| Do you suffer from acne but do not like using | | | | produced by a light-box on patients with mild to |
| chemical based acne solutions? You are probably | | | | moderate acne for 15 minutes a day over a 12 |
| eager to find a natural acne solution that works | | | | week period. The results showed that on average |
| to use at home. A Hand Held Acne Blue Light | | | | there was a 76% decrease in the number of |
| Therapy Device may be the answer to your | | | | spots visible in the area treated on these patients. |
| search. Blue Light has been used in dermatology | | | | The trial was led by Doctor Tony Chu who claims |
| clinics for many years but the professional | | | | that the combination of the red and blue light |
| devices are expensive and not suited for home | | | | therapy attacks the bacteria contributing to the |
| based use. The only way to get blue light | | | | acne and promotes healing. |
| treatment used to be at a dermatology clinic and | | | | Not all are convinced though, Dr Richard Pojar, |
| it was costly. Recent advances in LED technology | | | | Director of skin research unit ant Leeds University |
| have now changed that and made affordable | | | | (UK) said the state of mind of the patients could |
| hand held units and bulbs to fit your own lamps | | | | have a pronounced effect on the disease. |
| available for home use. | | | | The Journal of Drugs in Dermatology also has |
| How does Acne Blue Light Therapy work? | | | | published a paper by Manhattan dermatologist |
| It has been known for many years that sunlight | | | | Doctor Neil Sadick. Doctor Sadick wrote that |
| can have a beneficial effect on acne but | | | | though the exact mode of action was still unclear, |
| unfortunately long term exposure damages the | | | | it was believed that photo-therapy destroyed |
| skin. Research into ultraviolet light has found that | | | | propionibacterium acne's, the slow-growing |
| some of the visible violet light present in sunlight | | | | bacteria linked to acne. Patients in his study used |
| (in the range 405-420 nm that does not have the | | | | Omnilux Clear-U blue- and red-light therapies. Eight |
| potentially damaging UV) targets to kill | | | | weeks after a month-long treatment course, |
| propionibacterium acne's or the bacteria | | | | Sadick said, acne lesions were reduced by 69 per |
| associated with acne. Studies have also found that | | | | cent. |
| using blue light therapy for 3 consecutive days | | | | In August 2002 FDA approved blue light therapy |
| has been shown to reduce bacteria in the pores | | | | for acne treatment. |
| by up to 99.9% with up to 80% of patients | | | | So it seems that acne blue light therapy is worth |
| showing overall improvement over 3 months, | | | | considering as a natural acne solution especially as |
| although 10% of patients did not find any | | | | it is getting very positive response from the |
| improvement at all. | | | | home users and professional bodies. It is also now |
| In July 2000 doctors at Hammersmith Hospital in | | | | possible to get the red and blue light therapy LED |
| London (UK) used blue and red light therapy | | | | bulbs that fit your own lamps for under $50. |