Why Blue Light Acne Treatment is So Effective at Reducing Acne

Blue light acne treatment is valuable in helping to get rid of acne. You should appreciate why blue light is so successful against acne.

Many adults and around 85% of adolescents have suffered acne outbreaks. Excess skin oil (sebum) mixes with dead skin cells to plug up the pores and create pimples. Once a pore becomes plugged the bacteria within in the pore start multiplying and infect adjoining tissues. The irritated spots are visibly red and feel sore and turn out to be the pimples we associate with acne.

There are three common treatments associated with acne prevention. Getting rid of surplus oils from the skin stands out as the most effective step. A mild anti-bacterial cream or gel is next used to kill surface bacteria. Dead skin cells are loosened with an exfoliant to allow them to be washed away. By doing this the potential for clogging the pores is greatly reduced and the chance of acne is minimized.

Blackheads or whiteheads are the early expressions of a clogged pore. The location of the blockage is the chief difference between a blackhead and a whitehead. When the plug is near the surface of the skin the plug becomes oxidized and turns dark forming a blackhead. When the plug is deeper into the pore, the surface can close in around the pore keeping it light in color which results in a whitehead.

When the bacteria start multiplying within the clogged pore the cells surrounding the pore grow irritated and turn red, forming a pimple. The area infected can grow and the size and extent of the blemish can increase outside the cells belonging to the pore. For instance, pressure on a pimple may push infected oil further down into the sebaceous gland and even into deeper skin layers and form a cyst.

You can understand how essential it will be to eliminate the bacteria at the site of the pimple. With the bacteria gone, the cells will no longer be irritated and can start to mend. Serious acne is often dealt with with systemic medications like oral anti-biotics. Most milder acne outbreaks are usually dealt with successfully by treatments applied in the affected area.

Acne light treatment is one such localized treatment. While sunlight has always been know to help acne, scientists examined specific colors of the spectrum to determine more particularly the range of colors that are actually helpful. One early investigation found that light within the blue-violet color range was especially useful. This color range impacts an organic compound within the acne bacteria. A singlet oxygen is released by a porphyrin component of the bacteria which helps kill the bacteria.

To be effective against the quickly multiplying bacteria, several consecutive treatments are required to kill the whole set of bacteria within a pimple. As soon as the bacteria are gone, the swelling decreases and the cells start to heal.

Of course, the blue light can be delivered by full spectrum sunlight. But now specialized lasers, fluorescent lamps, and even LEDs (light emitting diodes) are employed to provide the precise wavelength of light which is most useful. Numerous dermatologists use the Dusa Blue Light which is just like an array of fluorescent lights that emit light at a 400nm wavelength. Often your dermatologist will rub on aminolevulinic acid (brand name Levulan) to affected areas prior to the blue light therapy. The Levulan is photosensitive and under blue light helps damage specific skin cells.

A single treatment in a dermatologists office may cost $200 or more. But, you can find a number of devices you may buy to be used right at home that many individuals have found helpful. Competition is keeping the price for most of the devices in an affordable range from around $40 to $300 or so.

Keep in mind that blue light acne treatment takes a few treatments to kill the bacteria and several days for the skin to heal. So, this is not an overnight process. But many of us find blue light acne therapy more practical than benzoyl peroxide and less irritating to their skin.