Friday, March 27, 2009

Blue light Therapy for Acne- Another Gimmick?

Every single say there are newer treatments being introduced for treatment of acne. The fact that there are so many treatments should make the consumer aware, that just like weight loss therapies, most treatments for acne suck. The basics of acne care start at home with conservative care. However, when home therapy and prescription drugs fail, most people seek other treatments.

One of the latest treatments for acne is Blue Light Therapy. The skin doctors have been heavily marketing this therapy (partly because they make a lot of money) but also because it may be an option for a few people with difficult acne. There are two basic Blue light systems available- the ClearLight and BLU-U. Both are considered photodynamic therapy- a fancy word to describe placing a light source on the skin.

What exactly is Blue Light Acne Therapy?

One of the Blue light therapies has been approved for the treatment of mild to moderate acne. The treatment is relatively painless and does not involve the use of UV light or lasers. The blue light is essentially used to kill the bacteria (p.acnes) which is known to cause acne breakouts. The Blue light is often administered alone but sometimes the physician will apply a special topical cream followed by the light. The topical cream photosensitizes the skin and the beam of light will remain focused on that particular site.

How long is the Blue Light Procedure?

Blue light therapy treatments are fast and can be completed in 20-30 minutes. The procedure is done in a clinic or a spa, you lie down and relax. The face is washed and dried. The blue light is applied and most people do not feel much sensation. The majority of people can resume their life style activity the same day. Most experts recommend blue light sessions once a week for several weeks until the desired result is obtained.

How long before I see results?

Well, it can take many months before you see a result. Moreover, the unfortunate thing is that many people show no response and have to pay for this expensive treatment. There is no way of knowing ahead of time who will and who will not respond to blue light therapy. If you have not had a response in 4-8 weeks, better quit before you go bankrupt

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