How Can Light Help My Acne?

Did You Ever Notice That Sunlight Is Beneficial For Clearing Acne?

Most people who have tried will agree that natural sunlight seems to have a beneficial effect on their skin and reduces severity of spots. Why does this happen?

Sunlight itself contains a wide spectrum of light, parts of which are beneficial and other parts which are harmful. We know that:

• Ultraviolet light (UVA & UVB), at wavelength 280nm – 400nm for example, can harm and prematurely age skin and even cause skin melanomas and worsen skin conditions. UVA is what tans you and UVB is what burns you. It can also sterilize the skin of bacteria, not to mention helps us to produce vitamin D and perhaps other healthy hormones.

Pure blue light in the SAFE visible light spectrum of 405-470 nm can kill a range of bacteria including MRSA, Staph, Strep and most importantly Propionibacterium Acnes, the main microorganism linked to acne. While not beneficial for skin health directly, blue light doesn’t harm us like excess ultraviolet will and has been used successfully for years by dermatologists and patients looking for a solution to acne.

• Red light at 620nm and 670nm has been proven to kill a wide range of bacteria, again including Propionibacterium acnes, however the key difference over blue light is that red light is directly beneficial for our own skin health, soothing inflammation and helping with energy generation and oxidative metabolism. Essentially it harms acne bacteria while protecting our skin at the same time. It also promote healing and speeds it up.

How does blue light kill the acne-causing bacteria?

Acne causing bacteria have a weak link in their metabolism – a chemical called porphyrin.

This naturally produced chemical is sensitive to blue light and other visible light, which energizes it, sending it on a destructive path around the bacteria cell.

This activated porphyrin ultimately kills the bacteria (by creating singlet oxygen which combines with cell parts – destroying them), without harming the skin.

• You will find that every light therapy device for acne treatment on the market has to contain blue light, which is safe and highly effective. Our light uses 420nm to effectively kill the Acne bacteria.
• Unlike many on the market though, a superior device must also contain red light– which helps in killing the bacteria, while also protecting and energizing the skin cells. Red light gently reduces the inflammation associated with acne too, leading to faster healing and less chance of scars. Our Red light is in the 660nm range.

FAQ

1. What is the difference between blue light therapy and red light therapy?

Answer: Blue light therapy is often used to treat acne flare-ups. It treats acne thru wavelengths of blue light—this light has antibacterial effects thus making it ideal for removing specific bacteria kinds which gather on oil glands and pores. It also reduces redness and has anti-inflammatory benefits that helps sooth and relieve skin. Red light therapy, while it does not have similar antimicrobial properties unlike blue lights, are effective when it comes to facilitating healing of the skin. Red lights can also help in lightening acne scars and reduce redness. Red light wavelengths penetrate deep into the skin’s surface to relieve and repair damaged tissues. These types of light therapies are often gentle, painless, safe and drug-free.

2. Who should not use blue light acne therapy?

Answer: Blue light therapy for acne is not a treatment that everyone can use. Pregnant women and people diagnosed with epilepsy, lupus, albinism and porphyria cannot make use of LED lights. In addition, if you are currently using acne and skin care products that contain antibiotics or retinol, you have to stop application of those products one week at the least to go through a session of blue light therapy. While most over-the-counter acne medications are safe to use with blue light therapy, it is still advised that you go over the acne treatment and check if it is suitable to use with blue lights/LEDs.

3. How often should I use blue light therapy before I see positive results?

Answer: Just like any other skin care product, you have to be committed to this routine to see results. Results for blue light therapy for acne will be based on the dose of the light source provided. Blue light devices meant for home use are weaker compared to clinic-based ones thus they need to be used every day. In-office blue light therapy doses meanwhile are stronger and clients need to undergo this therapy at least twice every week.

Blue light kills the bacteria that causes the acne and the red light speeds up the healing. Navy Seals use red light beds to help heal them after a mission.