What is blue light therapy used for?

Blue light therapy, also known as photodynamic therapy, is a type of light treatment that's used to treat diseased or damaged skin. It uses medications called photosensitizing agents along with specific wavelengths of blue light to destroy abnormal skin cells while leaving the surrounding tissue unharmed.

What is the side effect of blue light therapy?

During the blue light treatment you will experience sensations of tingling, stinging, prickling or burning of the treated skin. These feelings of discomfort should improve at the end of the light treatment.

Does blue light therapy really work?

Research suggests that LED light therapy can help reduce and improve some skin conditions and issues. To see improvement in your skin, though, you need to have regular treatments. In-office LED light therapy uses more powerful strengths than at-home devices, which makes it more effective.

How many times a week should you use blue light therapy?

Most people will need weekly sessions for several weeks, but this will depend on the severity of symptoms and how well the acne responds to therapy. For some people, two to four weekly treatments are enough. After symptoms improve, regular monthly treatment can help manage them.

What is the cost of blue light therapy?

Phototherapy can be done in-office or at home and requires multiple sessions to see results. However, depending on the condition, you're treating and the number of sessions, phototherapy treatment can cost $200 to $21,000 per year.

Light Therapy | Photodynamic (PDT) [Dermatology]

When do you see results from blue light therapy?

Then, the target area is exposed to blue light for about 17 minutes. Patients wear protective eye goggles while undergoing the light treatment. The treated lesions heal in about a week, however, the therapy makes people temporarily more sensitive to sunlight and sunburn.

What are the benefits and dangers of blue light?

Exposure to blue light during daytime hours helps maintain a healthful circadian rhythm. Too much exposure to blue light late at night (through smart phones, tablets, and computers) can disturb the wake and sleep cycle, leading to problems sleeping and daytime tiredness.

Does blue light help inflammation?

Blue light combines antibacterial and anti-inflammatory action and therefore is an effective means of treating acne vulgaris of mild to moderate severity. Blue Skin light has anti-inflammatory effects and also has other positive results to different inflammatory skin conditions.

Does blue light therapy reduce inflammation?

Exposure to blue light after a cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) model of sepsis reduces systemic inflammation, as evidenced by reduced serum TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations.

What should I put on my face after blue light treatment?

If the treated area is on your face, wear a wide-brimmed hat. After 48 hours (2 days), continue to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 on the treated area. If a scab forms on the treated area, don't remove or pick at it. Apply a moisturizer such as Aquaphor®, Vaseline®, or Cetaphil®.

What are the side effects of light therapy?

Even though this type of treatment is generally very safe, negative effects may occur. As a consequence of light therapy, patients can complain of irritability, headaches, eye strain, sleep disturbances, and insomnia. Mild visual side effects are not unusual but remit promptly.

How long do the effects of blue light last?

The blue light from electronic devices messes with your circadian rhythm, or sleep cycle. It signals your brain to wake up when it should be winding down. In one study, as little as 2 hours of exposure to blue light at night slowed or stopped release of the sleep hormone melatonin.

How does blue light affect blood pressure?

It is believed that blue light releases from the skin into the blood stream where it relaxes the blood vessels, increasing blood flow and decreasing blood pressure.

What time of day is best for light therapy?

Typical recommendations include using the light box: Within the first hour of waking up in the morning. For about 20 to 30 minutes. About 16 to 24 inches (41 to 61 centimeters) from your face, but follow the manufacturer's instructions about distance.

Is blue light therapy FDA approved?

Blue Light Therapy is a safe, drug free alternative that is FDA approved for the management of acne vulgaris. It is a form of phototherapy that uses light in the blue wavelength range to kill the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes, or P. acnes, on the skin.

Does insurance cover blue light therapy?

The Blu-U Levulan® treatment is covered by most forms of insurance for the treatment of actinic keratosis, but you should contact your insurance provider.

Do you need a prescription for blue light?

Can You Get Blue Light Filtering Lenses on Prescription Glasses? Yep, sure! As mentioned, you can get blue light protection on any ophthalmic lens regardless of whether it's prescription or not. You can have this coating in addition to any other coatings you might want — such as: anti-glare, scratch resistance, and UV.

How many times can you do blue light therapy?

Treatment is typically administered every two to four weeks, and most patients require a series of three to five appointments.

What part of the brain does blue light affect?

Exposure to blue light increases subsequent functional activation of the prefrontal cortex during performance of a working memory task.

Can blue light make you depressed?

Scientists think nighttime exposure to blue light throws off your circadian rhythm, or sleep/wake cycle. This could lead to symptoms of depression. That's because your circadian rhythm plays a role in several brain and behavioral processes, like neurotransmission and hormone secretion.

What does light therapy do to the brain?

Research on red light therapy and brain health shows that natural light improves reaction time, attention, memory, and executive function. Some of the benefits that show the most potential are as follows: Improved cognitive function. Improved recovery from stroke.

What conditions does light therapy treat?

Light therapy, or UV phototherapy , is a highly effective outpatient treatment for many skin conditions, including psoriasis, vitiligo, scleroderma and other dermatologic disorders. It works by slowing down cell growth and inflammation that causes skin problems to develop.

Can blue light damage your face?

Blue Light and Your Skin. Research shows blue light from electronic devices can lead to changes in your skin cells, including cell shrinkage and death. These speed up the aging process. Even exposures as short as 60 minutes can trigger these changes.