Acne light cosmetic treatment: what you need to know

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Acne light cosmetic treatment: what you need to know

For those that struggle with acne, particularly the cystic kind, you will know just how hard it is to tackle. While there are new products and technology being released constantly, finding something that works for your particular skin type can be frustratingly difficult. This is why people often turn to professional treatments in the hope of seeing real results. We caught up with Cosmetic Physician, Dr. Phoebe Jones from Concept Cosmetic Medicine to get the downlow on light cosmetic treatments for acne, what the process is and how it can actually help with acne.

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What is a cosmetic light treatment?

“Light therapy usually refers to LED light therapy,” says Dr. Phoebe. As a non-invasive treatment, the procedure delivers “near infra-red light energy to the skin and underlying tissues. Differing wavelengths of light have different benefits, she explains. From acne treatment, and wound healing to phototherapy for ageing skin and rejuvenation. Depth of penetration depends on the wavelength of light used,” says Dr. Phoebe.

What are the different types of light therapy treatment used in treating acne?

“There are three commonly used wavelengths in cosmetic medicine and all three can be used for those who suffer from acne,” she says. The colours are generally indicative of the depth of the wavelength. Yellow is great at reducing inflammation, wound healing and photorejuvenation. Red is ideal for reducing scarring and blue is the go-to for killing bacteria that forms acne in the first place. Blue light, Dr. Phoebe explains, does what oral antibiotics, such as doxycyline do, but without the side effects.

So, what does a light therapy treatment for acne involve?

Depending on the time and money you’re willing to invest in the treatment, there are a few different options. Dr. Phoebe explains that the most basic version is a 20-minute session under the blue light. She recommends doing this three times a week for best results. This can then be combined with red light for fibroblast and collagen stimulation, and then if the skin is very inflamed, adding yellow light can be beneficial, she explains.

How long until I should be seeing results?

Dr. Phoebe recommends a full 10-week course, but mentions that visible results should be noticeable within days.

A few tips: Dr. Phoebe notes that maintaining an at-home skincare routine is crucial to the success of the light treatment. She also explains that in the event of not seeing changes from light treatments alone, combining them with laser facials and/or extractions can help in achieving results. Alternatively, talk to your GP about prescriptive oral retinoid acids.

Have you tried any of these treatments? If not, did you learn something you didn’t already know?

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