| Zap your acne with blue light. Sunlight has long | | | | of collagen, and may indirectly treat old scars as |
| been known to help out with acne, but with | | | | well. |
| prolonged exposure, additional acne breakouts | | | | Red and blue light therapy are growing and |
| form. Scientists set out to discover which | | | | becoming more popular in the treatment of acne. |
| wavelengths of sunlight helped with the treatment | | | | At this point, no side effects have been reported |
| of acne, and they discovered blue light, at around | | | | from the use of light therapy. Blue light therapy is |
| 415nm, and red light, at roughly 660nm, were the | | | | often used to treat sleep disorders, so blue light |
| best wavelengths to treat acne. | | | | therapy has been used for quite a while. |
| How does light treat acne? When acne is formed, | | | | You can see the benefits of blue light therapy |
| it grows bigger and turns red because of | | | | immediately after starting on this treatment. It |
| inflammation, which is caused by p.-acne, a type | | | | takes one to three months to see the full effects |
| of skin bacteria. This bacteria gets trapped in the | | | | of this treatment. People who start on blue light |
| pore, which makes a favorable place for | | | | therapy may notice more blackheads and |
| reproduction, causing inflammation in the pimple. | | | | whiteheads than normal - this very common, but |
| Blue light, which is similar but much more effective | | | | these blackheads and whiteheads go away after |
| than benzyl peroxide (used in Proactive, | | | | two to three days. |
| AcneFree, and most acne creams), directly | | | | Having blue light therapy sessions often cost $50 |
| attacks the bacteria, which leads to reduced | | | | to $100, requiring up and over ten sessions, which |
| inflammation, causing the pimple to reduce in size, | | | | can cost up into the thousands of dollars. Today, |
| and once the pore is unclogged again, the pimple | | | | there are decent blue light therapy setups that |
| will go away. | | | | can be used at home. These setups are much |
| Red light doesn't directly treat acne - it is more of | | | | cheaper, and are also a one-time investment as |
| an assistant to blue light. Red light therapy | | | | opposed to a recurring monthly bill when you buy |
| improves skin tone, promotes healing, and | | | | acne creams. Blue light therapy definitely is worth |
| prevents the formation of scars as your skin | | | | a shot for acne sufferers, mild to severe, who |
| heals from previous acne. It is often used to treat | | | | just can't seem to rid their acne with acne |
| open wounds. Red light promotes the formation | | | | creams. |