Blue light Therapy for Acne- Another Gimmick? Part 2

Is this treatment permanent?
Definitely not. Maintenance treatments are required to keep up the acne free skin. Rest assured in all of plastic and cosmetic medicine, nothing is every cured in a single session. So chances are that most consumers will need several sessions (generally more than what you need).

When is the photo sensitizer chemical used?

In some cases of moderate acne, a topical chemical (levulan) will be applied to the skin 30-45 mins prior to the procedure. Then one spends about 5-10 minutes under the light to get the maximum benefit. In most cases, blue light photodynamic sessions are spaced over 2 weeks to allow the maximum effects of treatment to occur.

Is the treatment safe

Yes, the treatment is safe; there are no needles, no pain, or incisions. Blue light only targets the acne and not normal skin. While the doctors claim many patients will see improvement in 2-4 weeks, this is not often the case. In fact, only a select few patients with inflammatory acne will benefit. The majority of individuals with regular acne do not even need this treatment in the first place.

Which is the better treatment?

Most experts agree that blue light photosensitizing therapy is better than blue light alone. The most common side effects are redness, swelling, mild pain and stinging. These side effects are transient and resolve in a few days. Some patents do develop allergic reactions to levulan.