Current:Home > MyTikTokers are using blue light to cure acne. Dermatologists say it's actually a good idea.-LoTradeCoin
TikTokers are using blue light to cure acne. Dermatologists say it's actually a good idea.
View Date:2024-12-23 21:18:32
Is light therapy the future of skincare? Plenty of TikTokers seem to think so − and dermatologists aren't mad about it.
In addition to red light therapy, which has made rounds on the video-sharing app for its supposed anti-aging benefits, blue light is also having a moment, with users touting it for acne prevention.
Turns out, the TikTokers are actually onto something. Dermatologists say there's evidence blue light − at a wavelength of around 400 nanometers − can kill a particular bacteria known to cause acne. They also say blue light therapy can pair well with its red light counterpart, which has been shown to regulate the skin's oil production and boost collagen.
What about red light therapy?Dermatologists weigh in
"It's one of the non-invasive, less aggressive, more natural approaches that may help someone achieve improvement in acne and rejuvenation," Dr. Danilo Del Campo, a Chicago-based dermatologist, says. "It's a good starting point, but it often is not the ending point, so I think it's a good approach with minimal risk."
What is blue light therapy and how does it work?
According to dermatologists, blue light's main benefit is acne prevention. That's because blue light is an effective weapon against bacteria porphyrins, which are sensitive to light.
By activating bacteria porphyrins, blue light can oxidize and, therefore, destroy bacteria on the skin, helping treat inflammatory lesions of acne, says Dr. Anthony Rossi, a New York-based dermatologist.
"What we're realizing now is that both blue light and red light have good beneficial effects," he says. "Whereas red light's more anti-inflammatory, blue light can be more anti-bacterial or anti-microbial. If you have a very inflammatory acne, then blue light's really helpful to calm down that inflammation and that bacteria."
Acne prevention isn't all blue light is good for either. It also has potential antioxidant benefits, can aid skin-cell turnover and may even destroy cancer and pre-cancer cells when used in conjunction with certain medications, Del Campo says. The treatment in which blue light is used to activate cancer-fighting creams on the skin is called photodynamic therapy, or PDT.
Blue light therapy is not for everyone
Though blue and red light therapies are generally safe, there are some risks dermatologists want to highlight.
The first is that not all over-the-counter light therapy products are created equal. If you're interested in light therapy, consult a board-certified dermatologist first for their recommendations. Additionally, many dermatologists also offer light therapy at their offices, which is often safer and more effective than at-home devices.
Additionally, what's good for the skin isn't necessarily good for the eyes, especially blue light, which may disrupt people's circadian rhythms when exposed to their eyes. It's important to wear proper eye protection or to keep eyes closed when receiving any kind of light therapy or treatment.
"You really don't want to keep your eyes open. You don't want to stare into these lights," Rossi says. "You don't want your cornea constantly exposed to all this blue and red light."
Blue light may also exacerbate certain skin conditions like hyperpigmentation and melasma, so people with those probably should avoid the treatment as well, Dr. Rossi says.
"Outside of that, it's really well-tolerated," Dr. Del Campo says.
More:Sephora kids are mobbing retinol, anti-aging products. Dermatologists say it's a problem
veryGood! (6889)
Related
- Brianna LaPaglia Reacts to Rumors Dave Portnoy Paid Her $10 Million for a Zach Bryan Tell-All
- Sophia Bush Responds After New Pics With Ashlyn Harris Spark Engagement Rumors
- Rare blue-eyed cicada spotted during 2024 emergence at suburban Chicago arboretum
- 3 falcon chicks hatch atop the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in New York City
- Jordan Chiles Reveals She Still Has Bronze Medal in Emotional Update After 2024 Olympics Controversy
- Bird flu detected in beef tissue for first time, USDA says, but beef is safe to eat
- Top assassin for Sinaloa drug cartel extradited to US to face charges, Justice Department says
- Takeaways: How an right-wing internet broadcaster became Trump’s loyal herald
- Kennesaw State football coach Brian Bohannon steps down after 10 seasons amid first year in FBS
- UFL schedule for Week 9 games: Times, how to stream and watch on TV
Ranking
- Auburn surges, while Kansas remains No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports men's basketball poll
- Arizona State athletic department's $300 million debt 'eliminated' in restructuring
- Here Are The Best Deals From Wayfair's Memorial Day Sale 2024: Up to 83% Off Furniture, Appliances & More
- What will win the Palme d’Or? Cannes closes Saturday with awards and a tribute to George Lucas
- Harriet Tubman posthumously honored as general in Veterans Day ceremony: 'Long overdue'
- George Floyd's brother says he still has nightmares about his 2020 murder
- Winnipeg Jets promote Scott Arniel to replace retired coach Rick Bowness
- Their school is about to close. Now, Birmingham-Southern heads to College World Series.
Recommendation
-
Detroit-area police win appeal over liability in death of woman in custody
-
Memorial Day weekend in MLS features Toronto FC vs. FC Cincinnati, but no Messi in Vancouver
-
Louisiana governor signs bill to classify abortion pills as controlled substances into law
-
Your Memorial Day beach plans may be less than fin-tastic: Watch for sharks, rip currents
-
Cavaliers' Darius Garland rediscovers joy for basketball under new coach
-
MLB's five biggest surprises: Are these teams contenders or pretenders in 2024?
-
PGA Tour star Grayson Murray dead at 30
-
After Red Lobster's bankruptcy shocked all-you-can-eat shrimp fans, explaining Chapter 11