Dermatologists using the blue light acne treatment system now know what psychologists and medical doctors have known for several years: light treatments are powerful. Unlike a psychologist who uses light treatments to treat seasonal affective mood disorders, a dermatologist uses a different range of light, called blue light, to treat acne. The treatment has been approved by the FDA for treatment of acne vulgaris, which ranges from mild to moderate acne.

The actual full name of this light acne treatment system is called “BLUE light photodynamic therapy.” It is either administered alone or in combination with aminolevulinic acid. Patients typically sit in front of the blue light system for about 16 minutes per session. The time exposure is reduced if the patient is using the aminolevulinic acid prior to sitting under the light system. The treatment schedule varies depending on your doctor’s recommendations, however, improvements should be seen after at least two and not more than four treatments.

A study done by the British Journal of Dermatology in May 2000, studied the effects of blue and red light wavelengths on acne in comparison to benzoyl peroxide. The study concluded that a mix of red and blue, instead of blue alone, outperformed the benzoyl peroxide group for the percentage of lesions healed. The study goes on to state that the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action of the blue-red light system is an effective treatment for acne vulgaris with no significant side effects.

It is known that natural UV sunlight can help clear acne. Ultraviolet light is a sterilizing agent that can kill bacteria. One thing that is a concern with increased exposure to sunlight is the potential for premature aging of the skin or skin cancer. In fact, many of today’s conventional medicines, like retinoids, can cause a patient to become over-sensitized to sunlight. In that case, sunscreens are recommended to keep the patient from burning and damaging the skin that way.

These light systems are still fairly new so it is not clear exactly what the long-term effects of a light acne treatment system might be. You will want to keep up-to-date on the latest news by paying attention to:

• The acne treatments
• New acne treatments
• Acne cure products

As we learn more about the body’s relation to it’s environment in the fight against acne, we may find that deficiency in certain spectrums of light can cause different illnesses, as in the case of seasonal affective disorder. The acne cure may seem strange and impossible, but may make a lot of sense when we understand that health is dependent on external as well as internal factors. A good acne treatment system can include topical products, like Skin Original, or blue light that treat the symptoms and kill bacteria on the skin. However, it should also include some attention to good body health as well.