LED light therapy for acne: Effective or not?

Acne is a common skin issue that affects many individuals around the world. This skin issue can be caused for different reasons such as allergies, diseases, or hormonal changes. Therefore, there are numerous medical and home treatments available with which people can reduce or treat acne completely. One of the acne therapy methods that is gaining attention is LED light therapy. But is LED light therapy an effective solution for treating acne? In this article, we will look deeper at the effectiveness of LED light therapy for acne treatment.

What is LED light therapy?

LED light therapy is a non-invasive skincare solution that uses different colors of light red, blue, and yellow with their specific wavelengths to penetrate the skin and target skin issues. LED light therapy is now used for various medical and cosmetic goals including acne treatment and it is widely available in spas, skincare clinics, and even on home devices.

How does LED light therapy work for acne?

As mentioned earlier, LED light therapy uses different wavelengths of light to reduce inflammation, remove bacteria causing acne, and help skin healing. Blue light and red light are two main types of light that are used in acne treatment.

Blue light therapy: Blue light with a wavelength of around 415 nm targets bacteria that live in clogged skin pores and cause skin inflammation and breakouts. Blue light penetrates the skin to kill this bacteria which results in reducing skin breakouts and inflammations. 

Red light therapy: Red light with a wavelength of around 630 nm is used to reduce acne inflammations and help skin healing. This light, which is deeper than blue light, penetrates the skin to treat swelling and redness that are caused by acne on the skin. In addition, it also increases collagen production which provides a skin texture and collaborates in acne appearance treatment.

💡You can read more about each light color features in the “LED light therapy rainbow” article.

Benefits of LED light therapy for Acne

There are many reasons based on which people prefer LED light therapy as an acne treatment method. Here are some of the most important benefits of LED light therapy for treating acne:

1. No downtime and discomfort: Unlike some chemical and laser treatments, LED light therapy is a convenient skin treatment that does not have downtime. Patients do not feel any discomfort and pain during the acne treatment process which makes LED light therapy a non-invasive skin issue treatment.
2. Minimum side effects: LED light therapy is one of the safest acne treatment methods with the lowest side effects compared to other solutions such as acne medications which mostly cause skin dryness and sensitivity.
3. At-home devices possibility: There are LED light therapy home devices designed to help individuals treat their acne at home in a convenient atmosphere. These devices are weaker than clinical LED therapy equipment which makes them safer to be used at home.

Limitations of LED light therapy for acne

Although LED light therapy is an effective acne treatment solution, some limitations should be considered when you decide or even start the treatment period.

1. Treatment consistency: It is important to note that to see the desired acne treatment result, you need to have consistency in LED light therapy. It may take several weeks or even months to see the results. 
2. Suitable for mild to moderate acne treatment: LED light therapy works best on mild or moderate acne. The cystic and inflammatory acne may not be treated as well as the less severe acne and taking medications or doing other possible treatments may be more effective in this case.
3. LED light therapy is not a miracle: While LED light therapy can reduce acne and kill bacteria causing skin inflammations and acne, it is not a magic tool that can treat all skin issues including acne alone. You need to follow a regular skin routine as well to maximize the results.

LED light therapy effectiveness level for acne treatment

Now, it is time to answer this question: Does LED light therapy work for acne treatment? The answer is Yes. LED light therapy is highly effective for treating mild to normal acne. It can help reduce skin breakouts, inflammations, and skin repair by increasing collagen production. However, consider that this treatment is not the only necessary acne treatment method, and other complementary procedures such as using salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or topical retinoids are also recommended. 

💡It is crucial to have a consultation with your dermatologist for any mandatory acne treatments and medications. DO NOT use skin products or medications on your own.

Best LED light therapy clinic in Melbourne

LED light therapy for acne is a highly recommended way that is non-invasive with minimal to no side effects and downtime. If you are considering this solution for your acne treatment, Purify Skincare Clinic, a trusted LED light therapy center in Melbourne, is here to help you by providing free skin consultation and professional skin therapies including LED light therapy. You only need to schedule a consultation meeting with our skin professionals before deciding on the right acne treatment method.

FAQs about acne treatment using LED light therapy