Blue Light Acne Treatment
Blue Light acne therapy treatment is an FDA approved treatment option for acne sufferers which proponents claim to be safe, natural, and free of adverse effects. This type of therapy is designed for treatment of mild to moderate acne, and may be a good option for those whose skin has become resistant to oils and medications.
The Procedure
In this type of therapy, a special high-intensity, narrow-band blue light is used and the patient is instructed to simply sit in front of the light for a specified period of time. Blue Light treatment can be administered alone or in conjunction with a topical application of ALA (aminolevulinic acid). Patients receiving the Blue Light treatment alone will typically sit in front of the Blue Light for an average of 15 - 30 minutes. Those receiving topical ALA in conjunction with Blue Light will typically sit with the ALA solution on fro about a half hour, and then for a specified amount of time under the Blue Light. The number of treatments, treatment times, and interval between treatments may vary depending on the severity of the acne being treated.
The pain free light treatment uses no ultraviolet (UV) light or lasers, and is generally considered to be safe to use. Many patients report an improvement in symptoms after after two to four weekly treatment sessions.
How it Works
The Blue Light is able to intervene directly to the root of the acne eruptions, which is P.acnes bacteria. The light draws off tiny molecules referred to as porphyrins. These Porphyrins, when exposed to blue light, produce free radicals which can, in turn, destroy the P. acne bacteria. As the bacteria is gradually destroyed, acne begins to clear up.
The Cost
The cost of Blue Light Therapy treatment can vary depending on the severity of the acne condition. A single treatment session can average about $50, while an entire course of treatment can cost from $800 - $1500. A number of different treatment systems for Blue Light Therapy may be found. A few of the more common light systems are BLU-U®, ClearLight™, and Omnilux™.