, long sleeves, sunglasses, and sunblock).

Blue Light Therapy Treatment

Low powered lasers eliminate the bacterium that causes acne from the outer layers of skin. Repeating this process provides patients with an effective method for acne removal, though some types of acne actually become worse when hit by the Blue Light lasers.

Result Variances

Depending on the type of acne that patients suffer from, they must expect different results. No conclusive evidence proves that all types of acne will get eliminated through the use of Blue Light Therapy sessions, though some have in fact shown major positive results.

How long does blue light therapy last?

Most Blue Light Therapy treatments happen over a span of a month or longer with multiple laser applications. This provides a lengthy process that often leads patients to other faster acting choices.

What is blue light therapy?

Blue Light Therapy involves the use of high intensity laser treatment to reduce acne, most often on the facial skin. Advancements in modern technology have allowed the procedure to grow more effective and less risky to patients.

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