Does Blue Light Therapy work for acne? Effects, Benefits and Costs.

The beauty and skincare industries are forever changing. Companies are constantly creating new products and tools to benefit the user and help treat their skin. If you have ever dealt with acne or other skin conditions, you may find yourself trying every product on the shelf and getting little to no results. When it comes to treating the skin, trying out your luck with topical products may not be the best approach.

For many years, light therapy has been used to treat various skin conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo, acne and more. Though dermatologists offer light therapy sessions in office, there are various devices that will allow you to do the same from home, making treatment easier and more accessible.

Blue Light Therapy and Its Benefits:

One of the forms of light therapy is blue light. It consists of using specialized LED blue light to treat acne breakouts that are on or just below the surface of the skin. The wavelengths of the blue light are able to penetrate the skin and treat acne at the source – killing acne causing bacteria!

Acne is commonly caused by P. acnes bacteria, dirt, excess oils, and environmental toxins. These toxins are absorbed by the skin and can hide in pores and oil glands. Without the correct products, the bacteria, dirt, and toxins will clog the pores,which up causing an acne breakout as they push out. At times, even the most expensive products aren't sufficient in clearing out pores before acne begins to form. However, blue light has the power to penetrate the skin and reach the source of the breakouts. It will then do its job and kill any bacteria that hides in pores and oil glands and even help regulate excess sebum oil production – responsible for breakouts.

Inflammation and sebum play a major role in the care of acne breakouts. P. acnes not only causes acne, but it can also increase inflammation which will then worsen the acne. Our pores produce sebum to keep our skin healthy and hydrated as well as protect our skin. However, if our skin produces too much sebum, it will end up clogging our pores and lead to breakouts. Using blue light therapy on your skin will regulate the sebum production and improve inflammation, which will benefit the entirety of your skin.

Why Blue Light Therapy?

Apart from the benefits to the skin, blue light therapy is a great option for people who have sensitive skin. There is no use of topical products, meaning there is no risk of getting irritated skin from the ingredients or preservatives that are used in skincare products. Additionally, an at-home blue light therapy device will help you save money in the long run in comparison to sessions with a dermatologist.

Blue light therapy requires no skin down-time and is an ideal option for anyone who is dealing with acne. It is an effective treatment for all skin types, but one must keep in mind that it may not work on everyone. Though it is a great option, don't rely solely on blue light therapy. The best results will show for those who use blue light therapy while maintaining a daily skincare routine.

Blue light therapy is not a 'one time fix.' It is important to understand that since it is a treatment, it will consist of more than one session. On average, it takes about four to six sessions spread over 10 days to complete a blue light therapy treatment and see amazing results.

Light Therapy At Home

Studies show that these treatments are very effective — one study found that using powerful self-applied devices like Clinical Light Therapy device for as little as 7 days showed high efficacy in controlling acne and the number of acne lesions on participants' faces.