Optical Lenses & Eyes

Acne struggles can be frustrating, embarrassing and in some cases even depressing. While many people associate acne with teens, the truth is acne can strike both men and women at any age.

In an effort to combat this frustrating condition, there are new methods always being developed, such as the blue light acne therapy.

What is it?

Some people compare blue light therapy to other laser therapy methods. This narrow band of blue light has been used with some success in treating moderate to mild acne. The light is very high intensity and is reported to use no UV lasers or lights.

It is also reported to be pain free. The therapy uses the blue light to kill bacteria which is known to cause acne. One treatment of blue light acne therapy is not usually beneficial.

The patient suffering from acne problems will have to be treated multiple times, and with each treatment costing at least $40.00 the cost can rise quickly into the thousands of dollars. It has also not been proven to be effective in all cases, but merely positive results in some cases.

How Long Does it Take?

These acne therapy procedures are relatively fast and reported to be painless. The light source (blue light) is placed very near the patients face for around 30 minutes.

As soon as the procedure is over the person can resume regular daily activities. The procedure is done with the patient either lying down or sitting so that the patient is most comfortable.

Possible Risks

There are few risks associated with blue light acne therapy, although some cases have reported stinging and burning after treatments, along with some cases reporting swelling and even redness.

In rare cases, there have been reports of an allergic reaction to the solution used before the procedure for photosensitizing. Because this form of acne therapy is fairly new, no long-term side effects have been determined at this point.

While blue light acne therapy may produce positive results with some patients, it has not produced results with all patients. Repeat treatments are necessary, which makes this a costly option for curing acne, especially when there are no guarantees it will work.