Red Light Therapy For Face: Does It Work for Acne?

For many people, making use of red light therapy for face - care is an effective way to treat acne. Despite the availability of many oral and topical therapies for acne symptoms, many of those who suffer from acne are disappointed with the results or side effects of its medications often requiring an exhausting trial-and-error process, from one prescription to another, that demands time (and the stress of this time-sink) and energy from sufferers of the condition without guarantee of success.

Dermatologists have been using visible light devices to destroy bacteria on the skin as an alternative acne treatment for over 20 years. Light therapy, often deviated amongst blue light, red light, or phototherapy, is a research-backed, generally safe treatment with few adverse effects and though still in need of further research for a clinical endorsement, reveals encouraging data that supports its benefits to skin health. The team at Rojo Light Therapy US explores for more on the matter!

Benefits of Light Therapy

Two types of visible light therapy are utilised in therapeutic settings: blue light and red light, but we’re here today to tackle the latter.

Each has a specialised application - and while both have the potential to treat acne, the specific benefits of red light therapy include:

1. The capacity to balance and restore the microbial balance of the skin’s surface.
   Though it doesn’t have the same antibacterial properties as blue light therapy, the capacity of red light to reduce pro-inflammatory responses in the skin has the capacity to effectively calm its otherwise high-stress environment by signalling lowered production of cytokines. This then limits presence of immune cells and microbes responsible for sebum production - both of which contribute to acne, in their destroying cell tissue with microphages and increasing collagen production to give acne its typical raised, inflamed appearance.
   
2. It promotes healing and may reduce the visibility of acne scars.
   In a similar vein, the regulation of collagen production aids in the recovery of skin tissue, where inflammation and immune cell response in acne begins to decrease. Collagen proteins, in this case, are responsible for forming connective, flexible tissue that joins the surface of the skin, released by the fibroblasts in the epidermis. While overproduction can lead to raised tissue in the aftermath of acne development, and underproduction can leave depressed skin from insufficient tissue - balancing this physiology from the body ultimately curbs hyperactivity of fibroblasts, while increasing activity in lacking areas of skin.

Red Light Therapy for Face: What to Expect

As a rule of thumb, you should consult with a dermatologist before beginning a DIY treatment of red light therapy for face - care. Here, you’ll be able to explore: either at-risk factors that discourage practice of the treatment or potential applications that could benefit from its use, whether you are a good candidate for this treatment, what to expect, and the nature of the treatment you may require.

Avoid retinol and other skin care products that thin the skin for two weeks before a light therapy session.

If you are currently on anti-inflammatory medications, consult your dermatologist to see if they should be discontinued. In the days leading up to your treatment appointments, avoid using tanning beds and spending too much time in the sun without protection.

On the other hand, phototherapy is rarely limited to a single treatment. To begin, several cycles of phototherapy are commonly recommended, with two to three sessions per week for four to six weeks.

Following that, the treatment's effects may require occasional follow-up treatments every three months or so.

Light treatment at home

Some products are available for at-home light therapy treatment.

Research suggests that these therapies can be successful; one small study discovered that utilising self-applied light therapy for 28 days reduced the number of acne lesions on participants' faces.

Light therapy devices for home usage may appear expensive, but they are cheaper than rounds of acne treatment at a dermatologist's office.

The bottom line

Many people find that visible light therapy works well for acne treatment.

Setting reasonable expectations for how well light therapy will work for you is critical. While it may help with your symptoms, it is unlikely to remove your blemishes and pimples permanently.It is also generally recommended to try other, less costly methods of topical and oral acne treatment before attempting light therapy. To know more about how red light therapy fixes acne issues, contact us today!