High-quality and effective light therapies are mostly used to cure mild to severe acne outbreaks. Red and blue light therapies are terms used to describe a particular form of bright light therapy. Both of these colored lights have different purposes for their treatments.
Specialized light therapy is used to treat acne lesions, especially those caused by inflammation or bacteria. However, there’s not been any specific cure for acne so till now light therapy is considered to be one of the most reliable and effective treatments for acne.
So, does light therapy work on acne? In this blog, you’ll know all the answers to it and also how beneficial they can be to your skin.
The Contribution of Light Therapy on Acne Breakouts
Visible light therapy is classified into two forms: red light and blue light. Each has a distinct purpose and both contribute to improving skin condition.
Blue Light Therapy
It is the most often used treatment method for acne lesions.
The wavelength of blue light is antimicrobial, making it helpful in killing numerous germs that can build in your pores and oil glands, triggering acne breakouts.
In one study, participants with acne were treated with blue light for approximately five weeks and saw a significant improvement in the acne breakouts and even reduced acne marks on many participants.
Blue light treatment also helps to tone the skin by eliminating free radicals that cause your face to oxidize and age.
Moreover, light therapy is anti-inflammatory, which aids in the alleviation of acne symptoms such as skin redness.
Red Light Therapy
While red light therapy does not have the antibacterial properties of blue, it can be quite beneficial for skin treatment.
Red light therapy speeds up your healing process and even contributes to fading acne scars. Moreover, it even contains anti-inflammatory qualities that help prevent bacteria from causing future outbreaks.
This red light treatment also helps to penetrate well into the skin’s surface, assisting in the relaxation and regeneration of your condition.
So, if your acne is caused by a serious skin problem, you may get a lot of benefits from the consistent use of red light therapy.
What to Expect During Light Therapy Treatment on Acne Breakouts?
Before beginning your phototherapy sessions, you will consult a dermatologist. This is how they will determine whether you need to take these therapies or not.
Moreover, they’ll also inform you about what you will encounter before and following these sessions.
You may also be advised to stay away from retinol and other kinds of skincare products for at least two weeks before your light therapy treatment.
Moreover, you might also need to inform your dermatologist if you’re on anti-inflammatory drugs. They might also recommend you to avoid sun exposure (without applying sunscreen) or tanning beds during your treatment sessions.
Both red and blue light treatments typically last between 15 and 30 minutes. You will either be instructed to lie down or place the head on a special device to place your head on a special device that will keep your face stable throughout the session.
A trained light therapy specialist — generally a dermatologist will apply light pulses to various areas of your face in a circular pattern.
However, you may have some nervousness throughout these sessions, which is quite natural. Maintain as much calm and stability as possible to ensure that the sessions run smoothly.
Following these treatments, your skin may seem somewhat red or pink. However, these will fade away with time.
After the sessions, the skin may become even more sensitive, and if it happens you may need to call off the therapy sessions for a few days.
At certain times, your dermatologist may advise you to apply sunscreen every day which will help your skin from direct exposure to sunlight.
Moreover, it is highly improbable that you will require only one therapy session. Typically, it takes around two to even three sessions each week to begin, and this can last up to four to six weeks.
However, these therapies are often not covered by insurance policies and can cost up to $50 each session.
Does Blue Light Really Help With Acne Problems?
According to the AAD, blue light therapies are an excellent acne treatment. However, the results may vary across individuals and that acne may not be totally cleared. Moreover, a person will require multiple sessions, and benefits may not be visible for several weeks following the last treatment.
Numerous studies have discovered that this light therapy can be beneficial for those who suffer from acne.
A 2019 research showed that the majority of these research were modest in scope and none lasted longer than 12 weeks.
However, there are certainly no significant side effects with any of these therapies. So, you can easily undergo these therapies. We will still recommend you consult with your dermatologist first before going through these therapy sessions.
Bottom Line
So far light therapy treatment has been successful at treating acne outbreaks. It is essential to have reasonable expectations about the effectiveness of this therapy. However, this therapy might be a great remedy to cure acne breakouts, but it won’t completely stop it from coming.
It’s highly recommended that you explore less costly acne treatments first before undergoing light therapy, and make sure to consult your dermatologist to decide whether or not you qualify for this type of acne therapy session.
