Treatment FAQ

what does blue light treatment do

by Dangelo Torphy Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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After letting the drug soak into your skin for an hour or two, the dermatologist shines blue light onto the treated skin for about 15 minutes. The light kills the cells that absorbed the sensitizing medication. Following the treatment, the damaged skin flakes off, leaving healthier, younger-looking skin behind.May 6, 2021

What to expect during blue light treatment?

May 06, 2021 · 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. Over time, they can turn into squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.

What type of lights are used for blue light therapy?

Aug 04, 2017 · Blue light therapy is most commonly used to treat sun damage and premalignant or malignant skin cancer growths. It can actually be used to prevent skin cancer and remove both precancerous skin...

How much does blue light therapy cost?

Mar 12, 2022 · Blue light’s therapeutic and anti-inflammatory properties also promote blood circulation, kill bacteria, and promote lymph detoxification for simple DIY acne treatments. Use on your arms, legs, abdomen, face or anywhere else your skin craves some TLC. Facemasks

How long does blue light treatment take?

Sep 29, 2021 · What Is Blue Light Therapy. Blue light therapy works with a photosensitizing agent to destroy damaged cells . Therefore, blue light therapy involves two elements to work properly: 1. A photosensitizing molecule that is activated by exposure to light. Its used often as an external skin cream but can also enter the bloodstream via a vein.

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

The treated lesions heal in about a week, however, the therapy makes people temporarily more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn. As a result, patients must use sunscreen and sun-protective clothing for the 24 to 48 hours immediately after treatment.

What are the benefits of blue light therapy?

Blue light therapy is most commonly used to treat sun damage and premalignant or malignant skin cancer growths. It can actually be used to prevent skin cancer and remove both precancerous skin lesions and cancerous skin lesions that haven't spread to other areas of the body (or metastasized).Apr 5, 2019

What does the blue light treatment on your face do?

Sun damage can sometimes be undone. A technique called photodynamic therapy directs wavelengths of blue fluorescent light to activate a topical medicine applied to the skin. It selectively kills abnormal, potentially cancerous cells in specific areas.

What are the side effects of blue light therapy?

Adverse effects of photodynamic therapymild to moderate pain.peeling skin.skin redness.crusting of the skin.tightness.swelling.itching.acne flare-up.

Can you watch TV after blue light therapy?

You can watch TV as long as you are at least 5-8 feet away from the TV screen. Wear a thick layer of sunblock that has at least SPF 30 and contains Zinc Oxide or Titanium Dioxide during the first 48-72 hours.

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.

What should you put on your face after blue light treatment?

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.

Can blue light damage skin?

Research shows blue light from electronic devices can lead to changes in your skin cells, including cell shrinkage and death. These speed up the aging process. Even exposures as short as 60 minutes can trigger these changes.Oct 5, 2020

Does Blue light help with acne scars?

Blue light therapy and Red light therapy alone can be used to target acne and acne scars. However, when Blue light therapy and red light therapy are used in conjunction with each other; they are much more effective at targeting inflammatory acne.

How many blue light treatments are needed?

The light kills the cells that absorbed the sensitizing medication. Following the treatment, the damaged skin flakes off, leaving healthier, younger-looking skin behind. For the best results, Dr. Benedetto says you'll probably need to repeat the treatment two or three times, about four to six weeks apart.May 6, 2021

Does blue light reduce 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

What is blue light therapy?

Blue light therapy uses light to treat certain conditions on or just under the skin. It’s considered a pain-free procedure. Blue light therapy becomes photodynamic therapy when it uses a combination of photosynthesizing (or light-sensitive) drugs and a high-intensity light source to activate them. The light used is a natural violet ...

How many treatments does blue light therapy have?

To treat a condition, it takes: one to four treatments for actinic keratosis (precancerous sun spots), with annual maintenance.

What is photodynamic therapy?

Photodynamic therapy can be used to treat skin cancer. It causes the photosynthesizing drug that’s been applied to the skin to react with oxygen, killing the cancer cells. It may also be used to trigger an immune system defense or damage the blood vessels feeding the cancer cells.

How long does it take to get light therapy?

Treatment sessions can be anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes long, depending on the area being treated, how large it is, and if a topical medication has been applied.

Can you get blue light therapy if you have a blister?

The biggest risk is for a potential skin infection if any post-treatment blisters occur and are popped or not cared for. You shouldn’t have blue light therapy if you have a rare condition called porphyria, which is a disorder of the blood that leads to heightened light sensitivity, or if you have allergies to porphyrins.

Is blue light therapy good for cancer?

Depression. In addition to treating skin conditions and cancer, blue light therapy can also be used as a treatment for depression. It’s especially effective when treating major depressive disorder with seasonal patterns, formerly known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

Can you use photodynamics for lupus?

You also shouldn’t use this therapy if you have lupus. Photodynamic therapy for cancer treatment, however, may come with more potential risks and complications depending on the area of treatment. Swelling in the area of treatment, for example, can cause trouble breathing.

What Is Blue Light Therapy?

Blue light therapy is a form of phototherapy that harnesses natural violet or blue light to treat conditions on or just underneath the skin. This type of light therapy can even become photodynamic when blue light is used to activate a light-sensitive drug used to address a specific condition or problem.

The Healing Powers of Blue Light Therapy

Clinical research suggests that blue light therapy is capable of healing and improving a number of conditions, including acne, skin cancer, fatigue and Parkinson’s disease.

Does Blue Light Therapy Have Side Effects?

Blue light therapy is generally safe, but it’s important to consider the potential side effects of blue light used in photodynamic treatment.

The Best Blue Light Therapy Products Available

Your dermatologist is the best person to perform professional photodynamic blue light therapy procedures, but you can also purchase products that allow you to enjoy the best of regular blue light therapy from the comfort of your couch.

What Does Blue Light Therapy Treat

There are several applications for blue light therapy. It is frequently used to prevent skin cancer and to treat precancerous and cancerous skin growths. Actinic keratoses is a type of pre-cancer that develops on the skin from years of sun exposure.

What About Insurance Coverage And Costs Of Photodynamic Therapy

Currently, some insurance plans cover the procedure under their provided benefits. However, with the many changes in insurance plans, it is always advisable to contact your insurance carrier prior to scheduling any treatment and confirm your eligibility and benefits.

What Are The Results

After treatment, patients have a more evenly-toned complexion, a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles, and overall younger-looking skin.

How Blue Light Therapy Works

Blue light therapy treatment is usually a very quick process, and is almost always done as an outpatient procedure. The exception to this may be photodynamic therapy on high-risk areas for cancer treatment.

How Long Does Blu

If you are scheduling a Blu-Light treatment, you should be prepared to stay a while. Depending on the part of the body being treated, treatment can take 2-4 hours. The Blu-Light treatments work by allowing the Levulan® to sit on the skin for a period of time.

How Is Recovery After Photodynamic Therapy

Recovery is usually fairly easy and uneventful. Many patients have mild dryness and a faint to mild sunburn of the treated area. A small percent of patients may have moderate or marked discomfort and a harder recovery because of more skin dryness, redness, or burning.

What The Experts Really Think

Andrew Birnie, MD, a dermatologist and skin-cancer specialist at the William Harvey and Kent and Canterbury Hospitals in the UK, told the Guardian earlier this year that until more research on blue light is done, the most important thing for people to wear every day is a broad-spectrum sunscreen.

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