Is BLU-U better than IPL for treating acne?
Blue light & red light combo is usually best In our office, light treatment augments traditional treatment for acne. For mild comodomal/pustular acne, we still use traditional topical treatment. For more progressive inflammatory acne, we use topical and light therapy. Cystic acne is often treated with oral and topical medications along with light therapy. Light therapy typically comes in two types: • 410nm blue light • 1064nm red light Blue light initiates a chemical reaction that causes the proliferation of endogenic porphrins (chemicals that you have within the skin), which attack and kill p. acnes, the bacteria that is responsible for acne. Since the reaction is not antibiotic-mediated, one never develops a resistance to blue light therapy. Red light, however, works on the sebaceous glands rather than the bacteria that cause acne. The sebaceous glands produce sebum, which flows out of the follicle to protect the skin. Bacteria tend to live within the follicular-sebum mileu. 1064nm l
