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LED Blue Light Therapy
While red, white and blue LED Light Therapies are often used in combination at Santi, blue light’s ability to eradicate acne makes it a premium treatment. Acne light therapy works by penetrating just below the skin’s surface, blue light targets acne at the source by regulating over-active oil glands and killing acne-causing bacteria. Deep-reaching yet non-invasive, the anti-microbial effects of blue light make it a popular and side-effect-free treatment for acne and inflamed skin. Medically, blue light can be used to treat both precancerous and cancerous skin lesions as well as serious cases of photo-damage. Finally, with ongoing research into its effectiveness as a treatment for depression, blue light is proving to be an exciting LED option.
Acne
Acne Light Therapy or Blue light is an ideal alternative to other acne treatments as it is non-invasive, non-toxic and will not adversely effect your skin. No redness, dryness or peeling is evidenced, it can target bacteria without antibiotics and can help to control the production of oil (sebum) without the need for vitamin A derivatives. As a proven drug-free option, blue light therapy can be used alone or in conjunction with other treatments, depending on the type and severity of your acne. The FDA has approved blue light therapy for the treatment of moderate Acne Vulgaris, especially in cases which have failed to respond to other therapies. Blue light therapy is often combined with red light therapy to control existing inflammation and reduce the appearance of scars. Combined light therapy has the added benefits of improving general skin texture, fading sunspots and minimising any previous acne scarring.
Skin Cancer
Blue light is used in photodynamic therapy to activate photo-synthesising drugs. High intensity blue or violet light is used to precipitate a reaction in topically-applied, light-sensitive drugs, initiating an immune response or attacking cancer-feeding blood vessels. It’s an effective and increasingly common alternative therapy for cancers that occur both on and beneath the skin. It’s useful in treating malignant as well as pre-malignant lesions and can even prevent the development of skin cancer in some cases. Medication may need to remain on the skin for several hours, and in some case for several days. Avoiding the sun and any other bright light source during this time is imperative. Photo-dynamic therapy can also be used to treat serious cases of sun-damage too.
Depression
The use of light therapy to combat Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is gaining ground. While studies continue into light therapy as an alternative therapy for depression more generally, blue or white light as an antidote to SAD is especially effective. Long winter months with shorter, darker days and more time spent inside can lead to depressive disorders in some. While symptoms usually lift with a change in the seasons, light therapy can be a useful and drug-free means of coping in the interim. Depressive symptoms should always be discussed with a doctor prior to seeking any alternative treatment.