More and more options continue to become available in the area of acne treatment and skin care. One of the latest of these techniques is acne treatment with blue light which emerged from evidence that blue light has an antibacterial effect on the skin. The therapy is done by exposing skin to blue light which effectively gets rid of acne causing bacteria. However, this type of acne therapy treats only one factor in a complex process that necessitates equally comprehensive solutions.

Some people might worry about the effects of harmful rays due to light therapy, yet it has been proven that blue light poses no risk in altering DNA as do UV rays. UV light exposure is able to alter natural cell division, whereas blue light has no effect on a cell's ability to perform healthily. In fact, blue light's softer wave frequency is what both distinguishes it from harmful rays and what makes it effective as a source of acne treatment.

How does Blue Light Acne Treatment Work?

P. acnes is an acne causing bacteria that produces a chemical in the structure of the molecule porphyrin. Under the right treatment conditions, the elemental make-up of porphyrin can be altered, for example, the oxygen molecules can be lost. Blue light therapy destroys bacteria by disturbing the porphyrins and causing them to release oxygen atoms, therefore destroying their molecular structure which make up each bacterium.

Other Factors in Acne and its Treatment

However, bacteria is only one piece of the puzzle and has not even been shown to be a significant cause of acne. The true causes of acne begin with damage to living cells within sebum ducts. These cells can be damaged by the force of sebum output, the hardening of sebum within the follicle, or the mixture of oil and dead skin cells within the pores. Respectively, the solutions to these acne causing factors are: the natural and safe inhibition of sebum production, the presence of unsaturated fatty acids to break up hardened sebum and the incitement of natural enzymes to dissolve the mixture of oils and dead skin cells. Ideally, acne therapies should also take care of the body's inflammatory reactions by supporting the immune system at the site of cell damage which consequently controls bacteria and calms irritated skin. And lastly we must make sure to repair damaged cells by regenerating skin to avoid the development of acne scars.

The Good and Bad of Blue Light Acne Treatment

Blue light is proven to be risk free and have no relation to consequences often related to light exposure, therefore it is a safe and effective method in destroying acne causing bacteria. In fact, this treatment has not been related to any negative side effects whatsoever, not only those related to light exposure. However, blue light therapy is not necessarily ideal for everybody who suffers from an acne condition.

Unfortunately, blue light treatments seem to be available only to those who can afford to go to high-end health facilities and pay for costly therapies. It is not readily available in all health care locations. Moreover, blue light treatment is expensive and it is rare for insurance companies to cover the cost of this type of care. Options for those with limited means might be more promising in the area of natural acne treatment. But natural treatment may in fact be a better option if you are able to find a more complete product that can treat the root causes of acne instead of just one part of the puzzle.