How Blue Light Therapy Works
So why does blue light therapy work for acne? According to dermatologist Papri Sarkar, MD, blue light has been found to alleviate mild to moderate acne if applied daily. "Propionibacterium acnes, a bacteria that is commonly found in the skin, has been associated with acne breakouts. If blue light is applied to the face daily for a few days, it has been found to kill this type of acne," she says. Basically, it's another way to deep clean my face and ward away any grime or muck using light, instead of facial cleanser and water.
Instead of making the trek to the derm's office to invest in expensive lasers, at-home versions like the ones I've been testing can be better on your wallet and still work to alleviate your symptoms and annoyances. While I have been fascinated by the initial results, it is important to note that blue light doesn't work for everyone. As dermatologist and professor Janet H. Prystowsky, MD, PhD explains, it isn't comprehensive enough to treat severe, scarring acne. Her best advice is to always check with a trusted derm before trying anything new, just to make sure you're not wasting your time—or money.
If you've been given the gold seal of approval to take Cameron's advice—and now, mine too—here are some at-home light therapy devices to consider.
Image via @lightstim
Most of the at-home blue light devices available are handheld and small, which requires you to spend three minutes on each section you want to treat before moving to the next. What I like about this one is how totally, completely zen the experience is. You set it up—making sure it's at least four to six inches away from your face!—put on the goggles and lay back and relax. You can switch between blue light (for acne) or red light (for wrinkles) and only have to sit pretty for five minutes at a time. The custom-made lamp with a fluorescent bulb has been found to reduce inflammation and redness within two weeks.
I'm in the process now of recovering from my global adventure and looking for a new place to call home. However, as a travel lover (and writer), I'll still travel every month or so. Taking a chunky, heavy blue light therapy device isn't realistic, but this pen definitely makes sense. This uses blue-LED light and T-Sonic pulsations to target specific breakouts. I use this to apply direct treatment to one of those big ol' boys that I can feel coming up through the surface and want to nix before it blooms. Though it does get a bit warm—42 degrees of heat—to reduce bacteria and the grease of pimples, it's effective.
Of all of the products I tried, this one is the winner for me. You do have to plug it in and hold it yourself, but I find it to be the most comfortable and easy for my personal lifestyle. I've enjoyed a new bedtime routine of putting on my goggles, turning on the three-minute treatment on each side of my face, then my forehead and my chin, all while I go through a meditation via my Amazon Dot. Sometimes I play Jeopardy. Or call up a friend. This device destroys bacteria, tones down my inflammation and has eradicated my zits... fast. It's also a very gentle, warm light that's comfortable and, so far, very effective.
This device is very similar to LightStim, but you don't have to plug it in. You can recharge it after you use it for a few times, which is great for those who don't want to worry about a cord. I dig this device, but it definitely takes a lot more time than the others. The brand's treatment advice is to use both the blue and the red light for three minutes each on each section. Since I have four sections I consider problematic, this means 24 minutes of downtime, compared to 12. For those in a rush, it can be a bit time-consuming to complete the recommended daily treatment. Does it still work? Definitely! And the paired free mobile app keeps you accountable.
