Why Does Blue Light Treat Acne?

According to dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum, M.D., of New York City, blue light, which has a wavelength of 415 nanometers, has been scientifically shown to be beneficial in treating acne at its root and mending skin from the inside. How? “Blue light has been demonstrated to infiltrate the skin’s pores and hair follicles, which are home to bacteria that can lead to irritation and, ultimately, acne. Blue light spectrum causes bacteria to shut down their metabolism and die, which makes them particularly susceptible to it “She clarifies. Light treatment removes the acne-causing bacteria (also known as P. acnes) within the skin before it can feed off the oil, unlike topical therapies that aim to reduce inflammation and germs on the skin’s surface.glands and cause that redness and inflammation, adds Dr. Nussbaum.

Advantages of Including Red Light

If you’ve ever wondered why some visible light devices—which are so-called because the colors can be seen—seem to emit more of a purple glow, it’s because several options on the market really combine red and blue light. “Since red light tends to activate collagen, it has long been employed for anti-aging purposes. Additionally, it reduces inflammation, making it a helpful adjunct to blue light in the treatment of acne “Dr. Joshua Zeichner of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, who oversees dermatology’s cosmetic and clinical research, explains.

Best Applications of

Blue Light Therapy Pen For Acne Scar

According to experts, at-home blue light treatments work best for mild to moderate acne, not for cystic or severely debilitating acne. The American Academy of Dermatology claims that these tools are also ineffective against acne nodules, cysts, blackheads, or whiteheads. Read: According to Dr. Zeichner, they work best for your typical red, non-pussy pimples as long as they are not particularly severe or deep. Furthermore, despite the fact that applying light to the skin could seem harsh, it is actually gentler than using conventional topical products. (Dr. Nussbaum suggests avoiding it if you have a skin condition like rosacea.)

According to Dr. Zeichner, despite the fact that studies have shown at-home treatments for mild acne to be as beneficial, they do so with less intensity. However, this also implies that they can be used more regularly (the majority of devices advise daily use), and because of their portability, affordability, and tiny size, they’re easier to work into your routine. Not to mention that a regular derm treatment can cost between $50 and $100 per session, and patients are sometimes instructed to visit twice weekly for a number of months, says Dr. Zeichner.

Devices using Blue Light for Acne at Home

Several at-home visible light LED devices (blue, red, and blue + red light devices) have received FDA clearance for the treatment of mild to moderate acne. Some well-liked choices? The Positively Clear 3-Step Skincare Solution from Tria Beauty is a compact solution that works well for getting into areas of your face that are difficult to access and is cartridge-free. The Me Clear Anti-Blemish Device is another option; it combines blue light, acoustic vibration, and “soft warming.” The DRx SpotLite from the Dr. Dennis Gross skin care line is another alternative. Another red and blue light gadget, the LightStim, claims to enhance circulation, boost collagen and elastin production, and reduce inflammation in addition to eliminating acne-causing bacteria.

The time commitment for most at-home devices ranges from about six to 20 minutes per day to see results, depending on how many areas of the face you want to treat. While the amount of time you’ll need to use each device varies (so follow the instructions for proper use to ensure you actually reap the acne-fighting benefits! ), Therefore, even while it adds a time-consuming phase to your skin-care routine, it still takes a lot less time than you spend in bed every day browsing through Instagram. It’s also probably less painful than other at-home beauty procedures you might regularly use, like a bikini wax.

How to Select a Device
Dr. Nussbaum advises choosing a light source that has received FDA approval and has undergone testing and approval for safe usage. She suggests the Tria device since it is more potent than other at-home blue light therapies. Dr. Zeichner continues, “That said, the price of the product doesn’t necessarily correspond with effectiveness (just like with any acne cleanser you might buy). Without direct comparisons of the efficacy of various light therapy solutions, he claims, “we really really don’t know which work better.”

How to Apply Blue Light Therapy to Your Skincare Regimen

While the Tria system includes a cleanser and spot treatment that work with the device (the spot treatment uses niacinamide and black tea instead of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, which Dr. Nussbaum says can irritate the skin), you can also just add one of these devices to your regular skin-care routine. Dr. Zeichner advises using blue light therapy at home as an adjunct to conventional acne treatments. Light therapy may be useful even on its own for minor acne, he continues.