Blue Light for Acne Treatment
Posted on Fri, Jul 08, 2011
By Marné CarMichael Walsh, M.S., P-AC
Are you looking for a more natural treatment for acne? Is your skin too sensitive for the standard acne medications such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid? Are you allergic to topical antibiotics? If so, then blue light treatments may be what you are looking for to control your acne.
Replaces some topical treatments
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies blue light therapy in the laser and light therapies category. Recent studies indicate that laser and light therapies show promise in treating acne. It can be used to replace some of the topical treatments currently used to kill acne bacteria on the face. Just like topical treatments, the therapy is continued even if the acne seems to be under good control in order to maintain the achieved results.
Does not contain ultraviolet light
The FDA approved narrow-band, high-intensity blue-light therapy for treating acne. Now, widely advertised, this is probably the best-known light therapy for acne treatment. Blue light works by killing the acne-causing bacteria, P. acnes. The blue-light products of today do not contain ultraviolet (UV) light, which was a staple of former light therapy used to treat acne. UV light can damage skin and is no longer used to treat acne.
Best used in combination with other topical therapies
Patients receive blue-light therapy in increments. To start, eight sessions are given over a four-week period, and each session lasts about 15-20 minutes. Once results are achieved, the sessions are continued once every 1-2 weeks for maintenance. Side effects are rare and include temporary pigment changes, mild swelling of the treated areas, and dryness. Most patients have noticeable improvement with about 55% clearance if used alone. Better and longer lasting results are achieved when combined with other topical therapies that unplug clogged pores and exfoliate.
Use other treatments for cystic acne
Blue light therapy offers an alternative treatment option for inflammatory acne (red bumps) but it is not effective for cystic acne (large, deep cysts). For cystic acne, we add the application of aminolevulinic acid. This is called PDT (photodynamic therapy). PDT shrinks the sebaceous glands (oil glands) and may require 3-5 initial treatments one month apart to achieve results.
Blue light treatment for acne summary:
- Indication: FDA approved for inflammatory acne for the face, chest or back
- Contraindication: nodulocystic acne, personal history of melanoma
- How it works: Blue light kills the bacteria that causes acne (p.acnes)
- Treatment sessions: Recommend 2 treatments a week for 8 weeks then less frequently thereafter for maintenance
- Time: 20 minutes per visit
- Prep: Best done on a clean face (no sunscreen) but can be done with make-up as long as it doesn’t contain sunscreen
- Side effects: Minor side effects such as dryness, redness, irritation can occur but not commonly
- Insurance coverage: Although FDA approved, it is not a covered benefit
