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 works with an intense, narrow band of blue light that helps treat the skin. Treatment with this type of therapy will generally last anywhere from ten to twenty minutes. The greatest thing about blue light therapy is that it does not usually require much downtime, if any.

Generally, blue light treatments consist of three parts. First, photosensitizing medication is administered. Once the medication takes affect the doctor administers the blue light treatment.

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 is administered 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 are sometimes used to keep the person comfortable during the procedure.

After treatment it is vital that you use a good sunscreen lotion and protective garments to keep your skin safe from damaging UV radiation. Fortunately, blue light therapy can be used on anyone, regardless of age.

Blue Light Therapy for 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 after a certain period antibiotics may lose their effect. This is one of the main reasons many doctors refer to blue light therapy as one of the best acne treatments around.

Blue light therapy can also a great way of avoiding exposure to harsh acne creams and other bothersome facial acne treatments. Some types of skin (i.e. dry and sensitive) can have serious problems with traditional acne products. Fortunately, blue light therapy is a 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.