Does Blue Light Therapy Really Work On Acne?

It’s no secret that constantly applying creams and lotions – along with taking medication morning and night – can become exhausting, expensive, and messy after awhile. If you’ve been plagued with acne since you hit puberty it might seem like a necessary inconvenience of life. After all, what else can you do except diligently apply your creams and hope that you’ll wake up one morning with clear and beautiful skin?

There is another treatment that you might not have heard of before – and it has the power to put an end to your acne suffering once and for all. Perhaps you’re sick of spending your monthly income on acne medication, or maybe you’re tired of seeing stained clothes and bed sheets in your laundry from all of the benzyl peroxide treatment. Whatever the case may be, it’s time to consider another acne treatment that may be the answer you’re looking for:

Blue Light Therapy

Blue Light Therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for acne. The affected areas are exposed to narrow bands of high-intensity blue light, which then go to work to kill acne-causing bacteria like P. acnes. Blue Light Therapy should only be used on normal acne vulgaris that has not responded to other acne treatments like topical creams and mild prescriptions. If you’re concerned that a laser light therapy might increase your risk of developing skin cancer, don’t worry. Today’s treatments are devoid of all UV rays, so you won’t be exposing your skin to any harmful free-radical forming light.

So what should you expect if you’ve signed up for Blue Light Therapy? The typical treatment is given over the course of eight sessions, which can last up to four weeks. Each session will be about fifteen minutes. Some side effects that may be experienced during the course of the treatment include temporary pigment changes, dryness, and swelling of the area that’s been treated. Many patients report seeing clear skin about halfway through the treatment sessions. However, like with all acne treatments, there are some patients who do not experience relief from their acne.

Blue Light Therapy is not approved for patients with nodular acne, which is one of the most severe forms that acne can take. It is ideal for mild to moderate acne sufferers who’ve been unable to clear up their stubborn skin with other treatments. If you’re considering using Blue Light Therapy, talk to your doctor or dermatologist to determine if it’s right for you. The type of acne you have will determine your eligibility for treatment, but don’t be discouraged if this therapy isn’t right for you—there are plenty of treatments out there to help you get clear and beautiful skin!