How blue light therapy really does reduce acne
Many people are put off from trying blue light therapy for acne due to the relatively high cost of buying a Dermalux (now called Dr Kern BeautySkin) or N-Lite blue light therapy unit.
However, recent tests suggest that an acne light box may be worth the investment for sufferers of persistent mild to moderate acne.
Medical studies on blue light therapy
In treatment studies carried out at the Hammersmith Hospital, London, patients with moderate acne were treated with various wavelengths of blue light and the results compared with patients treated just with benzoyl peroxide, a commonly used topical cream for acne.
The combination of red and blue light, as used in the DermaLux and N-Lite unit, performed well, reducing the activity of acne by more than 75% after a three-month period, and these results were better than the benzoyl peroxide treatment.
The research concluded that red/blue light therapy is an effective treatment for mild to moderately severe acne.
So how does light therapy help?
P.acnes is the name of the bacterium that causes acne and everyone has it on their skin, usually in the hair follice. This sort of bacterium doesn't like oxygen, and too much oxygen will kill it.
Most acne treatments work by killing the bacteria and this reduces inflammation and so clears up the acne spots.
Bacteria busting blue light therapy
P.acnes is unusual because it uses a chemical called porphyrin to help it breathe. However, when exposed to certain wavelengths of light, porphyrin produces oxygen that kills the P. acnes bacterium.
The wavelengths of light required to kill porphyrin are found in part of the blue light spectrum, and this is used by both the Dermalux and N-Lite boxes.
The wavelengths of light used are outside those that will cause damage to the skin. So there is no risk of sunburn, ageing of the skin, or the induction of skin cancer.
Getting the most out of blue light therapy
Whether you've chosen an LED light therapy device or one using fluorescent light, it will come with red and blue bulbs designed to radiate at a very specific frequency.
The blue light kills the P. acnes bacteria, which causes acne and the red light waves help to sooth and heal, helping to speed up the healing of spots.
For the first eight weeks, you should use the light therapy device for at least 15 minutes a day (30 minutes a day for more severe cases) and be sure to use the eye protection goggles which should have been provided with the device.
You will notice an improvement in your acne after just a couple of weeks but do continue with your regime for about two months. After that, you can reduce the treatment to just twice a week (but step it ujp again if your acne worsens again).
Most people find that 'top up' sessions a couple of times a week are enough to keep them acne free.
>> Reader's Review of the Dermalux/BeautySkin Blue-Red Light Therapy Acne Lamp
