Articles

Blue light therapy is not as new as you may think. Since the early 1980s, it has been used to deal with seasonal mood swings due to shorter days. However, more recently, some medical professionals have seen its benefits as a way to remove acne scars.

This type of therapy works with an intense, narrow band of blue light that helps treat the skin. It generally lasts anywhere from ten to twenty minutes. The best part about blue light therapy is that it requires very little downtime, if any.

Blue light treatments usually consist of three parts. First, photosensitizing medication is administered. The doctor waits for the medication to take effect and then administers the blue light treatment.

The incubation period of the medication will depend on the purpose of the treatment, therefore, it may take several hours or a few minutes to take effect.

The blue light treatment is applied in a light activation room. Once the person is exposed to the light, he/she may feel increasing warmth and even some burning or stinging sensations. In order to counteract the heat, fans are often used.

Sunscreen is an essential part of post treatment procedures. Protective garments will also help shield your skin from damaging UV radiation. Fortunately, it is possible to use blue light therapy on anyone, regardless of their age.

Blue Light Therapy for Acne Problems

Other than helping you deal with acne scars, blue light therapy can also be used in acne treatment because it helps kill acne bacteria without the use of antibiotics. You should already be aware that after a certain period antibiotics may lose their effect. This is one of the main reasons many doctors refer to blue light therapy as one of the best acne treatments around.

Blue light therapy can also help you avoid the use of harsh acne creams and other bothersome facial acne treatments. Some types of skin (i.e. dry and sensitive) can have serious problems with traditional acne products. Fortunately, blue light therapy is a gentler alternative.

If you're not sold on the idea of undergoing this type of treatment because you're uncertain of its long term effects on your skin, then it's well-understood. However, the results that have been shown so far are very positive and count in favor of this treatment. It has also proven to be very effective in the treatment of actinic keratosis.