Acne Home Light Treatment Use
Home light therapy units for acne are a popular option for acne sufferers trying to avoid the cost and discomfort of medical treatments like Accutane and laser therapy. Blue light, sometimes with red light, exposure is showing some promise for mild to moderate acne. Hand-held and free-standing light therapy units are universally sold to consumers. Does this Spark an idea?
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Light Therapy at Home
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Problem skin is exposed to a low-intensity blue and/or red light for about 15 minutes. This treatment is repeated between three to five times over the course of a week. Some treatments include the use of a glycolic or salicylic acid on the infected skin before light exposure.
How it Works
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Acne occurs when pores, filled with trapped oil and dirt, become infected with bacteria. The body reacts by fighting the bacteria and the pore becomes inflamed. Light therapy kills the bacteria and dries out the pore, according to information from the American Academy of Dermatology. Why and how this process works is still being debated.
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Advantages
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Light therapy doesn't expose the skin to ultra-violet rays. The side effects of light therapy seem to be mild and the skin isn't damaged or scarred as it can be with laser or chemical treatments, according to the AAD. Some studies, described on the AAD's website, have shown mild to moderate acne sufferers experiencing improvement to their skin after light therapy. Using this therapy at home is convenient and affordable for most people.
Cost
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Home light therapy units range in cost from around $40 to more than $300. Some units are hand-held while others stand alone. For the patient with large areas of problem skin, holding the light for 15 to 30 minutes at a time may be difficult. Stand-alone units, while more expensive, give patients more exposure with less hassle.
Talk with Your Doctor
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Light therapy may be more effective on certain types of acne, according to the Mayo Clinic. Severe acne sufferers may require the addition of other treatments with home light therapy. Patients should thoroughly discuss different options with their dermatologist before abandoning traditional treatments completely.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Bob S.
