Especially after the last particularly extreme acne breakout, you already feel like nothing is working fast enough toget rid of those annoying pimples? Maybe light therapy for acne is the treatment you've been looking for! In the article we reveal how the popular LED masks for acne treatment work and what you should pay attention to!
What causes acne?
Acne is a persistent medical skin condition that can affect the face, chest, back, shoulders and arms. Although in most cases it does not affect our physical health, acne can lead to a lasting loss of self-confidence. Almost every teenager between the ages of 12 and 18 has suffered from acne at some point, and more and more adults are affected by the skin disease.
Acne occurs when the dead skin cells and naturally produced oil, called sebum, clog tiny hair follicles or pores. As sebum production continues to build up under the plug beneath the skin's surface, it becomes infected with acne bacteria, causing swelling, redness and inflammation. As a result, pustules, pimples and blackheads form on the face, which need proper treatment. Before you undertake any treatment yourself, it is strongly advisable to visit a dermatologist.
But you shouldn't do this under any circumstances:
- Express pimples yourself
- Disinfect and treat the skin with products containing alcohol
- Use (unsuitable) make-up to cover up skin imperfections
What acne treatments are there?
“What to do if you have acne?” and “What helps against acne?” are the most common questions that those affected by acne ask themselves. In fact, there is no one-size-fits-all treatment for this skin condition as it depends on the skin type and other individual conditions. However, some acne treatments have proven to be more effective than others. A distinction is made between internal and external treatment.
Internal acne treatment:
In moderate and severe cases, acne treatment with medication is recommended. Common medications used include antibiotics, vitamin A acid derivatives (retinoids), homeopathy, Schuessler salts and even some birth control pills. Internal treatment of acne is necessarily prescribed by the doctor. It is not advisable to take tablets on your own.
External acne treatment:
External treatment of acne is more commonly used. Ointments, peelings and creams are particularly popular here and work particularly well on mild acne cases. Local acne treatment also includes other methods such as steaming, icing and cosmetic squeezing of the pimples. These are usually carried out in a cosmetic studio or at a dermatologist. One of the latest treatment methods is light therapy for acne.
This is how light therapy works for acne
Color light therapy against acne was intended to offer a modern solution to the problems of acne sufferers. The affected part of the body (usually the face) is irradiated with blue-red light, either with a lamp or with a handy device (pen or mask). Blue light is said to kill the bacteria that cause acne, while red light is said to help the skin heal faster. Light therapy for acne can be done both in the beauty salon and at home.
Please note that light therapy is used to treat skin conditions such as acne and psoriasisLight therapy for seasonal depressiondiffers. The latter are so-called daylight lamps, whereas special LED lamps, masks and similar devices are used for the former.
The LED face masks provide the skin with a gentle light radiation that emits both blue and red light waves. This combination is considered particularly effective for skin diseases such as acne. Below we will answer exactly how this works.
The effect of LED light on the skin
UV light was used to treat various diseases as early as the 1990sSkin problems such as neurodermatitis, psoriasis and sun allergies. However, if overdosed, UV rays can attack skin cells, causing hyperpigmentation and causing long-term damage to the skin. Irradiation with LED light, on the other hand, is a new type of light therapy that does not involve any harmful UV radiation. In contrast to ultraviolet light, the light waves in color light therapy are less strong and generally harmless to the skin. LED light therapy is divided into three different types:
Blue LED light– Blue light has an antibacterial effect and can kill various types of bacteria that clog pores. This is why blue light therapy is ideal for treating acne. A study examined the effect of light therapy with blue LED light on people affected by acne. Results noted improvement in 77 percent of cases after 5 weeks of treatment. Blue light also helpsto care for skinand fight free radicals. It also has an anti-inflammatory effect that can reduce other acne symptoms such as redness.
Red LED light– Red light has a longer wavelength than blue light and can penetrate deep into the skin and stimulate collagen production and cell renewal. Therefore it usually comes forAnti-aging purposesfor use. The red light promotes blood circulation and has a positive effect on skin prone to impurities. For more severe cases of acne, a combination of blue light and red light therapy is particularly effective.
Green LED light– Green light has a calming effect on the skin and can help with pigment spots and other sun-related skin problems. Hyperpigmentation and other discolorations can be evened out under the green LED light.
Who are light therapy masks suitable for?
LED masks are generally suitable for all skin types. However, taking some medications that make the skin sensitive to light can have a negative effect on the skin and over-stimulate it during light therapy. It is therefore advisable to discuss treatment with a doctor first. The use of light therapy is also not recommended during pregnancy or in skin diseases such as skin cancer.
According to experts, mild to moderate cases of acne can be treated with color light therapy. There is no specific frequency of application - you can use the therapy masks as needed. However, several applications are necessary for good results.
What are the side effects of light therapy for acne?
Light therapy using blue and red light is generally considered safe, but there are some possible side effects.
Common side effects of light therapy:
- Redness
- Bruises
- peeling skin
- mild pain or irritation
Rare side effects are:
- dried pus or blistering at the treatment site
- Burns
- dark pigmentation when skin is exposed to the sun for a long time after treatment
- severe pain at the treatment site
Light therapy for acne at home – yes or no?
Recently, light therapy products for home use have gained a lot of popularity. There are already many devices on the market that allow you to carry out light therapy for acne in your own home. These are also really inexpensive compared to visiting the beauty salon. But are LED masks effective for personal use?
Because of their lower price, home light therapy devices require less energy than professional ones. Therefore, they can be described as less effective than professional treatment. Another disadvantage is the limited lifespan of LED masks for home use. Most products encourage repurchases after just a few uses, which actually makes them not that cheap and particularly harmful to the environment.
Research shows that light therapy for acne at home can also be effective. According to a small study, self-administered blue light therapy led to an improvement in the skin of those affected by acne after 28 days of use.
Tips for using LED masks for home use
If you still want to try the promising light therapy masks yourself, then there are a few things you should keep in mind. First of all, it is important to get a good device. This must not emit any UV light, otherwise undesirable skin irritations may occur.
Most LED masks on the market are suitable for daily use. Light therapy for acne should be carried out every day after cleansing your face with a suitable cleansing product. First, the therapy mask is connected to an “activator” and then placed on the face. Then you simply have to press the start button to start the treatment. Most LED masks will automatically turn off after a certain period of time. The treatment usually lasts no more than 10 minutes. After using the mask, the face can be cared for as usual with a suitable facial cream.
Is light therapy the best solution for acne?
Whether LED light therapy masks can provide a general solution to all acne problems has not been scientifically proven. Some studies show an improvement in the appearance of the skin, while others show neither benefit nor harm. Since there are usually different types of acne, light therapy cannot offer a universal solution for all of them. Furthermore, every skin reacts differently to different treatments - the positive effect for one does not guarantee the same for another.
Essentially, for many people, light therapy is effective for acne. However, it is important to have realistic expectations about treatment. While it may improve symptoms, it is unlikely to permanently solve acne and blemish problems. We also recommend that you discuss the use of an LED therapy mask with your dermatologist in advance, especially if you suffer from a more severe form of acne.
References:
“Light-based therapies in acne treatment”, S. Pei, A. Inamadar, K. Adya, and M. Tsoukas
“Blue light for infectious diseases: Propionibacterium acnes, Helicobacter pylori, and beyond?”, T. Dai, A. Gupta, C. Murray, M. Vrahas, G. Tegos, und M. Hamblin
“Clinical Efficacy of Self-applied Blue Light Therapy for Mild-to-Moderate Facial Acne”, M. Gold, A. Andriessen, J. Biron, and H. Andreissen
