103 replies to this topic

[Wolfy]

Blue/red and light treatment stuff usually works (~80% of patients: british-journal.pdf), but information is hard to find in the forum.

Also the home-use equipment and treatment can seem relatively expensive, so it isn't much used; but it can often be cheaper than antibiotics or BP for long term problems. (If you add up Dan's checklist of items it can come to more than $300 over 2 years, but the home use lightboxes cost that and last 3 years and the studies say they are atleast as effective).

The derm office treatments tend to be much more expensive; and not necessarily any better (although blue light can be taken with Levulan - ALA Aminolevulinic Acid which allegedly can shrink sebaceous glands and might give longer term clearance.)

Add your experiences/product reports/links here.

Red/blue cheatsheet

Blue/red light acne treatment

Biochembabe's Zeno review (handheld heat treatment- she did better on the blue/red light treatments but it does do something)

Biochembabe's acne progress using Sci/Art blue/red lamps

[postfetalphase]

I've been wanting to save up for a light or laser treatment. There are several though. I don't know whether to get a fotofacial or whatever, to burst my cappillaries and hopefully cure my permanent redness of my face; or to get an acne treatment; or a scar treatment. Any do a combination of those?

[misty80]

Ive had photofacial..or IPL.. problem was the ppl were greedy and I wasnt warned that it should ONLy be done once a month at the most.. I was having it every 10 days...which caused hyperpigmentation and left me with permanent brown marks on my face..
The first treatment was effective though...and removed a few stubborn freckles...but I was not warned about how frequently you can have the treatment..
Photofacial/Impulse light therapy is good for acne scaring which appear like blue/purple spots etc..but if u have scaring which are deep/or u have holes/pits on ur face...the best thing would be 1 or 2 skin peels. Ive just had a green peel (looking good so far).
hope that helps.

[sillysmyles]

Ebay sometimes has blue lights on there for acne. Does anyone hava any knowledge on these home ones you can buy on ebay?

[Wolfy]

Ebay sometimes has blue lights on there for acne. Does anyone hava any knowledge on these home ones you can buy on ebay?

If they produce light intensity and frequency comparable to the British dermatology study then it should work fine. Obviously there's slighly more chance of fraud on ebay; there's a chance that somebody swapped the ultra-bright fluorescents with a cheaper blue light, but probably not a problem. (If the blue light isn't very bright then that would be a big clue.)

I just did a search. The NatureBright light looks ok from what little I can tell.

[tanyastar]

Ive just had a green peel (looking good so far).
hope that helps.

Could you please share your experience with the green peel? What was it like, the results, where you had it done? thanks!

[Wolfy]

I used one of these:

http://www.dermalux.co.uk/

Did next to nothing, and made my skin red for £210. So I sold it on Ebay.

But that's the lamp I use! And it's exactly the same bulbs as the ones in the study! It works great for me. Blue/red lights shouldn't make your skin red at all; provided you don't exceed the treatment time (half an hour per day, 15 minutes per session, widely spaced.)

I found at one point I got much better results decreasing the time slightly from 15 minutes down to 10 (I have relatively pale skin, so presumably less is more), but 5 minutes wasn't enough; and biochembabe found the same thing with her Sci/Art bulbs. I think the lamp was irritating very slightly and causing more acne in some way.

Right at the moment I'm getting better results at 15+ minutes (the lamp is worn out!)

[seamus]

I used one of these:

http://www.dermalux.co.uk/

Did next to nothing, and made my skin red for £210. So I sold it on Ebay.

But that's the lamp I use! And it's exactly the same bulbs as the ones in the study! It works great for me. Blue/red lights shouldn't make your skin red at all; provided you don't exceed the treatment time (half an hour per day, 15 minutes per session, widely spaced.)

I found at one point I got much better results decreasing the time slightly from 15 minutes down to 10 (I have relatively pale skin, so presumably less is more), but 5 minutes wasn't enough; and biochembabe found the same thing with her Sci/Art bulbs. I think the lamp was irritating very slightly and causing more acne in some way.

Right at the moment I'm getting better results at 15+ minutes (the lamp is worn out!)

Wolfkeeper,

The recommended time on my sci/art bulbs is ONE 15 min session a day. I assuming you are referring to the Dermalux requiring TWO 15 min sessions a day? I hope I shouldn't have been using this thing twice a day instead of once...

[Wolfy]

Right at the moment I'm getting better results at 15+ minutes (the lamp is worn out!)

Wolfkeeper,

The recommended time on my sci/art bulbs is ONE 15 min session a day. I assuming you are referring to the Dermalux requiring TWO 15 min sessions a day? I hope I shouldn't have been using this thing twice a day instead of once...

No. They recommend 1 session of 15 minutes. They said it was ok to use it twice, well spaced, in one day though; apparently some people did better that way. The Sci/art lamps should be the same. But you very probably shouldn't do any one session of more than 15 minutes.

[misty80]

hi u asked about the green peel. it went well. if you have really deep scarring u would need to have a series of treatments...but one of my problems is pigmentation..which it improved. ive only had 1 treatment.i prob have moderate acne/and minor scarring. the thing is i broke really bad not long after and at the time my skin was sensitive. it woz so frustrating bcoz the work was undone within a week with a really bad breakout which took a long time to heal and left minor scaring... i chose the wrong time of the month
my advice-get ur acne under control first..then look into something to treat ur scars.
at the moment im waiting to try something called 101E acne getaway ...so ill c how that goes.

[miliys]

Right at the moment I'm getting better results at 15+ minutes (the lamp is worn out!)

Wolfkeeper,

The recommended time on my sci/art bulbs is ONE 15 min session a day. I assuming you are referring to the Dermalux requiring TWO 15 min sessions a day? I hope I shouldn't have been using this thing twice a day instead of once...

No. They recommend 1 session of 15 minutes. They said it was ok to use it twice, well spaced, in one day though; apparently some people did better that way. The Sci/art lamps should be the same. But you very probably shouldn't do any one session of more than 15 minutes.

So would you guys say that the red/blue light is better or the CSR is better?? i thought about getting one of these sometime back. but just wasnt too sure. it seems handy, and less time consuming than CSR. i have quite alot of acne and red mark. but im not sure if its severe or not. i mean i dnt have cystic or hard nodules. just lots of acne. (side question, do you bases the severity of your acne on the amount of acne, or just the type. like if u have only ONE cystic acne, would that be considered severe or mild??)

[seamus]

Update: 6 weeks on Tuesday. No change as of yet. I have mild acne, and I'm still breaking out with my usual 1-2 pimples a day. I've been using the red/blue lights from sci/art for one 15 min session per day EVERY day. Will keep everyone updated.

[Wolfy]

Update: 6 weeks on Tuesday. No change as of yet. I have mild acne, and I'm still breaking out with my usual 1-2 pimples a day. I've been using the red/blue lights from sci/art for one 15 min session per day EVERY day. Will keep everyone updated.

Hmm. You should be noticing a difference by now. Strange. The research says you should be getting about 50% less acne at this point.

How close do you sit to it?

Some people do better at 10 minutes per day, rather than 15.

I find it's best to use my lamp first thing in the morning; what time of day do you use it?

[real maverick]

I'm considering getting one of these, UV light helps my skin 10 fold, however it obviously has it's share of negative effects.

Wolf, do you have any photo's? before/after or even the condition of your skin now?

[Wolfy]

I'm considering getting one of these, UV light helps my skin 10 fold, however it obviously has it's share of negative effects.

Sounds like you very definitely should try it then. Responding to sunlight/UV is a very good sign that it would work for you.

Wolf, do you have any photo's? before/after or even the condition of your skin now?

Sorry I don't. Check out biochembabe's pics.

Basically for me, I still get acne, but it's much smaller and flatter than before, and a tiny amount of coverup makeup makes it almost invisible.

Also, my lamp is pretty shagged out, and I'm planning on ordering a new one.

[real maverick]

I think I'm going to get myself one.

Estee Lauder complete coverage, is amazing at hiding any marks, and despite the fact it's so good at hiding marks, it's impossible to tell you're wearing it, just a tiny bit on those bad days hides the imprefections. Water proof and wipe proof too.

[peace of mind]

I'm just about to get a lightbox. Have people been using the lights with any other treatments and having good results?

[seamus]

Update: 6 weeks on Tuesday. No change as of yet. I have mild acne, and I'm still breaking out with my usual 1-2 pimples a day. I've been using the red/blue lights from sci/art for one 15 min session per day EVERY day. Will keep everyone updated.

Hmm. You should be noticing a difference by now. Strange. The research says you should be getting about 50% less acne at this point.

How close do you sit to it?

Some people do better at 10 minutes per day, rather than 15.

I find it's best to use my lamp first thing in the morning; what time of day do you use it?

Update: Almost 7 weeks. I am currently experiencing a clear up. I don't know if this is just a regular waning period or if it is due to the lights. Time will tell. I am still using the lights every day for 14-15 minutes.

Wolf, I put the lights on my headboard above my bed, which means that they are about 2 feet above my head when I use them. Isn't that about right? The time of day that I use them varies, I usually use them at night.

I think I'm going to get myself one.

Estee Lauder complete coverage, is amazing at hiding any marks, and despite the fact it's so good at hiding marks, it's impossible to tell you're wearing it, just a tiny bit on those bad days hides the imprefections. Water proof and wipe proof too.

Maverick, can you give us a link to what type you use? I couldn't find specifically what you're referring to. Thanks.

[Wolfy]

Update: Almost 7 weeks. I am currently experiencing a clear up. I don't know if this is just a regular waning period or if it is due to the lights. Time will tell. I am still using the lights every day for 14-15 minutes.

Sounds quite promising. Please let us know how it goes from here on in. Your skin should continue to improve.

Wolf, I put the lights on my headboard above my bed, which means that they are about 2 feet above my head when I use them. Isn't that about right? The time of day that I use them varies, I usually use them at night.

Yes, all sounds good.