Blue light therapy has proven highly successful at reducing the severity of acne. It uses blue LED lights to penetrate skin pores and kill any bacteria causing inflammation that lead to acne flare-ups.
Conditioning the skin also helps combat oxidative stress that contributes to premature skin aging and reduce the appearance of scarring caused by acne breakouts.
1. It can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight
UVA and UVB light from both natural sunlight and digital devices such as your phone are known to be detrimental to skin health, yet new research indicates that exposure to blue wavelengths could also pose risks to it. Unfortunately, blue light exposure occurs daily regardless of where or how we spend our time: from outdoor sunbathing sessions or viewing digital devices.
Dermatologists are increasingly turning to light therapy to treat acne and other skin conditions. Photodynamic therapy uses photosensitizing agents in combination with specific wavelengths of blue light to selectively destroy abnormal cells without harming healthy tissue.
This treatment can also be used to address precancerous spots known as actinic keratoses and non-melanoma skin cancers, and those suffering from chronic inflammatory skin diseases like psoriasis.
To use this treatment, you’ll sit under a blue light device which emits pulses of light onto your skin. These pulses may cause temporary swelling or bruising which generally resolves in two to four weeks.
Prior to receiving blue light treatments, it’s advisable to wear protective goggles. Your physician may also apply moist gauze during your session for added protection.
During a treatment session, your skin will be exposed to blue light that kills bacteria that causes breakouts and reduces production of sebum (oil). After each treatment session, it’s important that no fingers or hands come into contact with your face afterward and after some days may notice redness or peeling as a result of it.
Protecting yourself with SPF 30+ sunscreen during and post treatment can also be crucial, since sun damage can aggravate acne further. Applying sunblock can protect the skin from further sun damage which could exacerbate symptoms further.
Although blue light therapy devices are available online for purchase, you are more likely to reap its fullest benefits when taken at a doctor’s office as the devices there are more powerful than what can be purchased for home use.
Studies conducted to date have demonstrated that blue light treatment can help control acne; however, it should not be seen as a cure and may not work for everyone.
2. It can make your skin more sensitive to makeup
Blue light therapy is an increasingly popular treatment option for many skin conditions, including acne. As it’s non-invasive and side effect-free, blue light therapy may help reduce inflammation, breakouts and improve overall skin health.
At one end of the visible spectrum lies blue lights (between 450 and 495 nanometers). Although blue lights don’t penetrate as deeply into skin cells like other wavelengths (red or yellow), they still offer effective treatments at surface level.
Natural sunlight provides this form of illumination, and has been found to quickly accelerate the body’s healing process by stimulating collagen and elastin – two proteins essential for firming, moisturizing and improving skin tone and texture.
Blue light therapy can also be effective in treating other skin concerns, including fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation issues and redness. Blue light also works to create more even skin tone while decreasing blemishes – according to Marnie Nussbaum, M.D. of New York City-based dermatology practice.
Marnie claims this method works because bacteria are sensitive to blue light, triggering it to shut off their metabolism when exposed. By killing off these harmful organisms at their source, blue light therapy can prevent breakouts while healing your skin internally.
A licensed skincare professional is best qualified to assess if you qualify for this treatment option, and recommend products best tailored for you and your unique skin needs. She suggests trying a device from Tria that utilizes an LED light to target acne-causing bacteria while simultaneously decreasing redness and inflammation.
Before beginning a blue light treatment, your technician will typically perform a gentle cleansing and apply any topical medication or treatments as necessary before using a machine which emits light for 15 to 90 minutes depending on the specific skin concern being addressed.
3. It can make your skin more sensitive to acne medications
Blue light therapy is a non-invasive treatment that utilizes blue light wavelengths to neutralize bacteria that causes acne. This natural approach offers an alternative to harsh topical and oral medication, which often produce side effects such as itching, redness or swelling.
Many have experienced positive results after receiving blue light therapy from their physician; however, you can also purchase a device for home use to self-administer this form of treatment.
Studies conducted using self-applied blue light devices demonstrated an average 29% reduction in acne symptoms after 15 days, 41% reduction after 3 months, 54% after 6 months and less itching and better skin texture after daily usage of this product.
While this result is positive, it should be remembered that few studies exist regarding the long-term effects of blue light therapy and therefore we recommend consulting a physician prior to beginning any form of blue light treatment.
This treatment may also be supplemented with light-sensitizing medication known as a photosensitizer for enhanced efficacy, applied topically before exposure to blue light.
Blue light penetrates the outer layer of skin and destroys bacteria, helping to reduce inflammation associated with acne while also improving pitting and scarring on its appearance.
Actinic Keratosis can lead to more serious forms of skin cancer. Light therapy has also proven effective at treating sunspots, skin damage and rosacea safely and effectively.
Blue light therapy has become an increasingly popular non-toxic alternative to conventional acne medication. Individuals who have used this therapy in the past report that it helped control breakouts while giving them a clearer, brighter complexion.
One of the primary drawbacks to using this form of treatment for acne is that it may make your skin more sensitive to other medications prescribed to combat it, such as Benzoyl peroxide and Accutane. If this happens, symptoms could include itching, stinging, peeling and reddening of skin.
4. It can make your skin more sensitive to the sun
Home blue light devices have become a popular solution to treat acne and seasonal affective depression symptoms. While they’re an effective means of treating skin conditions at home (especially with more powerful devices), they should never be seen as a replacement for professional medical advice from your dermatologist.
Dermatologists have long recognized that blue light’s anti-inflammatory properties can help combat skin inflammation. Because of this, blue light therapy can be used to treat conditions like psoriasis, eczema and rosacea.
Blue light therapy may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, so if this therapy is part of your skincare routine it’s advisable to avoid direct sunlight altogether. Oxidative stress caused by blue light therapy has also been known to break down collagen in skin tissue leading to premature aging and hyperpigmentation according to dermatologist Elizabeth Bloom.
Bloom suggests using a moisturizer containing retinoid, along with antioxidants like vitamin C or iron oxide, to offset the oxidative stress caused by blue light exposure. She also advises applying sunscreen before venturing out into sunlight for any reason.
As part of their treatment for sun damage, the FDA has approved photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT combines blue light with medication that will make your skin more sensitive to blue light. PDT can be particularly useful for people suffering from actinic keratosis – rough and scaly patches on skin often caused by overexposure to UV radiation – as this therapy makes the light penetrate deeper.
Dr. Hale notes that this therapy may also help those suffering from other pre-cancerous lesions, including melanoma or basal cell carcinoma, remove these precancerous lesions.
PDT may be painful and require multiple sessions; however, results could last months or even years with ongoing maintenance treatments.
Experts agree that blue light therapy is safe and effective at treating various skin conditions. In particular, for severe acne sufferers it offers an alternative treatment without the side effects such as dryness or flaking experienced from medications.
