Research says yes! In today's blog, we're going to be answering the question: does LED light therapy help clear up acne? In 5 minutes you'll know what it is, what it does, and how to know if it's right for your skin.
Pop quiz: What's the most common skin condition in the United States?
You probably guessed it, and it's no surprise that the answer is acne. Although most commonly seen as a condition affecting adolescence, did you know acne affects millions of adults as well? One study found that the number of people who get adult acne has gone up over the past 2 decades.
While there can be a multitude of different causes of adult acne, ranging from stress to lack of sleep, one thing is for certain: we all would like to get rid of it!
If you're anywhere in the skincare space, you may have heard of something called LED light therapy as a way to effectively treat acne. In today's blog, we covered exactly how LED light therapy works, and the science behind why it's quickly become one of the most popular treatments for acne in the United States.
What is LED Light Therapy?
In short, the most common form of LED light therapy for treating acne, Blue light therapy (RLT), is a treatment that kills acne-causing bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes, or P acnes, which can cause inflammation.
P acnes are sensitive to blue light, and blue light kills the bacteria found in the oil glands in the skin.
Why is Blue LED Light so Effective for Acne?
Blue LED light penetrates beneath the skin's surface and kills hard-to-reach, acne-causing bacteria. Blue light also helps decrease the inflammation that often comes with acne. The blue light shuts down the metabolism of the acne and kills them on the spot - ouch!
What this also means is that it's possible to treat and prevent breakouts before they come to the surface of the skin.
What does the research say?
There are multiple studies that have shown the effectiveness of blue LED light therapy for treating acne.
Where can I get LED light therapy treatments done?
When it comes to LED light therapy treatments for acne, you have two options: professional or at-home devices.
For professional treatments, you can consult your local dermatologist and ask if they offer LED light treatments.
For at-home devices, the most popular form of at-home LED light therapy comes in what are known as 'LED Light Masks'. Some of these even come with neck attachments to target skin conditions on the neck, and most of them are going to come with several different LED light therapy modes installed.
For mild to moderate acne, we recommend at-home devices. But in cases of severe acne, we always advise people to seek out professional treatments with a dermatologist who can help you in treating more serious acne.
In conclusion...
LED light therapy, and more specifically, blue light therapy is one of the most effective ways to treat acne.
It kills acne-causing bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes, or P acnes, which cause inflammation, which then leads to acne. This means you can essentially treat breakouts before they come to the surface of the skin.
For severe cases of adult acne, we encourage you to try LED light therapy under the supervision of a dermatologist. But for mild to moderate acne, an at-home LED light therapy device can do wonders for your skin, and improve your acne greatly!
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