Blue light therapy is not as new as you may think. Since the early 1980s, it has been used to deal with seasonal mood swings due to shorter days. However, more recently, some medical professionals have 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. If you are undergoing this type of treatment you should know that it will take anywhere from ten to twenty minutes. The upside to blue light therapy is that it does not usually require much downtime, if any.

Blue light treatments usually consist of three parts. First, photosensitizing medication is administered to the person undergoing treatment. Second, the doctor waits for the medication to take effect (incubation period), and finally the blue light is administered.

The incubation period - time it takes for the medication to take effect - 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.

Sunscreen is an essential part of post treatment procedures. Protective garments will also help shield your skin from damaging UV radiation. Luckily, blue light therapy is a safe treatment that can be used on anyone, regardless of age.

Blue Light Therapy for Acne Problems

Besides dealing with acne scars, blue light therapy can also be used for acne treatment because it kills acne bacteria without the use of antibiotics. You should already be aware that using antibiotics for a certain period of time may cause them to lose their effect which is one of the reasons doctors refer to blue light therapy as one of the best acne treatments around.

Blue light therapy can also help you avoid the use of harsh acne creams and other bothersome facial acne treatments. People with dry and sensitive skin may suffer from serious problems when using traditional acne products, however, a safer alternative is the use of blue light therapy and certain natural skin care products.

If you're still a bit doubtful about the long term effects of this treatment it's well understood, in all actuality no one really knows what the effects may be. 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.