Light Therapy For Acne: A Modern Alternative

Technology Offers An Acne Solution

People used to rely so much on medicated cream, lotion, or soap to treat acne.  Although these options are still widely used because of their effectiveness, there’s an increasing number of people who want to resort to more modern methods of treating acne.

Light therapy for acne is the most popular technological innovation used for treating this condition.  It makes use of different types of light emission to get rid of acne lesions. 

Because of its antibacterial effects, sunlight was first thought to be a solution to acne problems.  But considering the long-term effects of excessive sunlight exposure, scientists have found good alternatives to this proposition.

Blue-Light Acne Treatment

Visible blue-violet rays present in sunlight were found to activate porphyrin, a substance found in the acne culprit Propionibacterium acnes.  An increase in porphyrin production kills the acne bacteria. 

The first step to this painless therapy is applying a special cleanser over the skin.  After putting on a pair of protective eye goggles, the patient will be spending the next 20 minutes under the blue light. 

Blue-light therapy is good for mild forms of acne.  Tracking studies have shown that blue-light application for three consecutive days reduces acne bacteria in the pores by 99%.  Blue-light acne treatment is usually followed by red light application.  Red light soothes acne inflammation and has a relaxing effect on the skin. 

Many companies sell blue-light acne treatment gadgets for home use.  If you have one of these, you should be extra careful in following the instructions provided by the manufacturer.  Such device can cause further damage to your skin if not used properly.  You always have the option to visit skin care clinics run by professionals or experts, as they are trained to administer blue-light acne treatment.

Pulsed Light and Heat Energy

Another type of light therapy for acne is the Intense Pulsed Light application or IPL.  This treatment is suitable for moderate acne.  IPL does not only destroy Propionibacterium acnes.  It also shrinks the overactive oil glands that cause acne.  Heat energy, along with the green-yellow pulsed light, is used to create a lasting effect on the affected area without harming the surrounding skin tissues.

It might take about five IPL sessions to treat the acne, but significant results are already noticeable after the second session.  This type of therapy can cause temporary redness on the skin, but it will eventually fade after a few days.

Photodynamic Therapy

For severe and stubborn acne, your doctor might recommend you to undergo photodynamic therapy or PDT.  This type of treatment uses either blue light or intense pulsed light.  Aminolevulinic acid, a photosensitizer, is applied to the skin before exposing the patient to the generated light.  The photosensitizer makes the treatment more intense compared to the other two types mentioned above. 

Redness, peeling, and itching might occur as a side effect of PDT.  These may last for a day or two, and the patient will be advised to wear a sunblock and a hat to lessen the side effects.  Most doctors recommend that they perform PDT during late afternoons or evenings to avoid complication of side effects.  The number of sessions required for you to go through depends on your acne condition.

Next we will discuss the best birth control for acne in this section on new acne treatments.