Benefits of Blue Light Therapy

Color therapy dates back to Ancient Egyptians times where light and colors were used in different healing applications. Modern-day medicine still recognizes color therapy as a powerful treatment for many ailments. Thankfully, research has broadened our knowledge and modern technologies have expanded the impact color therapy can have. Today, two of the most common forms of color therapy are red light therapy and blue light therapy. For a general understanding of color therapy or chromotherapy, you can read our previous article here.

Benefits of Blue Light Therapy for Skin

Acne

Blue light therapy can be used to kill acne-causing bacteria on the surface of the skin without harming the good bacteria. This is critical as the good bacteria on the skin are critical in maintaining moisture levels and protecting us against toxins of all kinds. Many harsh acne products kill both the good and bad bacteria on the skin (think benzoyl peroxide). This may resolve acne in the short run, but in the long run, acne can become much worse and other skin conditions like dryness and rashes can occur.

Along with this, blue light therapy can work to shrink the size of enlarged oil glands leading to reduced oil production, fewer clogged pores and even a shrinking of the pores. Compared with many other acne treatments available on the market, blue light therapy is pain-free and drugless. It is also easily applied to target acne on any part of the body.

“Dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum, M.D. states, ‘Blue light has been shown to penetrate the skin's hair follicles and pores which harbor bacteria and can cause inflammation, and therefore acne. Bacteria are very sensitive to the blue light spectrum-it shuts down their metabolism and kills them.’ Unlike topical treatments that work to decrease inflammation and bacteria on the surface of the skin, light treatment eliminates the acne-causing bacteria (otherwise known as P.acnes) within the skin before it can feed off the oil glands and cause that redness and inflammation” (source).

Eczema/Psoriasis

For those with eczema, psoriasis, or other atopic inflammatory skin conditions blue light therapy can provide relief for multiple symptoms:

Reduced itch
Reduced inflammation
Increased vitamin D production
Increased bacteria-fighting systems in the skin
Reduced rash

As with acne treatments, blue light can be applied to any area of the body where these skin conditions may be a problem.

How We Use Blue Light Therapy at Facial Lounge

Here at Facial Lounge, we use some of the best color therapy devices on the market for red light or blue light therapy treatments. Our light treatments can easily be added to any full-length or mini facial for $40. For best results, we recommend weekly treatments for 4 weeks for those with aggressive acne and then bi-monthly treatments as acne begins to clear up.