Science of Acne Light Therapy
It all started with NASA conducting plant growth LED technology experiments in space. Further studies showed that light delivered deep into tissues of the body promoted wound healing and human tissue growth.
In order to better understand the effects of LEDs on all cell growth and proliferation studies were conducted with the cooperation of
Quantum Devices, Department of Defense Air Force, and others. LED treatment of patients with chronic and acute wounds and cancer have been performed with significant improvements in medical care.
Later in 1999 phototherapy with blue and red light was evaluated in the treatment of acne vulgaris. The studies were presented by the British Association of Dermatologists in the British Journal of Dermatology. It was found that phototherapy with mixed blue-red light is an effective means of treating acne vulgaris of mild to moderate severity with no significant adverse effects.
The blue light phototherapy of acne vulgaris showed markedly improvement. They found a mean improvement in inflammatory lesions after a combined blue-red light radiation which was significantly superior to those achieved by blue light or benzoyl peroxide.
Another study was conducted in 2006 and published in the Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy. A combination of blue and red phototherapy was used in the treatment of mild to severe acne vulgaris. The conclusion was that the “combination of blue and red LED therapy appears to have excellent potential in the treatment of mild to severe acne. Treatment appears to be both pain and side effect-free.”
A clinical study was conducted for Acne PhotoClearing using a novel, high-intensity, enhanced, narrow-band blue light source. This study concluded that high intensity blue light results in photodestruction of propionibacterium (P. acnes) by 90% on human skin. The number of acne lesions were decreased following the 8 week treatment sessions.
After researching the blue and red light products available I conclude that the best solution to acne reduction with prevention from reoccurence is to treat with blue light followed by red light. The blue light will destroy the P. acnes. The red light will help with inflammation and redness. My conclusions are not scientific. I have included resources to the complete studies for you to research and make your own conclusions.
Sharon Stewart
RESOURCES:
Combination blue (415 nm) and red (633 nm) LED phototherapy in the treatment of mild to severe acne vulgaris.
JOURNAL OF COSMETIC AND LASER THERAPY 2006; 8: 71-75
David J. Goldberg and Bruce A. Russell
Acne PhotoClearing Using a Novel, High-Intensity, Enhanced, Narrow-Band, Blue Light Source
Clinical Application Notes Vol. 9 No. 1
A.R. Shalita, MD, SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Y. Harth, MD, Elisha
Hospital, Haifa, Israel; M. Elman, MD, Beit-Harofim, Holon, Israel
Phototherapy with blue (415 nm) and red (660 nm) light in the treatment of acne vulgaris
BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY 2000; 142: 973-978
P.PAPAGEORGIOU, A.KATSAMBAS* AND A.CHU
Blue light phototherapy in the treatment of acne
PHOTODERMATOL PHOTOIMMUNOL PHOTOMED 2004; 20: 266-269
Tien-Yi Tzung, Kuan-Hsing Wu, Mei-Lun Huang
Department of Dermatologoy, Veterans General Hospital Kaosiung, Taiwan and Department of Dermatology, Chu-Tung Veterans Hospital, Hsing-Chu, Taiwan
