Blue & Red Light Acne Therapy is one of the newer ways to treat acne of mild to moderate severity. The treatment is also suitable for people who do not like taking oral medication, pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding. You will have the treatment twice per week; once with the blue light and once with red light.
Blue light activates a chemical that is present inside a bacterium that plays a role in acne. After the chemical is activated, the bacterium is destroyed. Red light suppresses the inflammation caused by acne.
Studies have shown that Blue & Red Light Acne Therapy can reduce the inflammatory lesions of acne by 60-70% over a period of 6 weeks. The treatment is normally combined with Skinoren cream that is applied twice daily.
Dear Doc,
I have been on cortisone treatment for 8 months – have real bad red face and sore skin. In addition I have been told I have menopausal acne?!
My pulmonologist (panorama medi) advised seeing a dermatologist. Not sure here about my case and cannot afford err visit as med expenses have been very high.
Thanks & kind regards, c
Dear Carol. One cause of Acne is the Cortisone, but in your case I suspect you cannot stop it. You will have to consult a dermatologist.
I have been on Ginette from 2001 till 2012 It kept my skin clear till about 8 months ago and also made me gain weight, I am going to the Dermatologist on Monday because I have started experiencing itching lots of white heads and red cysts which sometimes becomes white heads and my skin is oily. I am gonna move over to Yasmin for contraceptive on Wednesday. I just wanted to know what do you think caused this problem and is there a permanent solution to fix it if I don’t wanna stay on medication long term.
Dear Ronnae. You most likely have Acne. Please read this article: What are pimples.
I have acne and I had it since I was teen, and now I’m 27years and its scarring not that much though, my problem is my spots and I’ve never used the oral medication I’m scared of the side effects. The GP’s have told my acne is mild and controllable. But my spots are so visible and I’m using over the counter spot control and I also used Clinique spot control and OXY Benzoyl but with no much help for the acne keeps on occuring & causes spots.Do you think I should take the oral med for every say my acne is mild but I’m getting merried soon so I don’t want to have pimples on my big day.The cost of the oral med.
There are 2 major indications for the use of oral medication. Bad acne and any form of acne that does not respond to topical medications. The cost of oral medication for Acne ranges from R150 per month to R600 per month.
Will Discovery Health cover this therapy?
They sometimes do and sometimes don’t. Rather assume the will not when deciding on the treatment.
Hi
I have the Marina from October 2009. Since then I started to get pimples and it make scars. Will this therapy help? I see per session R150, how may sessions do you normaly recommend (+-) ?
Regards
Elizabeth
Dear Elizabeth. No, red and blue light therapy will not help for scarring Acne. Scarring Acne needs much more potent treatments.
Hi Doctor
When I was still a child a burning plastic landed on my face and I was left scared forever,I’m an adult now and the scar has miraculously decreased in side.I would like to have it completely removed though.
Is this possible?
Dear Candy. I will have to see it to advise you, but in general it is not possible to remove real (dermal) scars completely.
Hi Doc, I’m 26, I’ve been to Groote Schuur Hospital a couple of years back.
Was told that I have acne scarring or something like that. They gave me Roaccutane 20mg, it helped, but only subdued my condition. I used skin free as well and did the same.
I’m currently using VAYA smooth, a product used for razor bumps, which helps to a certain extent.
Other than that I’m using ostrich oil soap.
It’s actually getting to me now, because they hurt sometimes.
Is there any advice you can give me?
Regards
Jonathan
Dear Jonathan. If you have Acne that is scarring and required Roaccutane at some stage, then you will most likely need to go onto Roaccutane again, but at a higher dose and most likely for a longer period.
Dear Dr. Jeanne Louw.
I am 20 and have been suffering from not only facial acne, but also back and shoulder acne which spread down to my upper arms. It’s caused me to avoid wearing short sleeves, because it also left a lot of scars. I do not wish to take any oral treatment. I would appreciate if you can let me know of any other treatments, and how long the treatment would take. I am on a budget so would like to find out how much the total treatment might cost? And does medical aid cover or not?
Dear Ashraf. Acne that extends beyond the face will never be cured or even controlled by topical treatments, especially if it is scarring. If you really want to have a chance of improving it, I will suggest you consider oral medication.
Hi Doc. I’ve had terrible acne (acne vulgaris) from the age of 9, until now, age 33. I have tried everything from an early age, soaps, creams, ointments, tablets, you name it. Although some medications worked for a time, it would eventually ‘stop’ making progress, and I’d be stuck with a lighter form of acne. I have gone for chemical peels and laser treatment in the last year or so, and the scarring and acne has dramatically reduced. Certain times of the month, I get a mild breakout. However the scarring is still my main problem. I don’t want to continue with the chemical peels, as the downtime is depressing as well as painful. Its also TOO expensive, and I cannot keep up with that type of expense. Will the Blue/Red light therapy work for me?
Dear Taz. Have you been on Roaccutane before? If not, I would strongly suggest that you consider it.
Hi doc. im 22, i have an infection on my scalp. i had it eversince i was 18. it kinda looks like acne, red sore bumps that eventualy turn into white pustules.. (i tend to get it on my beard aswell)this is accompanied by a swollen lymph gland behind my ear. i understand this condition could be folliculitis? an infection by a bacteria called staphylococcus aureus(resistent to most antibiotics). My biggest fear is MRSA.. But if the worst comes to the worst can it be cured? ive been on quite a few different antibiotics and im kinda running out of ideas on what to do next… Will this help?
Kind regards
Jody
Dear Jody. No, red and blue light therapy will almost certainly not work for your scalp condition. Before I will be able to advise on what will help, I will first need to make a diagnosis.
hi dr louw
i have always had a form of acne which is comodogenic. basically lots of little black heads in almost every pore. i am 33 years old now i use good products(dermalogica) and i am careful about what i eat, excercise regularily, i have a type 1 skin so stay out of the sun.
i would like to know if this system will help my skin to at least reduce the amount of blackheads and if not what will. i am not keen to take medication.
thanks
Dear Gina. Certain cosmetic products can have a mild effect on Acne. If you have already used these cosmetic products for a few months and you still have comedogenic acne, you will need something more potent. There are many medical grade topical treatments for Acne. The Retinoids, like Differin, work best in most people for comedogenic acne.
Hi dr. I am 17 years old and i’m having trouble with acne since I was 14. I get acne on my face, neck, back, chest and on my arms. I am currently using benzak (lotion) as a treatment but i need a permanent cure. Will your blue & red light therapy be my solution ?
Thanks
Robert
Dear Robert. If Acne is that extensive (not just on the face) then topical Acne treatments (Acne creams, Acne lotions) will never be sufficient. The Blue & Red light Acne therapy is not very potent and used mostly when people cannot take or tolerate oral anti-Acne medications. The best option for you will almost certainly be some form of anti-Acne tablet combined with a topical treatment.
Hie doc. I had pimples for about 1 year then they began to decrease but left my face scarred, oily and i still get blackheads and whiteheads
Dear Michael. The prescence of blackheads and whiteheads means you still have active acne. Blackheads and whiteheads are the basic lesions of acne. If your Acne resulted in scarring it is very important that any remaining acne be treated as soon as possible.
Dear Michael. If your Acne has led to scarring then Red & Blue light Acne therapy will not be the appropriate treatment. You will most likely require an oral medication in combination with a topical cream.
hie, i had pimples for a while and they have slowly reduced, leaving my skin scarred and oily.I still get breakouts of blackheads and white heads Will this treatment help?
Hey doc, I’m 20 years old and I’ve had a problem with acne since my teens, if I go on this treatment will the acne re appear.
And how much will it cost for the treatment?
Regards
Leonard
Dear Leonard. Blue and Red light therapy for acne is generally not the first line treatment for acne. It is generally used when people cannot tolerate or do not want to use, the conventional acne treatments. The treatment costs R150 per session. There is always a chance that Acne can reappear post treatment. The goal of treatment is to firstly control the Acne and secondly to prevent scarring.
ok so i have had enough with the pimples on my face and back.i dont know how to get rid of it.i am now 17 and would like to get rid of the pimles as soon as possible, but have no idea how. i am considering any kind of laser treatment, but afraid of the outcomes.
kind regards
Danielle
i have been using this ‘Herbal Life” to lose weight and all of a sudden my skin is full of big pimples that are inflammed and sore. i had acne when i was a teenager it went away when i was 21 years old and now its back. its in my neck and on my back to. what can i do?
regards
cindy
Dear Cindy. Remember, not all pimples are caused by Acne. We should first decide what the cause of your pimples are. If possible, please come and show me. After I make a diagnosis, we can then decide on the best treatment option. Best regards. Dr. Jeanne Louw