Acne Laser Light Therapy San Francisco | Acne Treatments at the Epi Center

Acne Light Therapy Treatments San Francisco ... Epi Center MedSpa
Blue-U Therapy for Acne Acne Light Therapy Before and After pictures

Acne is a common medical condition that affects up to 80 percent of adolescents and adults at some point in their lives. Adult onset acne has become a growing concern for people in their 20’s, 30’s, and 40’s. Although acne is not a grave disease, it can leave permanent scarring on the skin, and negatively impact an individual’s self-esteem. Clearing up acne can help relieve these issues, but many people don't realize that something can be done. If the commonly prescribed treatments of astringents, topical creams, or antibiotics have not been successful in treating your moderate acne thus far, BLUE Light Therapy just may be an effective alternative.

What is acne?
Acne is one of the most common of all skin problems, characterized by whiteheads, blackheads, pimples and, in some people, deep painful bumps that look and feel like boils. When it's severe, acne can cause permanent scarring of the skin. And those are just the physical problems.

What causes acne?
There are many factors which contribute to the development of acne, including hormones and genetics. The most common reason is due to hormones. As we age, the levels of hormones in our body fluctuate. The most notable instances of a significant hormone increase associated with an outbreak of acne are during puberty and pregnancy. These hormones have an effect on the activity and size of the sebaceous glands – glands in the skin that produce an oily substance called sebum to protect the hair follicles and the skin. When hormones surge during puberty or pregnancy, the sebaceous glands enlarge in the areas where acne occurs. Acne has also been associated with the use birth control pills. The variation in hormone levels from starting and stopping birth control might cause acne. There is also a genetic component involved with acne. Individuals may inherit an increased chance of suffering from acne if their parents did.

Here’s how acne (clogged pores) occurs:

The lining of the wall of the hair follicle sheds skin cells, which then stick together with the sebum produced by the sebaceous glands. This causes a plug to form below the surface of the skin. This plug cannot be washed away. This process can take days to weeks for a visible lesion to form. Whiteheads and blackheads are the result. The sebum and cell debris together contribute to the growth of bacteria that naturally live in your pores.

Your body's own immune system will naturally attempt to clear the clogged pores by sending in certain specialized cells that invade the follicle to help clean it up. However, in the process, the wall of the follicle may weaken and rupture, emptying the contents of the follicle into the surrounding tissue. When this occurs, swelling or redness can develop around the affected follicle, resulting in the larger bumps or pimples characteristic of acne. These are known as papules and pustules and can sometimes cause scarring.

What is BLUE Light Acne Therapy?
P. acnes, the bacteria responsible for causing acne inflammation, pump out tiny molecules called porphyrins. When those porphyrin are exposed to certain wavelengths of light (blue light in this case), they produce free radicals that kill the bacteria. Without P. acnes around to cause inflammation, acne clears up.

BLUE Light therapy acne treatment involves the use of visible blue wavelengths of light that create a toxic environment inside the pore that kills the acne-causing bacteria. It is used to treat active lesions and helps prevent dormant glands from becoming active lesions. Without the P. acnes bacteria present, and allowed to grow, inflammation diminishes and acne clears up.

What does acne Light Therapy acne treatment involve?
A BLUE Light treatment is quite simple. The procedure involves a series of pain-free exposures to high-intensity blue light and consists of sitting in front of the source for approximately sixteen minutes. Treatments are conducted in weekly intervals. Your frequency and level of treatment may vary based on your desired outcome and situation.

BLUE Light therapy can also be used in conjunction with additional pre-treatments. Most commonly, topical applications of ALA or Levulan® (aminolevulinic acid) are used with the BLUE Light source to help treat acne vulgaris. To better prepare your skin, the ALA solution, which helps increase photosensitivity, is applied and remains on the skin for roughly 30-60 minutes. The BLUE Light treatment is then delivered and lasts for approximately 6-10 minutes. The severity of your condition will determine the necessary amount, frequency, and duration of treatment.

What are the benefits of acne Blue Light Therapy Treatments?

100% natural and non-invasive
Drug-free with no adverse side effects
Safe for all ages
Painless
No downtime

Are Blue Light Therapy acne treatments safe?
BLUE Light therapy is gentle, safe, and effective with rare, if any, adverse side effects or discomfort. The therapy was FDA approved in 2003 to treat mild acne.

What results can I expect?
Improvement is noticeable after the very first treatment. Your acne will diminish and continue to clear following subsequent treatments. Some patients who have undergone BLUE Light therapy are acne-free for up to two years after ten treatments. Other patients need occasional treatments for flare-ups. Using ALA in conjunction with BLUE Light therapy has also been proven to have long-term effects in clearing acne.