Light therapy for acne

Acne is a common skin condition that can be treated in many ways. Sometimes conventional therapy for acne does not work and people start searching for other solutions. One of these solutions is, light therapy for acne.

Because it targets the root cause of acne, light therapy has been proven very effective against acne, even in the most severe cases. There are several types of light therapy for acne, based on the wavelength and frequency.

Blue Light Therapy

This type of light therapy uses blue light of low intensity and targets it on the area affected by acne. The blue light rays pass the outmost layer of the skin and destroy the bacteria underneath it, which are responsible for acne.

Blue light therapy is FDA-approved and confirmed in several clinical trials and studies. The equipment used for blue light therapy can be purchased at a reasonable price and used at home. The best way to use it is to hold the device approximately seven inches from the skin and direct the light 0n the acne for 20 minutes five or six times a week, until the acne is cleared.

IPL Therapy

IPL or Intense Pulse Light Therapy is a type of light therapy for acne that uses high intensity light. Since each pulse of IPL produces multiple wavelengths of light, it should not be confused with laser. Flash lamps used in this therapy are attached to capacitors, which produce heat. Heat is also very beneficial against acne, as it reduces the size of sebaceous glands. Smaller sebaceous glands mean less sebum, which, in turn, means less acne. This type of light therapy, like other types, also kills bacteria.

Diode Laser

Several studies have shown that inflamed acne vulgaris respond well to diode laser treatment. The 1450-nm diode laser beam reduces the size of sebaceous glands and thus prevents acne flare-ups. The laser beam also alters the way in which sebaceous glands function. After this therapy, the skin is much clearer and definitely less oily.

Side effects of light therapy for acne

People who wish to try out this form of acne treatment naturally wonder if it is safe and what side effects it includes. One of the biggest problems with this type of acne treatment is that it requires more than one session, which, for many people, can be expensive.

However, as it is mentioned above, blue light therapy devices are not very expensive and they can be used at home. Aside from some redness and drying which goes away after a short while, light therapy does not have any other adverse effects.