What Causes Acne? [From Dermatology.About.Com]

A bacteria, known as Propionibacterium acnes, is a normal inhabitant of the skin. It uses sebum as a nutrient for growth, therefore increases in follicles during puberty. People with acne have more Propionibacterium acnes in their follicles than people without acne. The presence of bacteria attracts white blood cells to the follicle. These white blood cells produce an enzyme that damages the wall of the follicle, allowing the contents of the follicle to enter the dermis. This process causes an inflammatory response seen as papules (red bumps), pustules, and nodules. The bacteria also cause the formation of free fatty acids, which are irritants, increasing the inflammatory process in the follicle.

Problems arise when the sebum is trapped in the hair follicle. For reasons that are still unclear, some hair follicles become obstructed. The sebum is produced but gets trapped on the way out, and the cells that are normally sloughed off become "sticky", plugging up the follicle. The process of obstructing follicles is called comedogenesis. It causes some follicles to form a type of acne called comedones, also known as blackheads and whiteheads.

How Does Blue Light Therapy Work?

Acne is a common skin condition that affects many people including 70% of adolescents. Blue light in the 405nm to 420nm wavelengths has been medically proven in numerous trials to kill Propionobacterium acnes bacteria or P. acnes bacteria in the skin. This bacteria is the root cause of acne. If you kill the bacteria you can quickly clear up, or prevent acne breakouts.

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

Red light in the 650-670nm range has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties by causing the release of cytokines from macrophages of other cells. This effectively reduces redness, swelling and even fine lines on the skins surface.

How Long Does The Blue Acne Light Therapy Take?

The Blue Acne Light can be used for as little as 60 seconds per treatment. We typically recommend a treatment every day to every other day to help clear up existing acne, and at least twice per week to assist in acne prevention.

Why Do Other Blue Light Therapy Systems Available Take 15 Minutes And Yours Only Takes 30 Seconds?

The bulb in the Blue Acne Light uses three different wavelengths of light, 420nm, 450nm and 660nm. This combination of light spectrums at the increased light intensity fights acne, heals damaged skin and effectively creates a more powerful and more efficient complete solution that doesn't require it to be exposed to your skin as long as competing units.

Why Is Your 7 LED Bulb Better Than An LED Bulb With 70 LED's?

Unlike many of the current "at home" solutions on the market the Blue Acne Light uses a very powerful 7W LED bulb array which is far more intense than most of the bulbs used in our competitors units. For example, an LED bulb with 70 individual LED's might seem impressive, but those small LED's are often only rated for 50mW, which is equal to 0.05W. The LED's in our bulb are 1W each, the array of 7 gives a total of 7W of power. It would take 140 50mW LED's on a bulb to equal the power of the bulb used in our system.

Why Does Your Bulb Have 410nm and 450nm LED's When All Research I've Seen Always Says 420nm Is Optimal?

Its true that blue light in the range between 405-420nm is most effective on acne however light at this spectrum fails to penetrate deeply into the skin. Blue light at the higher range of 450nm and beyond is still effective on acne but it takes longer to have an effect. However, this higher spectrum of light at 450nm penetrates deeper into the skin and destroys deeper types of acne than the 405-420nm range of light, and therefore can reach acne bacteria that the lower light range cannot. The combination of both 420nm light which is very effective on surface acne and 450nm light which is effective on deep acne is the best solution.

Why Is Your Bulb Only Rated For 7W When The Average Household Bulb is 60W?

The wattage of a bulb (W) is a measure of its power, not its brightness or effectiveness. With new technology such as compact fluorescent's and LED (light emitting diode) we can achieve a brighter light while using less power, thereby making the light more efficient, but not any less effective. If you were to compare the brightness of the Blue Acne Light bulb to a regular incandescent bulb, it would roughly be equivalent to 100W.

Are There Any Side Effects To Using Blue Light Therapy & The Blue Acne Light?

No. There are no adverse side effects that have been reported. On rare occasions research has shown that dryness of the skin can occur, but can be treated with moisturizing cream. Furthermore, it is possible that your acne can get worse before it gets better although no definitive clinical study's into blue light therapy have reported this phenomenon.

Can The Blue Acne Light Give Me A Sunburn Or Cancer?

No. The peak wavelengths of light are outside of the UV range (Over 400nm). However the 420nm rating of the LED bulbs used in our system can have a non peak closer to the 400nm range, which could be considered low UVA exposure, similar to what a black light bulb would provide.

How Do I Know If The Blue Acne Light Will Work With My Skin? How Effective Is It?

The independent testing done by the British Journal of Dermatology in 2000 indicates that the combination of blue and red light therapy in the appropriate spectrums is effective for about 86% of the people tested. This certainly doesn't guarantee it will work for you, but there is a very good chance that it will.

It is also important to note that changes will not be immediate. At least 1 week of treatment following the instructions provided with the Blue Acne Light should be completed before any noticeable changes start to occur. Between 1 week and 2 weeks changes should be noticeable. By the 4th week of treatment most people experience a 50-70% reduction in visible acne. From 4-8 weeks the original research has shown that a 76%-100% reduction can occur.

If by chance the Blue Acne Light does not work for you, you can return the light for a full refund less the original cost of shipping within 60 days of the purchase date.

Are There Any Precautions I Should Take Before Using This Blue Light Therapy System?

The most important precaution is to use tanning googles or sunglasses over your eyes for protection. It is possible that blue light can be harmful to the eyes, so wear proper protection. The light from the Blue Acne Light is quite intense, so you should never look directly into the light.

Do not do any sort of light therapy while you are on any medication that can cause photosensitivity.