Is Light Therapy for Acne the Treatment You’ve Been Looking For?

Light therapy — also called blue light, red light, or phototherapy — is a research-backed treatment that’s safe for most people and relatively free of side effects. Now available at Beach Road Surgery & Skin Clinic in Batemans Bay.

Does light therapy help acne?

Even with various oral and topical treatments available for acne symptoms, many of the 50 million people with acne are dissatisfied with their results or the side effects of those treatments.

Over the past decade, lasers and light-based systems have become a common modality to treat a wide variety of skin-related conditions, including acne vulgaris. In spite of the various oral and topical treatments available for the treatment of acne, many patients fail to respond adequately or may develop side effects. Therefore, there is a growing demand by patients for a fast, safe, and side-effect-free novel therapy. 



What is the evidence? 

Clinical trials show that 85% of the patients demonstrate a significant quantitative reduction in at least 50% of the lesions after four biweekly treatments. In approximately 20% of the cases, acne eradication may reach 90%. At 3 months after the last treatment, clearance is approximately 70% to 80%. The nonrespondent rate is 15% to 20%.

Blue Light Therapy 

Blue-Light Therapy is the type of light therapy most commonly used to address acne breakouts. The wavelength of blue light has an antimicrobial effect, making it effective at killing several types of bacteria that can collect in your pores and oil glands and cause breakouts.

Blue light therapy also helps condition your skin, eliminating free radicals that oxidize and age your face. The treatment also has anti-inflammatory benefits, which decreases other symptoms of acne, such as redness. 

Red light therapy

Red Light Therapy doesn’t have the same antibacterial effects of blue light therapy, but it can still be effective.

Red light therapy helps promote healing and may work to decrease the visibility of acne scarring. It also has anti-inflammatory capabilities.

Red light therapy works deep below the surface of your skin to help soothe and repair tissue. If your acne is caused by a chronic skin condition, red light therapy might be the choice for you.

In summary 

The light used in phototherapy isn’t ultraviolet, so it doesn’t carry the risks of skin damage and radiation. Combination blue and red LED therapy appears to have excellent potential in treating mild to severe acne. Treatment seems to be both pains- and side-effect-free.