Light Therapy Helps Control Your Acne

For a long time, the most effective methods for dealing with persistent acne, besides strong prescription medications, some of which are no longer deemed safe, have been salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide based products. These products are still highly effective, but another treatment has been gaining in popularity, and this treatment cannot be ignored. More and more people are learning of the beneficial effects on skin of phototherapy, or light therapy.

Discovering Light Therapy for Acne

While light therapy has been used for years to treat people suffering from certain kinds of depression, its effects on acne are only more recently being explored. Scientists have known for some time that exposure to the sun’s rays can improve acne conditions, but they have also known that those rays, particularly the ultraviolet portion of the spectrum, can cause serious skin damage, even cancer. The challenge in using light therapy for acne was to find a light wavelength that could destroy acne causing bacteria without damaging healthy cells.

Modern Light Therapy for Acne

Today, some scientists believe that they have that solution, in the form of certain blue light (sometimes red light) treatments. These light treatments allow oxygen to penetrate acne causing bacteria. Oxygen is fatal to this type of bacteria, so when skin containing acne is subjected to the light, the acne causing bacteria quickly die. While acne causing bacteria is not the only component in acne, it is a big one, and hence the light therapy can make a big difference for your skin.

Light Therapy in Action

If you choose light therapy, you will go to a specialist who will subject the affected areas of your skin to pulses of blue or white light for a short time. You will return once a week for four to eight weeks. As you go through the procedure, you should see less and less acne, and by the end of the procedure, your acne should be nearly gone, if not entirely. For the best results, you should have a professional administer the treatment, but if you like, you can order blue light therapy kits online and try treating yourself.

Downside to Light Therapy

The main problem with light therapy is that since it is a relatively new procedure, there is a lack of conclusive long term research on its effectiveness. Although there is no evidence yet to suggest this, some people are concerned that blue light may have the same long term sun damage and cancer risks as ultraviolet light. Since benzoyl peroxide has also been shown to be highly effective as a long term acne fighter, and the benefits and side effects of benzoyl peroxide are well documented, some people may find it safer to go with the known quantity. You will have to decide for yourself which acne remedy to pursue. If you find benzoyl peroxide to be effective and easy to use, you may wish to stick with it. If you’re ready to try something new, many people have had great results with light therapy.