Treatment FAQ

what is blue light treatment for acne

by Prof. Savannah Schamberger MD Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Medicalnewstoday.com

1. Tea tree oil...is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory...

2. Jojoba oil...may help to repair damaged skin...

3. Aloe vera...is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory...

4. Honey...help to clear waste and debris from clogged pores...

5. Garlic...

6. Green tea...

7. Echinacea...

8. Rosemary...

Learn More...

Healthline.com

1. Apply apple cider vinegar...contains several organic acids...

2. Take a zinc supplement...important for cell growth, hormone production, metabolism and immune function...

3. Make a Honey and Cinnamon Mask...

4. Spot Treat With Tea Tree Oil...

5. Apply Green Tea to Your Skin...

6. Apply Witch Hazel...

7. Moisturize With Aloe Vera...

Learn More...

Top10homeremedies.com

1. Give your skin a gentle oatmeal rub...its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nature helps clear the acne away...

2. Apply a paste of aspirin...can reduce inflammation...

3. Try lemon juice...cleans out the dirt...

4. Dab Tea Tree Oil...

5. Apply Aloe Vera Gel...

6. Put an Ice Pack...

7. Use Basil...

8. Apply a Speck of Toothpaste...

Learn More...

Does blue light therapy really cure acne?

There is some evidence that blue light therapy can help treat acne or prevent an outbreak. However, research has not yet confirmed that it is very useful or better than topical retinoids and other treatments. Blue light also appears to be safe, with only mild adverse effects.

How to get rid of acne with blue light therapy?

  • Light therapy. The redness and swelling that can occur with acne is caused by a type of bacteria that can be killed by exposing your skin to different types of ...
  • Steroid injections. ...
  • Chemical peels. ...
  • Drainage and extraction. ...

What is the best light therapy for acne?

  • How does Blue Light Therapy Work?
  • Where Can You Get Blue Light Therapy? 1. Project E Beauty Light Photon LED Therapy Bacteria Killing Improve Sensitive Skin Rechargeable Beauty Device 2. ...
  • The effectiveness of Blue Light Therapy For Acne Reduction
  • Final Thoughts

Does light therapy for acne really work?

When it comes to acne, a review of research in the March–April 2017 issue of Clinics in Dermatology noted that both red and blue light therapy for acne reduced blemishes by 46 to 76 percent after 4 to 12 weeks of treatment.

Is blue light effective for acne?

The wavelength of blue light has an antimicrobial effect, making it effective at killing several types of bacteria that can collect in your pores and oil glands and cause breakouts. In one study, people with acne who were treated for five weeks with blue light therapy saw improvement in 77 percent of cases .

How long does it take to recover from blue light therapy?

It usually takes about two to six weeks to fully heal after PDT, depending on the area of your body that's being treated.

Why do dermatologists use a blue light?

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.

How many blue light treatments are needed for acne?

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.

Can blue light damage your skin?

Blue light is also known to penetrate the skin deeper, damaging essential proteins and resulting in wrinkles and loss of firmness. “Blue light contributes to premature aging, pigmentation, eye damage, cataracts, cell shrinkage, wrinkles and photo damage,” adds Dr.

How do I prepare for blue light treatment?

Preparation for PDT On the day of treatment, please come to the office with CLEAN SKIN (wash area prior to appointment) and free of any makeup, moisturizing creams, sunscreens, perfumes or lotions on the treatment area.

What should I put on my face after blue light treatment?

If the treated area is on your face, wear a wide-brimmed hat. After 48 hours (2 days), continue to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 on the treated area. If a scab forms on the treated area, don't remove or pick at it. Apply a moisturizer such as Aquaphor®, Vaseline®, or Cetaphil®.

Should I wash my face after blue light therapy?

Shower and wash the area immediately and as often as needed. Gently wash the area with soap and water two to three times a day, and apply Aquaphor or Vaseline to the area. Avoidance of harsh or abrasive cleansers is advised. Picking or scrubbing the skin could cause severe irritation or scarring.

How long is blue light treatment?

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. If it's just one small area being treated, like a single spot of skin cancer, the affected area will have blue light applied to it for about 17 minutes.

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.

Is red or blue light better for acne?

Red and Blue Light Therapy For Acne Treatment Combining red and blue light therapy treats acne more efficiently than blue light alone: as blue light destroys the acne-causing bacteria beneath the skin's surface, the red light reduces inflammation and accelerates healing.

Does LED light therapy help hormonal acne?

Chapas says LED light therapy only works on inflammatory acne that show signs of inflamed red bumps and pustules. It doesn't help cystic acne or hormonal variants, and comedonal (clogged-pore) acne.

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 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.

Why is my skin so sensitive to blue light?

acnes, which lives on your skin. And P. acnes just so happens to emit its own photosensitizer, which makes it sensitive to blue wavelengths of light.

How long does it take for skin to be sensitive to the sun?

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. Peeling: Over the next week or so, the treated areas will flake or crust over, then peel away.

Is blue light good for skin cancer?

For patients with many years of sun damage, blue light can be a great tool for reducing skin cancer risk and improving the look of your skin — and that should leave you feeling anything but blue. Advertising Policy.

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.

Can I buy blue light for acne?

It’s possible to buy blue light devices to treat acne at home. But they may not be worth the investment. “I’d recommend having a dermatologist do it,” Dr. Benedetto says. Advertising Policy. And because not everyone’s acne responds to blue light, purchasing a device might be a waste of time and money.

WHAT IS BLUE LIGHT THERAPY?

The skin cells are naturally abundant in light-absorbing elements - this property is commonly used in diverse variants of skin light therapy that utilizes light to exert particular regenerative processes in the skin layers.

HOW DOES BLUE LIGHT THERAPY WORK?

As mentioned above, the deepest that the blue light can get is the upper dermis which means it affects the epidermis and the upper parts of the sebaceous glands where bacteria and oil cause acne.

TRY BLUE LIGHT THERAPY YOURSELF....WITH A BONUS!

Treating acne could not have been as pleasant and effective as when using our Laduora Dual Function wand. Its unique design allows you to apply it as effortlessly as it gets rid of acne lesions.

What is the best light therapy for acne?

Blue light therapy is the type of light therapy most commonly used to address acne breakouts. The wavelength of blue light has an antimicrobial effect, making it effective at killing several types of bacteria that can collect in your pores and oil glands and cause breakouts. In one study, people with acne who were treated for five weeks ...

What is visible light therapy?

Light therapy — also called blue light, red light, or phototherapy — is a research-backed. treatment that’s safe for most people and relatively free of side effects.

What is the treatment for red skin?

After several repetitions of this process, the treatment is complete. After phototherapy , your treated skin may be pink or red.

What happens if you peel your skin after phototherapy?

After phototherapy, your treated skin may be pink or red. There might be some mild skin peeling from the treated area. Your skin may be more sensitive, and you might need to skip your typical skin care regimen for a few days afterward, especially scrubs, exfoliants, and topical vitamin A.

Is phototherapy good for acne?

Phototherapy is remarkably effective for treating acne lesions, especially acne that’s caused by inflammation or bacteria. While there’s no cure for acne, phototherapy is backed up by significant research as an acne management tool.

Can you use visible light on whiteheads?

According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, visible light therapy isn’t effective for whiteheads, blackheads, or nodular acne. It works best for people who have mild to moderate acne.

Can you use blue light at home?

In the last few years, light treatment masks and light devices that administer blue light therapy have become popular. the number of acne lesions on participants’ faces.

What Is Light Therapy?

Light therapy (also known as LED therapy or phototherapy) is a simple, noninvasive treatment for acne and other skin conditions. Check out this What Is Light Therapy article for a full breakdown.

LED Acne Treatments: Blue or Red Light Therapy?

Blue light and red light are the most common wavelengths used to treat acne, and they both have positive effects on acne and skin. Research is showing that light therapy may be most effective for acne when red and blue light therapy are used together.

How Does Light Therapy Work for Acne?

This post goes into detail about how light therapy works for skin and skin healing. Blue light therapy works by killing the harmful bacteria that gathers on the skin and causes acne. Red light therapy works by reducing inflammation, rejuvenating skin, and diminishing scarring on the skin. [1,2,6,9]

Where To Do Light Therapy Treatments for Acne

Light therapy acne treatments are widely available in both professional and at-home settings. Phototherapy has become a very common and popular acne treatment among dermatologists [15].

Light Therapy vs. Other Acne Treatments

Over 50 million people have acne concerns in the United States alone. Thousands of different products exist to treat acne, including prescription drugs, topical medications, and beauty products like washes and peels.

Chemical Peels vs. Light Therapy for Teenagers with Acne

Research has shown that LED light therapy is more effective against acne than certain chemical peels. [8] A 2017 trial with teenagers compared light therapy acne spot treatments with salicylic acid peels.

Risks and Side Effects of Light Therapy Treatments

In clinical settings, light therapy acne treatments have proven to be generally safe and well-tolerated. [1,3,10] The simple, noninvasive nature of light therapy is one of the reasons it has become such a popular acne treatment, especially when compared with some acne medications and chemical peels that can cause major side effects.

What light therapy is used to treat acne?

Light therapy devices normally use a combination of red + blue light , and work by killing acne bacteria, reducing skin oil production, and calming inflammation. Light therapy can be performed:

What light is used for acne?

Blue Light. Blue light has historically been the most commonly used light for the treatment of acne, although doctors now tend to prefer a combination of blue + red light. Blue light covers the spectrum from 407 to 420 nm.

What is the procedure called when you put a photo on your skin?

Doctors can also perform a procedure called photodynamic therapy , which involves topically applying a photosensitizer to the skin and "incubating" the skin before light is shone. This tends to produce better results, but also comes with more side effects. You can read more about photodynamic therapy here .

How does light penetrate skin?

When light is shone on the skin, it penetrates through various skin layers where it may help: Kill some bacteria: Acne is in part a bacterial disease. Reduce skin oil (sebum) production: Less skin oil normally means less acne. Calm inflammation: Acne is at its core an inflammatory disease.

How long does it take to light a skin?

Drawbacks include incomplete, temporary, and often poor results, and difficulty in application--it can take 10-60 minutes a day to treat the skin with light.

What color light penetrates deep into the skin?

The wavelength of light determines how deeply light can penetrate the skin, with violet and blue light penetrating only into shallow layers of the skin and red light penetrating into the deepest layers of the skin. Red, blue, or a combination of red and blue light can be used to treat acne. Typically, a combination is used.

Does blue light kill acne?

While blue light works by killing acne bacteria, red light penetrates more deeply into the skin and reduces the production of inflammatory molecules that contribute to the formation of acne. 11

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