Acne Light Treatment

Trouble with acne ?  A new acne light treatment may be able to help you.  Did you know that, in the world today, there are millions of people who suffer from acne ? Among these people, hundreds of thousands are teenagers. It is estimated that one in twenty people have acne to some degree. For those who have severe acne, it can be a debilitating skin disorder. In past decades, acne was thought of as a teenage disorder. This is proven to be false. More adults suffer from acne then teenagers.

Although acne is a skin disorder, it affects more than just the skin. Many people who suffer from acne feel not only the physical pain of it, they also suffer from embarrassment, depression, and self-consciousness.  For many of them, just walking outside is a struggle. For those who have severe acne, the pain of being ridiculed is enormous. For those who are still in school, it can cause them great emotional anguish as they may be tormented by other children in school.

Many people who have severe acne choose to become shut ins and not leave their homes. They are afraid that they will be stared at or even worse, laughed at. Acne can cause severe emotional problems as well as physical.

Experts are stumped as to why it affects some people and not others. There are many myths as to what causes acne. In the past, it was thought that acne was caused by poor diets or too much greasy food; however, this has proven to be false. Acne is cause by oil and dirt blocking follicles under the skin. This causes bacteria to form and grow causing acne.

It is critical that acne be treated as soon as possible because severe acne can cause permanent scarring.

While there is no cure for acne, there are several treatment methods that may be effective in treating acne. There are over the counter medications as well as prescription, and there are also medical procedures that can help to alleviate the symptoms of acne. One treatment that has had tremendous results is acne light treatment, also known as phototherapy.

The process sounds complex, however, it is really quite simple. A wavelength of light, either blue or red, is used to eliminate acne causing bacteria from a specific area. The blue or red light creates free radicals in the bacteria, when the free radicals reach a certain level, they overcome the bacteria and it dies. 

ALA is an ointment that is applied to the affected area before the laser light treatment begins. It works by increasing porphyrin levels in the bacteria, which in turn, increase the free radicals. When this is combined with the light therapy, the results are phenomenal. Studies have shown that when porphyrins are exposed to the blue light therapy, it increases oxygen levels, which in turn destroys the bacteria.

Acne Light therapy is perhaps the greatest method to treating acne that has been developed thus far. The results of using acne light therapy are astounding, and there are no side affects from it. With most conventional treatments, bacteria has the potential to become immune to the medications that are used; they build up a tolerance for them. With acne light therapy, there is no chance of bacteria becoming resistant to the light.

Perhaps the greatest benefit to acne light therapy is that you have the choice of going to a Dermatologist to have the procedure done or you can do it yourself at home. It should be understood that if you seek this procedure from a Dermatologist, it could be very expensive. This is because you will need multiple treatments everyday, and because it is considered a cosmetic procedure, most insurance companies will not cover the cost. However there is a solution to this problem.

Phototherapy lamps are available to the general public and can be found anywhere on the Internet. These lamps are specially designed for treating acne and can be purchased with a single colored light or both colored lights.

Another benefit to phototherapy lamps is that they can be purchased with up to three lamp heads. The benefit to having three lamp heads is that it covers more area than just one. If you have acne over a large area, three lamp heads will allow you to spend less time treating it.

Choosing the colored lights is important, and both colors are recommended for maximum effect. This is because each color has a different function. The blue light is designed to kill the bacteria that form under your skin, and the red light is designed to promote new cell growth to assist in the healing process.

Although acne is usually found on the head, face, and neck, it can grow on any part of your body. Unlike creams and astringents used to treat acne, the acne lamp can be used on any part of your body.

Using an acne treatment lamp is perhaps on of that quickest, easiest ways to combat your acne. It takes about fifteen minutes for one treatment and it is recommended that two treatments a day be used. The results will be astounding. However, it is important to note that if you have sensitive skin and are prone to sunburns, using an acne treatment lamp is not recommended.

In the United States, the FDA must approve any and all treatments before it can be sold on the open market. The product must pass extremely long and intense testing before getting the approval of the FDA. Acne light therapy lamps are among the few treatment methods that have passed the FDA’s testing to get their seal of approval.

Acne light therapy is an effective treatment, however, it is not instant. It can take up to three months to see results. Continued use of the light therapy is recommended to keep the bacteria under control.