Acne is a natural and common part of life, but that doesn’t make it less frustrating or uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are ways to deal with it.
What is Acne?
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Acne is a skin condition that forms as a result of clogged hair follicles and pores under the skin. Though it is commonly linked to teenagers and puberty, acne can affect individuals of all ages.
Acne Causes
The clogging of hair follicles can be linked to a few different factors:
- Excess oil production from glands
- Excess dead cells
- Bacterial infection – bacteria feeds on oil and causes inflammation in the skin.
- Hormone level changes
Acne forms commonly on the face and forehead but can also appear on the upper back, shoulders, and chest; these areas are the most common because they have the most oil glands. For women, acne can even appear on the breasts. Acne can appear as whiteheads, blackheads, small red bumps, pimples, nodules, and pus-filled lumps. Depending on the severity, it can also form acne scars on the skin.
What is Light Therapy?
Light therapy is the exposure to artificial light to treat diseases, disorders, and skin conditions.
There are different light colors used, and each color penetrates the skin at different depths and is thought to produce different effects at each level.
Blue Light Therapy
One of the newer methods of combating acne is blue light therapy, which uses natural violet or blue light to treat conditions on or just under the skin. This form of phototherapy is used to kill acne-causing bacteria by targeting the oil glands and reducing the output of sebum. The blue light can help stimulate the skin’s natural healing process and improve overall health.
Benefits
One of the major benefits of blue light therapy is that it kills the bad bacteria on your skin, which helps in reducing the formation of acne, but it’s not the only positive aspect. Other positive benefits of blue light therapy are:
- Blue light therapy is a chemical-free alternative.
- Promotes Anti-inflammation
- Reduces Oil gland size
- Diminishes acne scar appearance
- It is non-invasive
- Does not damage the skin
- Safe for all skin types and ages
- Painless
It is a safe, gentle treatment, and results are noticeable within two to four weeks of treatment.
Does Blue Light Therapy Work?
Research suggests that blue light therapy is a viable option for treating skin conditions, and it is safe for your skin. In short and long-term usage of blue light therapy, there have been no adverse side effects. Globally, blue light is used daily to treat newborn babies in hospitals for jaundice; newborns have the most delicate skin, yet no adverse side effects have been reported. The only possible risk is overexposure of light in the eyes, which is why eye protection is highly recommended.
The potential benefits of blue light therapy are too good to pass up. It is a safe way to treat your acne, and the best part is you don’t have to make an appointment with a dermatologist and spend a lot of money on sessions. There are affordable at-home light therapy devices available on the market.
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