A skin condition often associated with puberty and teen years, acne can affect men and women throughout their lifetime. Severe acne at any age may cause scaring of the face, neck, chest and back or any other affected area of the body. A new development in the treatment of acne is the use of red and blue light to treat the condition. This acne light treatment method offers several advantages over the traditional treatments.

By using the acne light, teens can avoid the use of creams or ointments that can be messy and further irritate the skin. The light is placed six inches away form the affected area and can be used while doing homework or viewing television.

Acne lights emit light at certain wavelengths. These wavelengths are in the red and blue area of light. Some acne lights only emit the blue light, which helps to kill the bacteria that cause acne. The red light is stimulates healing of the skin where acne has already occurred.

The red and blue light should be applied daily for fifteen minutes to half an hour. Light in the wavelengths used in the acne light should not cause skin damage or sunburn; however, some people have skin that is sensitive to all light.

Results from use of the acne light are not immediate. However, after eight weeks or so, you should notice that your skin is becoming clearer and healthier.

If you only have one small area that is affected by acne, then you will find a small light to be sufficient for your treatment. If you have several areas affected, you may need to buy a light that will cover several areas at one time.

Acne is a condition that may affect a student’s self-esteem. If left untreated, it can cause excessive scaring, and may affect the persons feelings of self for many years. The price paid for an acne light and the time invested in its use are a small price to pay for the self confidence it can bring.