Laser skincare is growing in popularity, with many clinics offering red laser treatments as a way to help reduce the appearance of acne, scars and fine lines, but a different colour laser treatment has gained popularity on social media as an acne treatment.
Given the track record of TikTok when it comes to skincare is somewhat mixed, and the platform has a not-unfounded reputation for popularising treatments that are at best ineffective and at worst outright harmful, blue light therapy has been approached with some suspicion.
It is most commonly used to treat sun damage and protect against skin cancer, but it has trended on the platform as a means to protect against acne.
So does blue light therapy work, or is it another case of social media skincare leading people astray? The answer is rather complex, but the treatment is not entirely without merit.
Why Blue Light?
Unlike red light therapy, which is used for more aggressive skin treatment, to boost collagen and help treat out-of-control sebum production, blue light therapy is purportedly used for acne prevention.
It works due to the antimicrobial properties of blue light, which activates and destroys skin bacteria, which in turn reduces inflammation, and this has the result of reducing the redness and irritation that tends to come with breakouts.
It is a non-invasive treatment that can be done either safely in clinics or through the use of home light masks, although you should consult a dermatologist before doing so as not every blue light kit is identical.
Besides this and its ability to activate photodynamic creams that help to prevent skin cancer and heal sun damage, blue light has also been linked to cell turnover on the skin as well as potentially boosting antioxidants.
As far as social media skincare goes, it’s relatively well-tolerated and not overly aggressive. It also works very well with red light therapy, and together the treatments have benefits that play off of each other.
What Should You Know Before Trying It?
It can be tempting to give it a try, and whilst you should always talk to a skin expert before trying blue light therapy for yourself, not least because an in-clinic treatment is likely to be better value, there are some considerations to keep in mind first.
Trying it in a clinic first will help you see if it is the right treatment for you, in the hands of an expert that has always examined your skin needs. From there, they can also give recommendations to you about the right at-home kits to use.
Blue light is also relatively good for the skin but may not be good for your eyes. The evidence for blue light causing eye damage is far from conclusive, however blue light does interrupt the body’s circadian rhythm.
This means that too much blue light exposure to the eyes could make it more difficult to get to sleep and wake up at the times we would like. Closing your eyes during the treatment can help this.
Finally, if you have a skin condition like melasma or hyperpigmentation, blue light could make its symptoms more noticeable.
