Having acne is one of the worst things about growing up. Nothing sucks worse than looking at yourself in the mirror and seeing nothing but a face full of zits, acne spots, and clogged pores. Having acne can destroy a person’s self-esteem, especially a person who has always struggled with having clear skin. Not only that, but acne can be incredibly irritating and difficult to get rid of.
People spend millions of dollars every year on all kinds of creams, scrubs, and tons other products that are made to fight off acne. But there is one treatment that is growing increasingly popular with younger generations, and that is light therapy. Not many people are aware of light therapy, so in this article I will discuss how light therapy works, as well as the benefits, consequences, and side-effects of undergoing light therapy to help clear your skin.
How Light Therapy Works
Light therapy uses red and blue light that is similar to the wavelengths of light that occur from sunlight, which helps fight of acne-causing bacteria. The red light penetrates deeply into the skin and cuts off blood-supply of the sebaceous glands, causing them to produce less oil, which can clog your pores and cause more acne. The blue light goes into the pores of the skin and kills most–NOT all–of the bacteria that hides away in them. Some of the acne-causing bacteria are in parts of the sebaceous gland that the blue light cannot reach.
The Benefits of Light Therapy
Blue light therapy has proven to be beneficial in more ways than one. Not only does it treat skin conditions like acne, rosacea and psoriasis, but it is also used as treatment for mood and sleep disorders. Studies have shown that blue light therapy is more effective than if one were to apply Clindamycin for treatment.
With red light therapy, the benefits are not only limited to acne treatment. It also reduces wrinkles, sun damage, and even eczema. Red light also stimulates the production of ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate), which increases blood circulation, and stimulates plasma as well as collagen production to help heal wounds.
The Side Effects of Light Therapy
Just like any other medical treatment, light therapy has its side effects, and is not 100 percent guaranteed safe for everyone. The side effects are typically minor, and can include changes in skin tone, crusting, peeling, redness, and pain. Temporary headaches and eye strain are also possible after receiving treatment. Other less-possible risks include premature aging of the skin, as well as increased chances of developing skin cancer. Light therapy is not recommended for diabetics, as well as people with skin cancer or systemic lupus erythematosus.
When it comes to treating, and preventing acne, light therapy is becoming more and more of a popularized method of treatment. It has been deemed a safe alternative to applying acne cream for tons of users. While it has been proven to help reduce the appearance of acne, it alone is not enough to keep it gone. Daily cleaning and maintenance of your skin is still a majorly important part of having, and keeping clear skin. Light therapy has opened doors for thousands of people who thought that they would never see another clear day. Be sure that you do plenty of research on every possible benefit, risk, and side effect, before jumping right into light therapy treatment. Once you have gained all the knowledge you possibly could, you shall have no fear of taking one step closer to the skin of your dreams!
Resources & Further Reading:
https://www.facingacne.com/blue-light-treatment-acne-safe-effective/
https://www.thedermreview.com/red-light-therapy/
https://unsplash.com/search/blue-light?photo=3OaAOsCyEzs
