Acne is very common and affects almost everyone at some point. It normally strikes in the teenage years and is usually gone by the early to mid-20s, and in most cases causes no more than a few pimples. But in some people, the disease causes major inflammation, deep lesions and potentially ugly scarring. These people may be candidates for light therapy that targets acne.
Causes
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) estimates that each year, 85 percent of teenagers will have acne. The skin condition has several main causes: excess oil produced by the sebaceous glands below the skin's surface, clogged pores that block the oil from reaching the surface, and a type of bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) that grows well in the oil-filled glands, causing inflammation.
Function
The lights used in light therapy for acne are not lasers. But like lasers, they target deep enough into the skin to attack the bacteria that cause the inflammation and lesions, according to the Mayo Clinic. The bacteria explode from the light energy, while the skin is unharmed from the light therapy treatment. Light therapy also can shrink the sebaceous oil glands and help to heal the inflammation directly.
Types
Many types of non-laser light therapies are used by dermatologists to treat acne. They include: blue LED light therapy, infrared LED light therapy and intense pulsed light (IPL), according to the AAD. In addition, some dermatologists are using what's called photodynamic therapy, which combines light therapy with a topical medication. In photodynamic therapy, the physician first spreads a cream over the treatment area and then targets the area with light. The cream contains a chemical that makes the skin react more intensely to the light therapy.
Benefits
Medical studies have found light therapy for acne to be effective in clearing lesions and reducing inflammation. For example, a 2008 study performed by dermatologists in Italy reported that red light therapy for acne was effective, safe and well tolerated by patients, and resulted in a significant decrease in lesions and skin oil production. Another 2008 study looked at the effectiveness of blue light therapy in acne and concluded that it appears to have a role in the treatment of mild to moderate acne, although the study noted that the patients didn't experience reductions in their P. acnes infections.
Considerations
Light therapy appears to be safe and has few immediate side effects, according to the Mayo Clinic. Patients might experience some temporary reddening and dryness, but light therapy generally is painless. However, long-term benefits or risks of light therapy for acne still are not known, the Mayo Clinic says. In addition, light therapy can be costly, and insurance may not cover the treatments. Patients should discuss their acne treatment options with their dermatologist.
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