Understanding Light Therapy

• Blue-light therapy involves exposing the skin to blue-light waves that have been found to reduce the amount of acne-causing bacteria. The patient sits with the affected skin directly exposed to the blue light for 15 to 30 minutes per session and repeats the process about two times per week until results are observed. It generally takes about a month for any acne treatment to show significant results.
  
  Red-light therapy works using a similar method, but the red light is used for the purpose of speeding the process of skin recovery. Red light has been found to energize adenosine triphosphate in muscle tissues, which can stimulate skin repair.
  
  

Starting Light Therapy

• Schedule an appointment with a dermatologist before attempting red- or blue-light therapy to see if your doctor recommends this treatment for your specific skin condition. Light therapy is not effective with every type of acne, and nodulocystic acne can be worsened by it. If your diagnosis determines that light therapy may be right for you, set up a treatment plan with your dermatologist. Generally, treatments are done twice weekly for 15 minutes each. Be sure to remove all makeup or other products that may affect your skin's absorption of the light before undergoing the light -therapy treatment. Some people find it helpful to apply 5-aminolevulinic acid or ALA, which increases skin sensitivity to light, before a session. Ask your dermatologist about this possibility.
  
  

Evaluating Light Therapy

• After about a month, consult again with your dermatologist to determine the effectiveness of the treatment. If considerable improvement has occurred, perhaps it would be advantageous to purchase an in-home light-therapy product. Use online stores with product reviews, such as Amazon, to find a highly rated product from companies like Quasar. Set up your in-home light-therapy device, and resume conducting twice weekly treatments. It is possible to increase the duration and frequency of your treatments for better results, but consult with your dermatologist before making any changes to your treatment plan.