Treating acne has been a top priority for many of us, and for good reason. Acne is unwanted- it makes us look a little less beautiful than we actually are. It is an irritant, and a rather persisting one that needs a lot of effort and care to be gotten rid of.

One of the best acne products on the market

One such new remedy is the painless, non-invasive and drug-free blue light treatment which uses light emitting diodes (LEDs). But as the trend goes, we are bound to be skeptical of any new medical development that comes about. Here, we try to separate the fact from fiction, and try to find out how and why blue light treatment is effective. It has already been proven by numerous studies that the treatment does indeed show positive results in most cases (sometimes as high as 80 percent).

How Does Blue Light Therapy Work?

The blue light (i.e. light of a specific wavelength) is directed towards the skin with a hand-held device that can be self applied or a table-top device. Once it falls on the acne, the light starts a chemical reaction in the acne by activating porphyrins in the bacteria, which then causes the bacteria to self destruct. Since the acne inflammation is a result of the bacteria, it too subsides once the bacteria are dead. Needless to say, it does not affect blackheads and whiteheads.

How Much Time Does It Take?

The time period for which the acne should be exposed to light varies as per the device, though generally a single session ranges from anywhere between 10-25 minutes and the treatment should be used twice a day. However, since there are no long term side-effects, you can use the device as often as you would like without any serious side-effects. Ideally you should see improvement in your acne within three to four weeks. But individual results can vary.

What Kind Of Acne Is It Effective For?

While often used for all kinds of acne, blue light treatment has been found to be most effective for mild to moderate inflammations.This is according to the research results. Besides the reduction in lesions, the treatment also helps in improving the condition of the skin and has no long term side-effects except slight reddening of the skin. This is because the light only kills acne causing bacteria and therefore you don’t need to subject your skin to harsh creams or antibiotics. Also remember that it’s essential to wear eye protection while using the device. The light may pose a danger to your eyes in the long run.

(Note that red light, which sometimes is used as an add-on to the blue light, has not had as much research done and so the affects of the red light are unknown).

Overall this treatment is definitely a good way to get rid of acne, it must be remembered that acne has this knack for reappearing (it is after all an irritant). Furthermore, no treatment ought to be used in isolation- blue light acne treatment should be complemented by a healthy lifestyle that consists of rest, leisure and a good diet. Once you have everything in order then you can be rest assured of being correctly equipped to fight acne.