subject: Blue Light Acne Treatment And A Complete Look At The Acne Process [print this page] New progressive treatments continue to become available in the area of acne treatment and skin care. A newer technique has been developed using blue light following evidence that shows that blue light has an antibacterial effect on the skin. Treatment done by shining blue light on acne affected skin effectively kills off acne causing bacteria. However, this type of acne therapy treats only one factor in a complex process that necessitates equally comprehensive solutions.
Understandably, people might be a little apprehensive about the safety of light exposure, however, it has been proven that blue light does not cause the DNA altering risks that do UV rays. UV rays pose high risk of alteration in cell division, whereas blue light has no effect whatsoever on the cells' natural ability to function normally. In fact, blue light's softer wave frequency is what both distinguishes it from harmful rays and what makes it effective as a source of acne treatment.
How does Blue Light Acne Treatment Work?
Acne causing bacteria is known as P. acnes and produces a chemical that has the structure of an organic compound known as a porphyrin. Under particular treatment conditions, the porphyrin molecular structure can be altered, for example by the release of its oxygen components. Blue light treatment effectively agitates the bacterial porphyrins and causes them to release oxygen atoms, consequently destroying their elemental make-up and therefore the larger bacterium.
Other Factors in Acne and its Treatment
However, bacteria is only one piece of the puzzle and has not even been shown to be a significant cause of acne. The true causes of acne begin with damage to living cells within sebum ducts. These cells are damaged due to various reasons such as the sheer force of sebum output, the hardening of sebum within the follicle, and the mixture of oil and dead skin cells that get trapped and clog pores. The root factors that cause acne have respective natural solutions: the natural inhibition of sebum output, the dissolving of hardened sebum by use of particular unsaturated fatty acids and the activation of natural enzymatic reactions in the breaking down of oil and dead skin cells. Ideally, acne treatment should also reduce bacteria and calm inflamed skin by addressing the body's natural inflammatory reaction and supporting the innate immune system at the site of cell damage. And lastly we must make sure to repair damaged cells by regenerating skin to avoid the development of acne scars.
The Good and Bad of Blue Light Acne Treatment
Blue light acne therapy is a great choice in getting rid of acne causing bacteria as it has been proven to be safe, and with no relation to negative results due to other types of light exposure. In fact, it has not been linked to any negative side effects whatsoever. However, blue light therapy is not necessarily ideal for everybody who suffers from an acne condition.
Unfortunately, blue light treatment options seem to only be available to those with the means to afford considerably expensive health care and procedures. This option is not offered by all dermatologists as it largely depends on the health care location. Additionally, the cost of the treatment is high and it is rare for insurance companies to cover these types of treatment expenses. Those who do not have the means to pay for costly therapies, such as blue light treatment, might find more promising skin care options in the area of natural acne treatment. Then again, natural treatment could be a better option if you find an organic product that serves to more comprehensively treat the root causes of acne and not just one part of the puzzle.
