70 replies to this topic

[forrelli]

So my dermatologist just recommended a BLU-U Blue Light ACNE treatment to me. its a new treatment that uses a blue light to kill p. ance bacteria in your skin. Its a special light that my dermatologist doesnt have it at his office, but there is a place in my city (a facial surgery place) that has it and treat a lot of people with acne. pretty much what they do is poke tiny holes in areas where you have ance, then spread this goop over your face and then put you under the light for about 15 minutes and you are done. your face will be red for a few days after and then on the forth day after your face will begin to peel like mad so that oxygen can get into the pore more easily which helps to kill the remaining bacteria. anyways, i guess they have had great sucesses with using it to treat acne pacients. i just made an apt and will let everyone know how well it works, i was just wondering if anyone has done this or knows anything about it. it's a pretty new treatment for ance...originally they used this type of blue light for cancer pacients but recently discovered its great effects for ance.

[AllyKat]

I'm getting my first treatment on Friday, I'll let you know how it goes

[coconutz74]

thanks you two, keep all of us updated on how the procedure goes...

[JulietteR]

Hey,
I did Blue-U about a year ago, but I'm not sure what you mean about punching holes in your acne. At least, no one did that to me, anyway. You basically just go and sit in front of this big light for 20 minutes, two to three times a week. I don't want to discourage you because I know different things work for different people, but it didn't help me all that much. There was a little improvement, but probably nothing anyone but me would have noticed.

BUT, I have been on Accutane 4 times, done Smoothbeam, V-beam, IPL, and pretty much everything else you can think of including all the topicals and home red light/blue light treatment, without all that much improvement so I'm probably not a good example.

I just realized something--Are you talking about Levulan treatment with the Blue light? You must be, because they use that for skin cancer. I apologize--I have never had that particular treatment, just Blue light by itself. I have also heard that is supposed to be good. I hope it goes well for you. Good luck!

[AllyKat]

I had it done with Levulan, my doc said that people with stronger cases of acne need the levulan to see anydiffernce, But it also cost alot more. (Which you said you didn't have Juliette...stop making me worry! xD )

I had my first treatment yesterday, and I had the little tube of levulan gooped on my face and I had to sit in the dark for an hour then I got only 8 minutes in front of the light. I look like a lobster right now haha, my face looks so red. But already feels alot smoother. The levulan makes you like aa zillion times more sensitive to the blu-u light which is why I'm so red, and it kinda stung like hell and I had to pull back a couple times for a second or two going SHIT SHIT SHIT OW OW but then I put my head back in there because my parents are paying like 250 a treatment so yea. You also don't get as many treaments with the lev. I have to go once every 3-4 weeks. I'll keep you posted.

Oh and I didn't have any poked holes on my face, I think they do that with the other lazer thing not the blu light you sit in front of.

[brite_lite2255]

Hey,
I did Blue-U about a year ago, but I'm not sure what you mean about punching holes in your acne. At least, no one did that to me, anyway. You basically just go and sit in front of this big light for 20 minutes, two to three times a week. I don't want to discourage you because I know different things work for different people, but it didn't help me all that much. There was a little improvement, but probably nothing anyone but me would have noticed.

BUT, I have been on Accutane 4 times, done Smoothbeam, V-beam, IPL, and pretty much everything else you can think of including all the topicals and home red light/blue light treatment, without all that much improvement so I'm probably not a good example.

I just realized something--Are you talking about Levulan treatment with the Blue light? You must be, because they use that for skin cancer. I apologize--I have never had that particular treatment, just Blue light by itself. I have also heard that is supposed to be good. I hope it goes well for you. Good luck!

[AllyKat]

did you have a point bright light? why did you just quote someone and not say anything?

[formydaughter]

I've had quite a few PDT treatments with ALA. They took me from severe to mild acne. After gettign sick of persistent mild-moderate acne, i decided i needed to get serious about treating it, and the PDT with Levulan is too inconvenient. I considered Accutane, then decided that it should be a last resort.

So about 1 month ago i decided to give home light therapy a try. I purchased a kit from Sci\Art that contains both blue and red lights. So far, i've noticed a reduction in existing pimple size and breakouts. One of the biggest things that draws me to light therapy is the ability to treat acne without all the peeling and redness. Obviously a Levulan treatment has downtime, but light therapy from home is quite accessible and carries no downtime.

According to a fellow light therapy user, i should be experiencing great clearance in the next 2-3 weeks. Provided i'm not over-using my lights.

I bought the SCI ART lights too - but only the blue light. The directions say to use it every other day for 15-20 minutes. I called her and asked her if it was OK to use it everyday and she said yes, but you need to take 1 day off so your skin can breathe. She said you could go 4 days and take a break. You mention over-using? Based on what the owner of SCI ART said, is there such a thing?

[AllyKat]

I just can't see the at home thing being the same kind/strength of light.

[eliza66]

So my dermatologist just recommended a BLU-U Blue Light ACNE treatment to me. its a new treatment that uses a blue light to kill p. ance bacteria in your skin. Its a special light that my dermatologist doesnt have it at his office, but there is a place in my city (a facial surgery place) that has it and treat a lot of people with acne. pretty much what they do is poke tiny holes in areas where you have ance, then spread this goop over your face and then put you under the light for about 15 minutes and you are done. your face will be red for a few days after and then on the forth day after your face will begin to peel like mad so that oxygen can get into the pore more easily which helps to kill the remaining bacteria. anyways, i guess they have had great sucesses with using it to treat acne pacients. i just made an apt and will let everyone know how well it works, i was just wondering if anyone has done this or knows anything about it. it's a pretty new treatment for ance...originally they used this type of blue light for cancer pacients but recently discovered its great effects for ance.

If you are just talking about blu U light treatment save your money (waste of time and money for me) however if you are talking about Blu U or Intense Light therapy combined with LEVULAN (that is a topical drug) then that is what you want. I had acne for over 15 years and did Accutane twice with poor results. I did this Levulan/ light treatment 6 months ago (6 treatments each one 3 weeks apart) and am finally clear. I want to tell everyone not to take drugs when you can do this and get excellent results. The down time 3 - 4 days is a drag but well worth it. They do use this treatment for early skin cancer too. I don't know anything about the poking tiny holes (did not do that to me). Now I use Dan's BP morning and night along with Tazorac from my doctor. Good Luck.

Hey,
I did Blue-U about a year ago, but I'm not sure what you mean about punching holes in your acne. At least, no one did that to me, anyway. You basically just go and sit in front of this big light for 20 minutes, two to three times a week. I don't want to discourage you because I know different things work for different people, but it didn't help me all that much. There was a little improvement, but probably nothing anyone but me would have noticed.

BUT, I have been on Accutane 4 times, done Smoothbeam, V-beam, IPL, and pretty much everything else you can think of including all the topicals and home red light/blue light treatment, without all that much improvement so I'm probably not a good example.

I just realized something--Are you talking about Levulan treatment with the Blue light? You must be, because they use that for skin cancer. I apologize--I have never had that particular treatment, just Blue light by itself. I have also heard that is supposed to be good. I hope it goes well for you. Good luck!

I did the blu U and had not results but then I did the Intense Pulse Light / Blue light with Levulan and guess what? After 15 years of acne and accutane twice I am finally free of acne! I didn't want to do levulan originally because of the 3 - 4 days of down time (hiding from the world). But now I wish I had done it sooner. So go for it --- I had cysts and tried every drug known. Now I use Dan's BP gel twice a day along with Tazorac from my doctor. I go to my doctor every six weeks for a gylcolic peel to keep things looking great. good luck. Eliza66

I had it done with Levulan, my doc said that people with stronger cases of acne need the levulan to see anydiffernce, But it also cost alot more. (Which you said you didn't have Juliette...stop making me worry! xD )

I had my first treatment yesterday, and I had the little tube of levulan gooped on my face and I had to sit in the dark for an hour then I got only 8 minutes in front of the light. I look like a lobster right now haha, my face looks so red. But already feels alot smoother. The levulan makes you like aa zillion times more sensitive to the blu-u light which is why I'm so red, and it kinda stung like hell and I had to pull back a couple times for a second or two going SHIT SHIT SHIT OW OW but then I put my head back in there because my parents are paying like 250 a treatment so yea. You also don't get as many treaments with the lev. I have to go once every 3-4 weeks. I'll keep you posted.

Oh and I didn't have any poked holes on my face, I think they do that with the other lazer thing not the blu light you sit in front of.

Hang in there --- trust me it will be worth it. I had 6 levulan treatments (each one 3 weeks apart) and after 15 years of severe acne and twice on Accutane with little results, I am finally clear. I finished my treatments in December and now I look great. I know the down time is a pain but this will work for you!
good luck (you will not need it)
I use Dan's bp gel twice a day and Tazorac from my doctor to keep things looking great. I also go to my dermatologist every six weeks for a glycolic peel. Eliza66

[forrelli]

hey- so i haven't had my treatment yet, it will be in about two weeks....i hate how dermatoligists, etc. are always soo booked. anyways, i think that i will be using the BLU-U light with a combination of the LEVULAN....im not sure what the goop stuff they plan to put on my face before i'm under the light but i assume it would be that, since it sounds like thats all they use. and the lady who will be doing it told me she would poke holes in areas where there are cysts, zits, etc. so that the goop could penetrate deeper into my skin....i was kinda hesitant about having her poke holes in my face, but she assured me that it works a lot better if she does....has noone else had hole poked??? and im getting mine done on a wed. afternoon, should i plan on going to school the thur and fri after? or is the redness really really really embarrasing red? i have a presentation that day after and could get someone to fill in for me but would have to know ahead of time to arrange it.

[eliza66]

hey- so i haven't had my treatment yet, it will be in about two weeks....i hate how dermatoligists, etc. are always soo booked. anyways, i think that i will be using the BLU-U light with a combination of the LEVULAN....im not sure what the goop stuff they plan to put on my face before i'm under the light but i assume it would be that, since it sounds like thats all they use. and the lady who will be doing it told me she would poke holes in areas where there are cysts, zits, etc. so that the goop could penetrate deeper into my skin....i was kinda hesitant about having her poke holes in my face, but she assured me that it works a lot better if she does....has noone else had hole poked??? and im getting mine done on a wed. afternoon, should i plan on going to school the thur and fri after? or is the redness really really really embarrasing red? i have a presentation that day after and could get someone to fill in for me but would have to know ahead of time to arrange it.

Hi again,
Glad to hear you are going to do Levulan with Blu U light (together it is called photodynamic therapy). Don't plan on going anywhere. If you are doing levulan (call and ask) you will be like a lobster and not feeling so comfortable either. You are not supposed to go outside for 48 hours because of sunlight sensitivity. You can check out my dermatologist's web site www.gidonaesthetics.com for more info. It will all be worth it. good luck,
eliza66

[AllyKat]

Hang in there --- trust me it will be worth it. I had 6 levulan treatments (each one 3 weeks apart) and after 15 years of severe acne and twice on Accutane with little results, I am finally clear. I finished my treatments in December and now I look great. I know the down time is a pain but this will work for you!
good luck (you will not need it)
I use Dan's bp gel twice a day and Tazorac from my doctor to keep things looking great. I also go to my dermatologist every six weeks for a glycolic peel. Eliza66

Thanks xD I'm glad to hear from someone who has finished treatment and had success. I already see a big improvement and its only been two weeks so my hopes where already looking up. Did it get rid of the red marks for you too? My red marks are like 60% better! That alone has been worth the money after just one treatment!

[goodclicker]

I read about this on *EDITED BY MODERATOR* NO SPAMMING, It's a bit extreme for me, I would rather use other methods.

[AllyKat]

Going in for my second treatment right now. My face is all broken out (because of some stupit clinique lady slathering on some weird lotion) But before that happened, it was really clearing up, and the red marks were fading pretty well. now its just all whitehead zits all over....damn you clinique lady, hopefully this treatment will calm it down like it did last time. WEEE I <3 looking like a lobster for 4 days. x) And I actually do love the peeling because its fun...kinda gross huh?

[eliza66]

Going in for my second treatment right now. My face is all broken out (because of some stupit clinique lady slathering on some weird lotion) But before that happened, it was really clearing up, and the red marks were fading pretty well. now its just all whitehead zits all over....damn you clinique lady, hopefully this treatment will calm it down like it did last time. WEEE I <3 looking like a lobster for 4 days. x) And I actually do love the peeling because its fun...kinda gross huh?

Hi there,
I replying to your earlier post about red marks and this one too. Firstly this treatment does give you other benefits such as getting rid of marks and uneven pigmentation left behind and sun damage. So hang in there. About the silly Clinique lady, I suggest a great book Skin Type Solution by Dr. Leslie Baumann. It uses a quiz to determine which of 16 types you are and then gives you which products are safe to use. Many people on this site have already been talking about it. It is awesome, finally something that treats your skin properly, not one size or brand fits all. I'm following the book to keep my skin looking good after the levulan/blu-u treatment. And hang in there it will be worth all the downtime. Good Luck, Eliza

[forrelli]

so i got my first BLU-U treatment about 2 weeks ago and havent noticed much difference... immediatly after the treatment, my pores seemed a lot smaller, but now they seem to be back to where they were. i guess some of my scarring went away, just b/c of the peeling. but other than that i havent noticed much difference, and it was hella expensive ($350). so i about doubtful about doing it again. i go in again in two weeks to do a peel and ill see what the lady says....mostly my problem is oily skin, blackheads, big pores, and a couple cysts--that are down from where they used to be (b/c of cortizone shots and BLU-U) but are still visable. i dunno wat to do...