Acne Fighting Blue Light

What is blue light?

Blue Light Therapy for acne uses a specific range of light wavelengths from 405 to 420 nanometers, within the visible light spectrum. We’re exposed to blue light constantly. It’s in sunlight and emitted from the screens of electronic devices. As far as skincare goes, blue light therapy is hardly the new kid on the block. Have you ever had a facial where they used a high frequency device to target blemishes? That's a form of blue light. I've been an esthetician since 1979 and even then it was a valuable tool to treat acne lesions. In dermatology it also helps treat precancerous skin lesions when combined with other medicines.

How is blue light different from red light?

At the simplest level, different colors of light have different wavelengths. In general, blue light has shorter wavelengths, around 400-500 nm (nanometers) compared to red light which ranges from 620 to 750 nm. Blue light acts near the surface of the skin while red light penetrates deeper into the dermis. Blue light is perfect for going down to the depth of your pores which is where your oil glands reside. It has a disinfecting effect on the pores. It also helps to decrease oil production. This is a great tool for fighting breakouts. Red light increases ATP energy (adenosine triphosphate). It's the fuel that runs your cell's metabolism. Kind of like how gasoline fuels our cars. Red light is typically used for its anti-aging benefits by the way it impacts collagen production. Since it goes deeper it's meant to increase energy at the perfect depth where the fibroblasts reside in the skin. These are the cells that make collagen, elastin and other components that make up a strong,healthy dermis. These keep your skin looking youthful and firm. Blue light is most often correlated with treating acne. This is likely why there are way more red light than blue light devices out there. Mainly because more people are after the youth-boosting benefits promised by red light therapy. Still, blue light is an amazing tool to help you battling blemishes.

How does blue light benefits skin?

Blue light is most commonly known as an effective treatment for acne-prone skin, but it has other powers. Here's are all the ways it can give your complexion a boost:

• Blue light battles acne. It's most proven benefit is undoubtedly its effect on breakouts, specifically its ability to kill acne-causing bacteria. How exactly does it do that? Here's the quick explanation: All bacteria, but especially acne-causing C.acnes, produce porphyrins, a byproduct of the bacteria’s metabolic processes. These porphyrins are light sensitive—to blue light in particular. Exposure triggers a chemical reaction that ends up killing the bacteria.

• Blue light quells inflammation. While the majority of the data on blue light revolves around its antibacterial effects, research shows that it’s also anti-inflammatory, potentially helping to treat inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.

• Blue light softens acne scars. And going back to acne, blue light may also help minimize acne scars. One 2020 study showed that it down-regulated the cells responsible for irregular collagen contraction that leads to abnormal, raised scarring.

But isn't blue light bad for your skin?

Let’s address the elephant in the room. Are we talking about the same kind of blue light experts warn against, the kind that disrupts our sleep and damages our eyes…and skin? Yep, it is. So what gives? Blue light is dose dependent. In smaller, targeted amounts (i.e. what you get from an in-office treatment or at-home tool) it can do good things for your skin. But with chronic, prolonged exposure (think staring at your beloved screens 24/7), it can damage the skin, specifically causing inflammation and pigmentation. Much of the harm caused by electronic devices is due to the length of exposure.

Targeted, blue light therapy will do good things for your skin, if you’re dealing with acne. However, if you’re really worried about sleep disruptions it’s not a bad idea to avoid using blue light masks in the evening. It’s also important to wear a sunscreen (30 SPF or more) daily to minimize the damaging effects of blue light from sun and screens. Physical sunscreens containing zinc oxide work best to block blue light. Acne sufferers and oily skin types will enjoy our Tinted Screen. This physical sunscreen has a slight tint to it to avoid that pasty white look you can get from other physical screens.

The difference between in-office blue light and at-home devices

As is the case for pretty much all energy-based devices, anything you can use at-home is less intense (and theoretically less effective) than it's in-office counterpart. Blue light home devices are going to have fewer bulbs that are less powerful than the ones on the devices you'd find in professional venues. That means results from an at-home device may not be as achievable as with a professional device.

How to use blue light at home

As mentioned, consider blue light if you’re dealing with acne—but it shouldn’t be a standalone treatment. Think of it as an additional tool in your armamentarium. There are a few key things to consider when shopping for an at-home blue light mask or device. You’ll want to make sure that the tool is actually emitting the specific wavelengths in the blue light range: If it doesn’t list the actual wavelengths. LED blue light devices should fall within the 405-420 nm range. If you wish to purchase a blue light device. I feel the best one available is one created for medical use, like Celluma. It's expensive, but definitely the best I've found.

Professional treatments

For acne, professional blue light treatments are typically administered weekly to twice weekly for several weeks initially. The number of sessions needed depends on the severity of your acne, and maintenance treatments may be recommended to sustain results. Some individuals see improvement after a few weeks, while others may need longer treatment periods. Best to buy them in a series of six at a time. This way you only pay for five and get the sixth one free for each set of treatments.

Elizabeth's Philosophy

Elizabeth believes in "Longevity Skincare", the idea that beautiful skin can endure throughout one's lifetime when utilizing the best that science and nature has to offer. In her forty plus years as a master esthetician Elizabeth discovered what really works, what truly makes a difference in creating a beautiful complexion. Longevity by Elizabeth Renee is a science-based skincare line that appreciates skin of all ages. As skin changes throughout your life you can keep looking youthful and vibrant, no matter what your chronological age. Longevity by Elizabeth Renee is a line that provides hydration, nutrition and protection from environmental aging. Your skin will receive high performance ingredients to help energize and repair its cells, resulting in a healthy skin with an enduring, vital glow.