At Home Light Therapy For Acne

Do At Home Devices Really Work

At home light therapy devices do work and research has proven it. The effects will not be as robust as getting it done in office, but it does yield similar results with consistent use. It is not as strong as in office devices so more than likely, you would have to use it more frequently at first to start seeing results. So it produces results, but it is not as potent as a professional treatment. On the plus side, there is a significant cost saving when you own an at home device and the convenience factor cant be beat.

Light therapy is best to be used in conjunction with other acne fighting therapies. It is not as effective on its own but it can be an awesome addition to your acne fighting arsenal. Its great to have another option for treating acne that does not involve the use of medications.

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When people talk about “the future of skincare,” they probably couldn’t have predicted something quite so futuristic. If you have your thumb on the pulse when it comes to skincare innovations, you’ve probably heard a little something about LED face masks, aka light therapy masks. These anti-inflammatory, acne-fighting LED treatments were once only available under the practiced hand of an aesthetician. But we’re in the year of our lord 2022, and just like your favorite everyday face mask, LED light therapy masks are now a luxury available for you to use at your leisure.

Which Light Therapy Device Is Best For Acne Treatment

When it comes to selecting effective light therapy for acne, it all comes down to personal choice. Celluma offers a variety of LED light therapy devices for specific needs, budgets, and lifestyles, making advanced skin care accessible for all. And unlike other light therapy devices that require multiple panels and accessories to treat a variety of skin conditions, Celluma offers all-in-one, scientifically-backed systems that are as convenient as they are effective.

Below are the best Celluma products for acne, all clinically proven to give you a more radiant complexion:

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The various light colors may work to differing degrees, says Bruce Brod, a clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania. “Clinical studies relatively consistent in showing a reduction in acne bumps when is used regularly,” he says. What we know for now, according to Dr. Brod, is that blue light has a “mild benefit for certain types of acne.”

Yellow LED light

As noted, yellow LED light hasn’t yet been as well-studied as the others, but Dr. Belkin says it “can help reduce redness and healing time.” According to Cleveland Clinic, it can penetrate the skin at a deeper depth than its counterparts, and research has demonstrated its efficacy as a supplemental treatment to red LED light in helping to fade fine lines.

Green LED light

“Green and red LED light therapy are ideal treatments for healing broken capillaries because they help reduce signs of skin aging and trigger new collagen growth beneath the skin surface,” Dr. Marmur says. Because of this collagen-boosting effect, Dr. Marmur says green LED light can also be used effectively for helping to even out skin texture and tone.

How Can Blue Light Therapy Eliminate Acne Faster

If you suffer from acne, its likely youve heard of light therapy, or blue light therapy as a possible solution to your acne pimple woes. LED blue light therapy is a proven acne treatment for people who have tried other acne treatments, but still arent seeing the results they want. Light therapy used to only be available at a dermatologists or estheticians office, but with the advent of affordable, effective, at-home light therapy device design, blue light for acne is becoming a household treatment thats non-toxic, non-invasive, and really, really effective.

LED light therapy works by killing acne-causing bacteria at the source, deep beneath the skins surface. As people across the nation are searching for more natural, chemical-free alternatives to traditional medical solutions, light therapy, particularly blue light treatments, fits the bill perfectly. Blue LED light, especially in combination with red light therapy, emits specific, clinically-proven wavelengths of light to trigger an all-natural effect in human tissue, killing acne-causing bacteria, decreasing inflammation, and improving skin tone, texture, and clarity from the inside out. However, not all light therapy is created equal..

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Blue Light Therapy At

The FDA has cleared several at-home visible light LED devices for mild to moderate acne. Some popular options? Tria Beauty’s Positively Clear 3-Step Skincare Solution is a small option that’s great for getting into hard-to-reach parts of your face and is cartridge-free. Then there’s the Me Clear Anti-Blemish Device which uses a combination of blue light, sonic vibration, and “gentle warming.” Other options include the DRx SpotLite from celeb-approved skin-care brand Dr. Dennis Gross. The LightStim is another red and blue light device that, in addition to reducing inflammation and destroying acne bacteria, also promises to increase circulation, along with collagen and elastin production.

While the length of time you’ll need to use each device varies , the time investment for most at-home devices ranges from about 6 to 20 minutes daily to see results, depending on how many sections of the face you want to treat. So, while it certainly adds a time-consuming step to your skin-care routine, it’s definitely way less time than you spend in bed scrolling through Instagram on a daily basis, not to mention probably less harsh than other at-home beauty processes you may undergo on the reg, such as a bikini wax.

What Are The Side Effects Of Led Light Therapy

Dermatologists agree that these devices are generally safe for both in-office and at-home use. Better yet, “generally, is safe for all skin colors and types,” Dr. Shah says. “Side effects are uncommon but may include redness, swelling, itch, and dryness.”

If you’re taking any medications or using any topicals that make your skin more sensitive to light, this “can potentially increase your risk of side effects,” Dr. Shah explains, “so it’s best to discuss LED therapy with your doctor if you are taking any such medications.”

It is worth noting, though, that in 2019, one at-home LED face mask was pulled from shelves in what the company described as “an abundance of caution” regarding potential eye injury. “For a small subset of the population with certain underlying eye conditions, as well as for users taking medications which could enhance ocular photosensitivity, there is a theoretical risk of eye injury,” read the company’s statement at the time.

Overall, however, our dermatologists give the seal of approval for anyone who’s interested in adding a device to their skin-care regimen. “They may be a good option for people who are pregnant or potentially pregnant, or for an acne patient who doesn’t feel comfortable using prescription medications,” says Dr. Brod.

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How Light Treats Acne

Acne forms in pores — the tiny holes in your skin. Each pore contains an oil-producing gland. The oil keeps your skin healthy.

But sometimes the oil, dirt, and dead skin cells can get trapped inside pores and clog them up. Bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes that live on your skin can also get inside these blocked pores. P. acnes make the clogged pores swell up into bumps called acne.

One way to kill bacteria and clear up pimples is with light. The bacteria in your skin are sensitive to certain types of light. When you shine these lights on your skin, toxic substances form and kill the bacteria. Light therapy also shrinks the oil glands in your skin, so your skin makes less pore-clogging oil.

What To Expect During Light Therapy

Before you have a phototherapy session, youll see a dermatologist. Theyll be able to tell you if youre a good candidate for this treatment, what kind of light theyll be using, what to expect, and how many treatments you might need.

For two weeks prior to a light therapy session, you may need to avoid retinols and other skin care products that thin your skin.

If youre on any anti-inflammatory drugs, ask your dermatologist if you should discontinue them. Avoid tanning beds and prolonged, unprotected sun exposure in the days just before your treatment appointments.

Blue and red light therapy sessions last 15 to 30 minutes each. During the session, youll lay down or put your head in a special device meant to keep your face still.

A trained light therapy professional usually a nurse or dermatologist will apply pulses from a light therapy device to different parts of your face, working in a circular fashion. After several repetitions of this process, the treatment is complete.

After phototherapy, your treated skin may be pink or red. There might be some mild skin peeling from the treated area.

Your skin may be more sensitive, and you might need to skip your typical skin care regimen for a few days afterward, especially scrubs, exfoliants, and topical vitamin A.

While dermatologists recommend you wear sunscreen every day, youll need to be especially vigilant with sunblock while your skin recovers.

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What Are Common Acne Treatments

If you suffer from acne, its more than likely youve tried your fair share of treatments. From over-the-counter cleansers, creams, masks, and serums to even more extreme measures like prescription antibiotics and even Accutane. The options go on.

Dermatologists recommend that people with acne take care to wash their face twice daily with a gentle yet effective cleanser. Touching your face, over-exfoliating, and applying heavy comedogenic creams are also serious no-nos. But beyond that? There is no one-size-fits-all approach to tackling acne, and something that works for one person might not work for another. Some people require a more specialized acne treatment cocktail of sorts to finally eliminate the breakouts for good. The problem is, it can take months — or years — to figure out which treatment, or combination of treatments, will finally banish adult acne and keep it from coming back. Whats more, conventional chemical-based acne treatments can often dry out skin and cause even more irritation, exacerbating acne breakouts and their side effects.

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Can You Overdo Red Light Therapy

Yes, it is possible to overdo red light therapy. Side effects of overuse may include inflammation and tissue damage.

Dr. Tom Ingegno, Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, owns and operates Charm City Integrative Health in Baltimore, USA. He says for most cases, 20 minutes of RLT daily should be sufficient.

However, as Dr. Ingegno reminds us, red light “is a relatively low-risk therapy. It is important to remember that RLT is on the opposite end of the light spectrum and does not have the same issues as heavy amounts of UV light.” Thus, the likelihood of any severe side effects is slim but you’ll still want to be careful.

While you want to make sure you’re not overdoing red light therapy, you still want to be getting enough of it for noticeable effects. “We often see influencers standing in a room with a red light panel on the opposite side of the room,” says Dr. Ingegno, “Those photos may look pretty, but they are doing nothing, therapeutically speaking.”

But you don’t need the largest, most powerful red lights for every instance say, if you’re placing a face mask directly on your skin. If you do opt for panels, Dr. Ingegno suggests they have enough power to have an effect from about 12 inches away.

Tanda Clear Plus Professional

This is a really neat portable device. It offers three elements, blue light, vibration and warmth. When they are matched together in one device they make for effective and fast treatments of mild and medium acne outbreaks. So simple pimple zapping is just a breeze for the Tanda.

The built in sonic vibration is a brilliant feature that increases micro circulation, this helps to reduce inflammation. The gentle warmth from the treatment head opens pores allowing more effective blue light penetration. P.acne bacteria can be quickly neutralised. A pretty cool set of features that when combined give the user a great chance for a successful treatment outcome.

The Tanda Clear Plus Professional is not packed with features but the ones it has are all useful. There is a built in sensor in the treatment head that activates the blue light LEDs only when it is in contact with the skin. And a built in timer turns the device off when the three minute treatment cycle is finished. As a safety feature it will also turn off if the treatment head gets too hot, it beeps to let you know.

The treatment head is detachable and should last for over 6000 hours. Thatâs a lot of pimples taken care of!!! The Tanda is suited for dry, oily, combination or sensitive skin types.

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What Kind Of Conditions Can At

You can find at-home light and laser devices for treatment of acne, scars, hair removal and wrinkles using various methods, including IPL, LED, heat, infrared and more.

For example, the Skin Clinical Reverse Anti-Aging handheld uses LED to reduce fine lines and smooth your complexion and Nuface devices use microcurrents to stimulate skin and remove wrinkles. Neutrogena once offered a full-face mask that used red and blue light to reduce acne, but the device was recalled after reports of eye issues. You can still purchase the handheld, localized version of that product if you want.

Most at-home treatments fall into one of four main categories:

• Anti-aging to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and tighten and rejuvenate the skin
• Discoloration or pigmentation to get rid of sun spots, age spots or other pigmentation issues
• Hair removal or hair growth to, well, grow or remove hair
• Acne treatment to reduce redness, inflammation and scarring

Are Led Masks Safe

Like many beauty innovations, at-home LED masks have been subject to controversy, sparked by concerns over their potential impact on eye health. However, a 2018 study found “no adverse events associated with the use of these devices and little to no downtime for the patient.” While most experts agree that a correctly used LED mask is a safe and efficacious tool, its vital to invest in one that has been FDA-approved and purchased from a reputable brand.

“At-home LED devices are a fraction of the strength of devices that are used in professional settings, says Dr. Gross. The testing for at-home devices is actually more rigorous than professional ones because the device is being cleared to use without the presence of a professional there’s a higher-level burden of proof to show efficacy and safety because a consumer is in charge of their treatment. For this reason, we focus on specifics like safe optical output and recommended treatment times. The best at-home LED masks will also be developed with in-build safety mechanisms: look for auto shut-offs, heat regulators and timers.

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Where To Do Light Therapy Treatments For Acne

Light therapy acne treatments are widely available in both professional and at-home settings. Phototherapy has become a very common and popular acne treatment among dermatologists . If you choose to see a dermatologist for light therapy, you could pay $40-50 per session, but depending on the area and prestige of the clinic, light therapy acne treatments can cost as much as $100 per session.

The problem with professional light therapy acne treatments is the cost in both time and money. Light therapy works much better when done consistently, ideally every day for skin conditions like acne and cold sores. For acne, you need light therapy sessions for at least a few weeks to see results. Daily or even weekly treatments with a dermatologist or salon add up quickly, and most people just cant spend thousands of dollars and hours of time on light therapy treatments every month.

The majority of people treating acne with light therapy prefer to use a personal, at-home device with a one-time cost . These are ideal for acne because you can do sessions every day in just a few minutes each. At-home light therapy treatments save a lot of money and time versus going to a dermatologist or spa, and they tend to be more effective because you can do them more consistently.