Apart from the usual over the counter products such as anti acne face washes and the pimple creams and topical applications, there are other devices that promise to sort out your acne problems. These are acne light therapy kits that can be used at home to clear breakouts using red and/or blue light. It sounds like an attractive idea – get rid of acne just by shining the device on to the skin of the face or other parts of the body that may not be as easy to reach. But do these light therapy devices really work? Are they effective in controlling acne?
What actually are acne light therapy home devices?
Even notice that acne breakouts seem to follow the rhythm of seasons; that acne breakouts are fewer and milder in some than other seasons? This demonstrates that light, more particularly sunlight can affect acne. There are devices that beam light on to the skin in a similar way.
These devices look much like table lamps. They beam light on to the skin for specified lengths of time and help kill acne causing bacteria. Certain light types or wavelengths work upon the skin’s sebaceous glands, making them less active so that less sebum is produced. This prevents clogging of pores and could lower incidences of acne breakouts.
Some of these devices use red light while others beam blue light on to the skin. Most of the home devices available use blue light, which claim to work by kill cane causing bacteria. Protective eyewear may be needed when using some of these devices.
What users say about these treatment devices
Typically, when you read user review on sites such as Amazon, you will see mixed reviews of the efficacy of the treatment. Some people claim that the therapy has worked wonders for them, while others claim moderate benefits. Some claim these products are a tedious waste of time too. Some users claim that that it takes too much time to get any kind of result; that the devices need a significant commitment if they are to show any benefit.
The fact is that there are different types of acne. There are those types of acne that could respond to light therapy, but other types of acne simply may not respond. For instance, cystic types of acne tend not to respond to light therapies. So it may be a good idea to get your skin type and strain of acne assessed before making an investment in these home light devices. Some people also experience redness and irritation of the skin from using the devices – this would mean that light therapy is not the solution for this type skin and acne.
