Modern machines have hit the consumer market that use light, heat, or some other specialized focused rays to heal acne. While they look cool, cost a lot, and are increasing in popularity, the real question is, do they work? How well?

One such machine uses blue light therapy to target acne and wash it away. Let’s take a closer look at this method and get some real answers.

What Is Blue Light Therapy?

Blue light therapy uses focused high-intensity light to treat acne. The narrow-band light beams kill the bacteria in the skin, reducing acne breakouts and treating existing acne. It works best on mild to medium cases of acne. It is being tested on serious cases of inflammatory acne. Blue light therapy does not contain ultraviolet light rays, which means that it is safe for the skin.

How Is it Administered?

Blue light therapy uses treatments spread over several weeks to minimize acne. Sessions last from eight to twenty minutes, depending on the equipment and the patient’s acne condition. Prior to treatment, some patients receive a pre-treatment (a topical cream or lotion), which enhances the effect of the rays and speeds treatment.

The method of treatment is very simple. The blue light source is placed close to the patient’s face, while they lie still with their eyes closed for the duration of the treatment. It is neither uncomfortable nor painful, and does not cause any interruption into the normal course of an individual’s activities.

Is it Effective?

The effectiveness of blue light therapy depends, again, on the severity of the acne. It has been found to improve the condition of the skin for most patients. This improvement ranged from a 55% reduction of the acne symptoms to 10% reduction. A small number of users (10%) experienced no effect whatsoever. Home blue light therapy systems are less effective, since they employ weaker light sources. Clinical treatments range in cost from $40-50 per treatment. Home light therapy systems usually cost from $250-$400.