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Blue light therapy has been around since the early 1980s, when it was used to help treat seasonal mood swings due to shorter days, however, some medical professionals have recently seen its benefits as a way to remove acne scars.

This type of therapy uses an intense, narrow ray of blue light to help treat damaged skin. Treatment with this type of therapy will generally last anywhere from ten to twenty minutes. The best part about blue light therapy is that it requires very little downtime, if any.

Generally, blue light treatments consist of three parts. First, a photosensitizing medication is applied. Second, the doctor waits for the medication to take effect (incubation period), and finally the blue light is administered.

The incubation period of the medication depends on the purpose of the treatment. Therefore, it can take a few minutes to a few hours.

The blue light treatment is applied in a light activation room. Once the person is exposed to the light, he/she may feel increasing warmth and even some burning or stinging sensations. Fans can be used to keep the person comfortable during the procedure.

Sunscreen is an essential part of post treatment procedures. Protective garments will also help shield your skin from damaging UV radiation. Fortunately, it is possible to use blue light therapy on anyone, regardless of their age.

Blue Light Therapy & Acne Problems

Other than helping you deal with acne scars, blue light therapy can also be used in acne treatment because it helps kill acne bacteria without the use of antibiotics. You should already be aware that using antibiotics for a certain period of time may cause them to lose their effect which is one of the reasons doctors refer to blue light therapy as one of the best acne treatments around.

Undergoing blue light therapy can also help you avoid the use of harsh acne creams or facial acne treatments. Some skin types, such as dry and sensitive skin, can have serious problems when exposed to traditional acne products, however, blue light therapy and certain natural skin care products are a much gentler alternative.

If you're not sold on the idea of undergoing this type of treatment because you're uncertain of its long term effects on your skin, then it's well-understood. However, the results that have been shown so far are very positive and count in favor of this treatment. It has also proven to be very effective in the treatment of actinic keratosis.