Acne is a skin condition in which your facial hair follicles become clogged with dead skin cells and oil. There are different acne treatment methods out there and some of them can also help you with facial acne scarring. But can you use red light therapy for acne?
According to modern research, red light therapy can help you treat acne. It can be effective for mild to moderate and even severe acne in some cases. So, let’s discuss how red-light therapy works to treat acne and to use it effectively.
How Red-Light Therapy Works for Acne?
For a long time, scientists and skin specialists believed that acne is caused by bacterial infection and that you need to deal with those acne-causing bacteria to treat the problem.
However, modern research shows that acne is actually caused by inflammation, and red LED (Light-Emitting Diode) light therapy is known to have anti-inflammatory properties.
Another way red light therapy reduces the symptoms of acne vulgaris is that it increases blood circulation in your skin. It increases the diameter of your blood vessels which brings more oxygen to the sensitive skin area.
It improves the healing process and removes waste and toxins from the skin to minimize the signs of infection.
Science Behind Red-Light Therapy and Acne
There are many studies that show the effectiveness of red-light therapy to treat acne. The best way to treat mild to moderate acne using photobiomodulation is to combine red and blue light therapy.
According to the National Library of Medicine, the combination of red and blue light can reduce the symptoms of inflammatory acne by 69 percent. Another study shows that only blue light acne treatment can significantly reduce the number of acne lesions within 28 days.
How To Use Red Light Therapy for Acne?
The market is filled with all types of red-light therapy devices. You should choose the one that the FDA approves and offers both red and blue light options.
You can start your red-light therapy with three to five sessions per week. Start with 10-minute sessions and make your way up to 20 minutes.
Keep in mind that the skin area with acne is extremely sensitive. So, you’ll need to make sure that you sit at a safe distance so that the red light affects your skin positively, instead of being counterproductive. Generally, six to 12 inches of distance is considered safe, depending on your device.
Final Words
Red light therapy is an effective way to reduce the signs of acne. It comes with anti-inflammatory properties to minimize inflammation, which is the main reason behind acne.
If you’re suffering from this medical condition, you can consult with your dermatologist to start using red light therapy.
Make sure that you read the guidelines outlined by your red-light therapy device’s manufacturer to use the device correctly and enjoy the benefits it offers.