If you’ve ever dealt with acne, even if it’s super mild –– you can probably list the most common blemish-busting ingredients by heart. Creams, spot-treatments, even apple cider vinegar… you’ve probably tried it all. But sometimes, acne is an unwelcome guest that refuses to leave, no matter how hard you try to get rid of it. But if you’ve been on the internet lately, chances are you’ve come across sci-fi-esque LED masks that kinda look like Iron Man’s, but it’s celebs like the Kardashians sporting it. Hate to break it to you, but this isn’t a dystopian TV show in the making. It’s the latest skincare trend that’s being touted as the next ‘it’ therapy by dermatologists and aestheticians alike –– it’s LED light therapy.
A skincare treatment used to minimise wrinkles, acne, dark spots, and scars, the treatment works by using an LED light to target specific areas of the face. If you have the moolah, that means you can literally get a custom LED light therapy mask tailored to the needs of your face specifically. In more technical terms, though, this process is called phototherapy –– and in case you were wondering, yes, light therapy can be used to treat mild to moderate acne outbreaks.“Light therapy is a non-invasive beauty treatment that employs various wavelengths of light energy. When you expose your skin to LED light, it is absorbed at different depths and stimulates cell repair. It also promotes cell growth, giving you a healthy, youthful appearance.” – A Celebrity Dermatologist
Does light therapy work on acne?
According to dermatologists, “In order to repair acne prone skin, different wavelengths of light are used in the treatment to activate the skin’s natural healing response. To achieve the best results, the treatments are repeated once a week or more frequently.” Basically, how acne forms in your pores is when oil, dirt, and dead skin cells get trapped in them and clog them.
A certain bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (hence the name!) that live on your skin can also get inside these blocked pores. P. acnes make the clogged pores swell up into bumps called acne. While that is gross, the bacteria is sensitive to certain types of light –– and when you shine these lights on your skin, certain substances form and kill the bacteria. Added bonus? Light therapy also shrinks the oil glands in your skin, so your skin makes less pore-clogging oil –– resulting in fewer breakouts.
How to treat acne using light therapy?
Yes, you heard that right! So if you think a quick fix to curing acne is to stand in the sun for long hours, be our guest –– in fact, doctors actually used to treat acne with UV light. You know, the radiation that comes from the sun. Here’s the catch, though –– UV light may clear up acne, but it can also damage the skin and cause cancer. But thankfully, doctors don’t use it to treat acne anymore. (And neither should you!) Instead, light therapy or phototherapy –– which includes certain wavelengths of blue or red lights –– is now used to clear up acne.
These light therapies manage to kill all the acne-causing bacteria without damaging the skin. Plus, they make for a really good selfie-op, if you’re feeling up to it!
Sounds good so far! But does it have any advantages apart from simple acne treatment?
Difference between red and blue light for acne?
Different wavelengths of light, including Blue and red light penetrate the skin at different depths. This penetration may trigger biological processes that aid in skin rejuvenation and healing. When it comes to red light, it stimulates fibroblast cells in the skin, resulting in collagen synthesis.
Collagen protein is found in large amounts in connective tissue and aids in the healing of scars and damaged skin. As a result, Red LED light may aid in the reduction of acne scarring as well as signs of ageing, such as wrinkles. Red light also aids in the reduction of skin inflammation.
And as for blue light? Blue light reduces the activity of the sebaceous glands, which are small oil-producing glands in the skin. Because of the decrease in activity, the glands produce less oil, potentially alleviating acne symptoms such as skin congestion. Blue light may also be effective in killing the C, Acnes bacteria that causes inflammation and contributes to acne.
Benefits of light therapy
1. It’s Painless
If you’re someone who shies away from the idea of pain, and the sight of a needle makes you faint, this might be the acne treatment for you! Light therapy is a quick, gentle, painless way to get rid of acne –– with none of the pain or sensitivity afterwards.
2. It Works For All Areas Of The Body
Got bacne? No problem. Back of your arms has acne? No worries. Apart from being an excellent spot treatment for your face, phototherapy works for all areas of the body when it comes to getting rid of acne.
3. It’s Drug-free
But that was already a given! With only LED light as the source, you know exactly what your skin’s being put through in the treatment, so you can be assured that the treatment is safe and baddie-free.
4. It’s Used To Treat Other Conditions As Well
From acne scarring to getting rid of free radicals that age your skin, to even being used as a treatment for skin cancer and mood disorders –– light therapy is a versatile procedure.
5. It Works Alongside Other Acne Therapies
Whether you just can’t seem to let go of your spot-treatment creams, or your dermatologist-recommended treatments for your acne –– light therapy works alongside other acne therapies. Total win!
6. It’s Suitable For All Skin Types
Yup, you heard that right –– even you, people with sensitive skin! Light therapy for acne is pretty side-effect-free and is safe for most people to use. If you’re a little uncertain, you can always consult a medical professional about it, but more or less, if you’re planning to try it –– take a leap of faith and just do it!
