Therapeutic light therapy for acne has been documented throughout many cultures as a common practice in traditional medicine. Literature from ancient Indian texts can trace the use of controlled light, or phototherapy, to 1500 BC only to be predated by Buddhist medical documentation estimated at 200BC.

With approximately 50 million citizens of the United States suffering from some degree of acne, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, light therapy for acne is once again being utilized as a holistic alternative to harsh chemicals, microdermasbrasive scouring, cryotherapy, dermaplaning (surgical scraping), or CO2 lasers. There are a number of factors that can cause a person to have acne outbreaks, ranging from bacteria or excess oil in the pores, clogged pores, and bodily inflammation.

Light therapy harnesses the power of light for medical treatment in skin and wound healing and has been used effectively in the treatment of T-cell lymphomas, psoriasis, vitiligo, and eczema. Light therapy offers a natural treatment option for those suffering from acne. There are three separate treatment options available, each posing a unique approach to using light therapy for acne.

Blue Light Treatment

Blue light therapy for acne is mainly used in the defense and direct removal of bacterial acne. The first thing to understand about the blue light treatment is that it is not a cure for your acne, but an outstanding way to remove what acne is visible on your body. The blue light therapy is used to directly destroy the bacterial acne cells in a method that is both painless, and harmless, to the cells surrounding the targeted area.

The bacterial acne cell continually creates tiny particles called porphyrins. These particles enter a self-destructive phase when exposed to the correct wavelength of light, with the blue wavelengths excelling at this process. This serves to clear away acne breakouts as the main component particles, the free radicals, are eliminated.

Red Light Treatment

Red light therapy for acne utilizes the red wavelength to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. Different wavelengths of light penetrate the skin in different concentrations, with red penetrating down almost 10mm. Penetration to this depth allows the red light to stir the blood of the body, increasing both the blood flow and the oxygen transportation speed of the body.

This increased flow allows the body’s natural immune processes to work much quicker, helping the body clear up current outbreaks and prevent future ones. Combining the blue and red light treatments is the ideal light therapy treatment plan. This combination offers as much as a 76% increased efficiency of acne removal over blue light alone, according to this study by the British Journal of Dermatology.

Infrared Therapy

Infrared is the final light therapy option and directly targets the cells for stimulation. Taking the red light treatment to the next level, infrared light penetrates the skin between 30-40mm allowing it to reach the cells of the body for direct absorption. The cells then convert this new light into energy, allowing the cells of the body to be boosted in their production abilities greatly improving their capability for regeneration and other restorative measures.

Controlled light therapy for acne is very effective at removing and preventing breakouts, and the safest treatment method on the market. It is also used as a beneficial tool to assist the body in rejuvenating scarred and damaged dermal surfaces from previous acne flare-ups, allowing your skin to shine bright once more.