Red & blue light acne treatment

Red and Blue acne light phototherapy is a source of medically prescribed non –laser light delivered by light diodes. This light is tuned to activate chemicals known as Porphyrins, produced by acne bacteria P.acnes. Activation of the porphyrins, in turns destroys the bacteria. Red light also stimulates collagen production, which reduces scars and helps repair the skin after the insult of acne.

Acne may present in many forms including blackhead, whiteheads, papules, pustules and cysts. Acne light treatment is only suited for papular and pustular forms of acne. This type of acne is due to bacterial overgrowth- which are sensitive to both red and blue LED light. 75% of acne lesions can resolve over a 8 week period with acne light treatments, however combined with prescription medications, improvements of over 85% are often seen. We often advise 5-8 treatments for the best results. Each treatment take less than 10 minutes to perform.

Make up and sunblock will need to be removed prior to the treatment. This ensures that light will penetrate into the middle layers of your skin, where acne causing bacteria lie. Eye protection is then worn, and the treatment begins. Each session takes less than 10 minutes to perform and is painless. Patient can undertake their daily activities straight after treatment with no restrictions. Sessions maybe repeated at weekly intervals for best results. We advise a series of 5 to 8 treatments.

LED acne light treatments are safe, pain free and effective. Treatments are non-laser based and do not generate heat.

The only safety requirement is that patients wear protective eye wear for the duration of treatment.

Yes! Acne light treatments are ideally combined with other treatments such as medically prescribed creams such as vitamin A. Light treatments destroys bacteria associated with acne, however Vitamin A creams can help reduce the primary source of acne. Specialists often combine AHA chemical peels with red light treatment as part of our scar revision program. In this combination, red light functions to stimulate collagen formation, repairing scars.

Acne scars are due to disruption of the middle layer of the skin where collagen fibres lie. Red light wavelengths penetrate to this layer, and stimulate collagen production, and may assist in remodeling of early acne scars. Older scars are not affected by light treatments however maybe treated with laser.

Acne light treatment used in the setting of acne scars is known as Low Level Laser Treatment.

More information on treating acne scars.

Cost of each treatment is $60, we recommend a series of at least 5 sessions for best results. Red light LED treatments are combined with AHA chemical peels as part of our Clean Skin Program.

Read more on Westside’s Clear Skin Program

Medicare does not cover acne light treatments, however your consultation with a Specialist Dermatologist is partially covered. Some procedures for acne scaring are partially covered by Medicare.

Prior to the commencement of acne light treatments, all patients must be assessed by a Specialist Dermatologist. This ensures that patients are treated appropriately. Your dermatologist will often combine a Vitamin A cream with acne light phototherapy for optimal results. During the consultation, a series of photographs are taken to ensure that patients are steadily improving with each treatment.

The Brisbane Acne Clinic  is staffed by Specialist Dermatologists and Nurses- a referral from your G.P is advised.

Call Westside Dermatology on 3871 34 37 to find out more on referrals and specialist access.

moreDr. Davin S. Lim

Dr Davin S. Lim Cosmetic Division, Westside Dermatology

The success of various LED sources for the treatment of acne has been proven by numerous scientific studies over the past few years. The advantage of this therapy is that it can avoid prescription medications such as antibiotics, using concentrated non-laser light as an antibacterial agent. Specialists are selective in which patients may respond best to this form of treatment. The ideal type of acne which can be treated with this method are papular and pustular lesions, rich in P. acnes bacteria. Dermatologists often combine LED treatments with Vitamin A creams to reduce the recurrence of acne. We suggest that all patients consult a dermatologist prior to commencing acne light treatments for optimal results.