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(Enlux) Blue Light Therapy.

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4
(@stvn758)

Posted : 08/08/2014 10:41 pm

Just got my Enlux 415 nm violet/blue floodlights. I did buy one first from a specialist acne website and regretted it shortly after when I realised I could buy them for $60 a go at Wiedamark rather than the $240 + postage to the UK and VAT and that 8 'handling fee' I ended up paying. 'Google is your friend'.

To be fair the site does show the floodlight in high quality photos and had I been a bit smarter. Anyhow these are the real deal, they are not the cheapo LED's with the glass bubbles on top, these are bright and cover a wide area and I now have three.

I should say I am on antibiotics, 100 mg Doxycycline a day. Even so spots on my back remain and will on many occasion work their way around my body in a desperate attempt to burst through - whether this is Backne, Staph Aureus or MRSA I'm not sure. I had folliculitis after trying to remove a skin tag - into my bloodstream the bacteria went and I looked like a plague victim. A week's course of Erythromycin killed that off but I'm still on a low dose tetracycline to keep the others at bay.

Do the lights work, well yes I have to say they do. The spots that have held out against the antibiotics are fading and my back is clearing up. Shaving no longer sees me covered in lumpy spots from infected hairs, I also make sure I get some blue light inside my nose - colonies of Staph reside there and they get irradiated!!. All the light therapy devices I have seen are obscenely expensive and too small - don't have the time to hold a wand the size of a tooth brush over my face for half a day, seriously crap most of them.

I have also read some medical papers that say too weak a blue light will actually increase the bacterial growth so these Enlux floodlights which are meant to decorate your home in pretty colours are a great find. When I enquired whether they could supply me with them in UK 220v and 415 nm I gave the Wiedamark guy the link to the Acne website and he was like Wow - we should start advertising these lights better, they couldn't believe how much they were selling them for. Their website now lists the voltage and nm wavelength for the specific UV floodlight if anyone is interested in trying blue light therapy.

Antibiotics also kill good bacteria and leave you open to fungal infections, so combining the two seems the best of both worlds if spots are making your life a misery. Bought a tripod and some bulb holders - those Chinese sellers on Ebay can be a boon, soon will have my very own light booth and can bath in blue light with the minimum fuss.

Early days but results so far are promising.

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9
(@sky13)

Posted : 08/19/2014 8:02 am

I have been looking at getting one just how do you know that the blue light is the appropriate strength? I live in the UK and this is the one I am thinking of getting:

http://www.boots.com/en/Lustre-Pure-Light-Acne-treatment-system-Exclusive-to-Boots_1461310/

It says that it is 415nm but doesnt say the voltage I dont think.

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4
(@stvn758)

Posted : 08/19/2014 5:56 pm

It will be 220v as it's sold here in the UK, you probably meant how bright/powerful is it.

That's expensive, even with all three pads on it barely covers the face. This is why I ended up with the Enlux bulb, it covers the entire face in one go and you can be done with it. I have three of them now, so I'm happy.

I just took a picture of one of my bulbs against the wall, pitch black room and look how much light these things give out. If it wasn't for the postage and VAT getting it sent from the USA it would cost a mere £39.

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(@sky13)

Posted : 08/19/2014 6:34 pm

Oh I didnt realise you were from the UK as well. Yeah it is pretty expensive I guess and I only have acne on my forehead and chin so it would be fine for me I feel. How have you been getting on with yours? I hope they work out for you.

I really want to get off topicals as Im currently using BP and my skin is becoming pretty sensitive. Im hoping this is going to be a good alternative.

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(@stvn758)

Posted : 08/19/2014 6:57 pm

If you can afford it, I hope it works. You'll look like Seven Of Nine from Star Trek Voyager, it's pretty high tech.

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(@stvn758)

Posted : 09/10/2014 11:29 am

I am very impressed with the Infra Red lamp I have been using, Blue light kills the bacteria while Infra Red Light shrinks the sebaceous glands apparently. The Infra Red light penetrates very deep into your skin, far deeper than Blue light and really seems to be helping. I quit using Doxycycline and was quite worried what would happen but apart from a few desperate lumps here and there attempting to break their way out from under the skin I am quite relieved at how my light therapy is keeping them at bay.

You can get an Infra Red light bulb for a couple of quid in the UK, cheap as chips so if you're looking for another avenue to keep your spots under control I would recommend giving it a go - a nice warm heat like sunbathing but without any UV rays. I bought a Beurer heat lamp mostly for aches and pains, but after reading up on the benefits of Infra Red light on spots I gave it a try on my back and so far so good.

It's a nice warm light, like sunbathing.

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(@acnewonderland)

Posted : 09/10/2014 4:38 pm

I am very impressed with the Infra Red lamp I have been using, Blue light kills the bacteria while Infra Red Light shrinks the sebaceous glands apparently. The Infra Red light penetrates very deep into your skin, far deeper than Blue light and really seems to be helping. I quit using Doxycycline and was quite worried what would happen but apart from

could red light shrink nd close up pores? clogged, enlarged, scarred

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(@stvn758)

Posted : 09/10/2014 6:27 pm

That is one of the many benefits listed for Infra Red light, it tightens the skin and increases collagen, reduces inflammation.

The one thing that has closed the pores - I have HUGE dreadful ones on my nose, is Salicylic Acid, I buy skin peels off EBay, it stings like hell but after a few minutes you wash it off with water, or the deactivating liquid some sellers include. After a day or two the skin starts to peel off but the huge pores I have were reduced to nothing, it's only temporary though. I have used it on my whole face and there was no peeling at all, it definitely tightens everything up and gives you a bit of a glow.

The peels are quite cheap and they last a long time, if you start with a 10% strength bottle you might find you close up your pores without peeling the skin away - use it as a regular product to keep your skin glowing and pores reduced. There are other acid peels, depending on skin type. Oily skin is what Salicylic Acid works best on.

I can't stress enough that you should not just slap a skin peel on your face without testing it and making sure it suits your skin, I have found them to be very helpful and fun to use.

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(@acnewonderland)

Posted : 09/11/2014 12:29 pm

The one thing that has closed the pores - I have HUGE dreadful ones on my nose, is Salicylic Acid, I buy skin peels off EBay, it stings like hell but after a few minutes you wash it off with water, or the deactivating liquid some sellers include. After a day or two the skin starts to peel off but the huge pores I have were reduced to nothing, it's only temporary though. I have used it on my whole face and there was no peeling at all, it definitely tightens everything up and gives you a bit of a glow.

omg can u pls pls link me to exactly ones ur using? if u cant here then pm me pls

also how long does the effect last? u say its only temp, does pores apear again?

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(@stvn758)

Posted : 09/11/2014 2:31 pm

[Edited link out]

This is the one, they used to be called Forever Young on Ebay but now they have their own shop, there is lots of information on their site about what peel works best and how to use them correctly - probably why I bought from them in the first place. UK company so you know what you're getting.

There are many sellers on EBay if you type in skin peels.

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(@acnewonderland)

Posted : 09/11/2014 3:27 pm

is this the one u used?

http://www.sr-skincare.co.uk/salicylic-acid-peel-152-p.asp

there r also lactic n mandelic n mandelic/salycic acid peels, i wonder which one of those r the most effective bc i dnt hv money for all of them.

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(@stvn758)

Posted : 09/11/2014 9:42 pm

That's the one, they have better looking bottles now, when I bought them off EBay they were just clear ones. They might still have their EBay shop but I couldn't find it earlier.

If you have oily skin Salicylic Acid works best, if not the other ones are meant to be better. I'm up to 30% strength now, but you have to start low to give your skin a chance to get used to it. It still stings like crazy when I apply it. I just gave myself another peel tonight and the pores on my nose have closed up, you can still see them up close but they really do shrink.

[Edited link out]

This is the info page that tells you what type of peel works best for which type of skin.

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(@acnewonderland)

Posted : 09/13/2014 8:51 am

i dnt care abt oiliness, i think its fine for me, i rly never monitored it so idk

ill just go with salycic peels

bt can u just tell me wht was ur regimen with it? like at wht time u applied, how much, how often n so?

wht else do u use on ur face usually?

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(@stvn758)

Posted : 09/15/2014 1:07 pm

When I first got the peel I used it every week or so, first you have to let your skin get used to it and remember that the peel is just the catalyst for what happens next - your body doing it's thing, shedding the dead skin and revealing the newer fresher skin underneath. You have to let nature take it's course. I don't get too may spots on my face so it's my nose pores (T-ZONE) area I used it on.

Test a small area first, don't just slap it on your entire face. It's very painful, stings like crazy. It took me a long time to get enough nerve to use it on my entire face, as it turned out it gave me a nice tone - a few little patches of skin did peel, better than face washing with a Clearasil type scrub.

It's anti inflammatory as well, so it should help reduce redness. Wash your face then apply, rinse off, AVOID the eyes, keep them well closed when rinsing your face or using the deactivator, keep them tightly shut.

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(@wikkid)

Posted : 09/15/2014 1:21 pm

This sounds very interesting, I have always thought I need to invest hundreds of euros to even try this and left this aside back then.

I have a few questions:

How long do you use the blue light therapy per day? Does it have to be 1 continuous light therapy session or can it be some in the morning and some in the evening? Does it make your face hot like when tanning? (I have mild rosacea so this would be a definite con for me) Do you think it could cure or help alot someone with something more severe than a mild acne case? (I have a bit more than moderate acne, many many whiteheads, some painful, but not cysts).

Thank you if you have the time and patience to answer these for me. :) I just want to hear from someone who has personal experience.

stvn758 liked
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(@acnewonderland)

Posted : 09/15/2014 1:22 pm

When I first got the peel I used it every week or so, first you have to let your skin get used to it and remember that the peel is just the catalyst for what happens next - your body doing it's thing, shedding the dead skin and revealing the newer fresher skin underneath. You have to let nature take it's course. I don't get too may spots on my face so it's my nose pores (T-ZONE) area I used it on.

Test a small area first, don't just slap it on your entire face. It's very painful, stings like crazy. It took me a long time to get enough nerve to use it on my entire face, as it turned out it gave me a nice tone - a few little patches of skin did peel, better than face washing with a Clearasil type scrub.

It's anti inflammatory as well, so it should help reduce redness. Wash your face then apply, rinse off, AVOID the eyes, keep them well closed when rinsing your face or using the deactivator, keep them tightly shut.

y only once a week? cnt i use it like every other day for faster effect? >< nd agh im rly scared to ask this bt like superhonestly after how much time will b improvment seen?

how long do u keep it on before u wash it off? nd y wash it off? if u leave it on does it leaves sticky residue or smthn?

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(@stvn758)

Posted : 09/15/2014 1:37 pm

I have used it on a regular basis, the effect does last so you don't actually need to use it every day. My nose pores are still shrunken and the rest of my face is still benefitting from the peel I did the other day. As you are just starting you should go slow.

Read the instructions that come with the peel, no residue left on your face, once you've used the activator which is bicarbonate of soda based you should have a good rinse. Soft skin is what I feel.

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(@stvn758)

Posted : 09/15/2014 2:56 pm

All you need is 90 seconds of blue light to kill the bacteria, that's what it says on the information leaflet with the Enlux bulb I bought from the Acne company. I was also watching a video on YouTube of a woman receiving professional Blue and Red light therapy in a clinic by a Doctor - he just ran the blue light device over her skin in seconds - literally a flash or two then done. Gave her a little longer with the red light afterwards, that's what shrinks the sebaceous glands and reduces the inflammation - it's the warmth of the sun in a light bulb - minus the harmful UV rays. Blue and red light together produces much better results, infra red light goes incredibly deep into the skin - Inches I read.

I'm not sure what the spots I have are, I think it's staph aureus running riot, but they are horrible, if I squeeze them I end up with a huge lump under the skin, possibly my immune system going crazy. The Doctor gave me Oxytetracycline and told me I may be on them for the rest of my life but I have decided to give the light therapy a go and it's working great so far. My back is clearing up and the few active red lumps I have are benign and not spreading.

If it helps the vicious spots I have I'm sure traditional acne/spots would benefit greatly. When an infra red light bulb cost less than a tube of Clearasil there really is no excuse not to give it a go, any light bulb shop should sell them.

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(@acnewonderland)

Posted : 09/15/2014 7:20 pm

If it helps the vicious spots I have I'm sure traditional acne/spots would benefit greatly. When an infra red light bulb cost less than a tube of Clearasil there really is no excuse not to give it a go, any light bulb shop should sell them.

u mean u can buy those in ny store n they will work like infra red light? does this hv nything to do with wht u wrote here v

(sry i cant allways follow everything px)

All you need is 90 seconds of blue light to kill the bacteria, that's what it says on the information leaflet with the Enlux bulb I bought from the Acne company. I was also watching a video on YouTube of a woman receiving professional Blue and Red light therapy in a clinic by a Doctor - he just ran the blue light device over her skin in seconds - literally a flash or two then done. Gave her a little longer with the red light afterwards, that's what shrinks the sebaceous glands and reduces the inflammation - it's the warmth of the sun in a light bulb - minus the harmful UV rays. Blue and red light together produces much better results, infra red light goes incredibly deep into the skin - Inches I read.

I'm not sure what the spots I have are, I think it's staph aureus running riot, but they are horrible, if I squeeze them I end up with a huge lump under the skin, possibly my immune system going crazy. The Doctor gave me Oxytetracycline and told me I may be on them for the rest of my life but I have decided to give the light therapy a go and it's working great so far. My back is clearing up and the few active red lumps I have are benign and not spreading.

is tht antibiotics? if they r internal, ill just tell u wht i recently read wht some patient said, they said tht internal antibiotics practicaly dnt work bcs they dnt go/reach to face. nly topical antibiotics hv any impact on skin. nt sure how true it is bt it was her experience.

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(@stvn758)

Posted : 09/16/2014 9:27 am

I have the one with the handles, some are more powerful than others. They have one on Amazon for £17, which is very good.

I wouldn't be able to use topical antibiotics on my back, even if I could reach it I would be using a hell of a lot of the stuff.

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(@acnewonderland)

Posted : 09/16/2014 9:17 pm

so u basically just put this bulb in reg lamp? n then how long do u hv to light ur face with it? is it bad for eyes nd hair?

i forgot wht bt theres was someone here who also had somekinda light device, i think blue mayb n they were doing somekinda session with it for like hour??? o.o

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(@wikkid)

Posted : 09/17/2014 1:41 pm

I might try this at some point, but I have a few ongoing experiments atm and I want to see how I go with them first.

As Acnewonderland said I have also read before someone telling that you need something like half an hour under the light, thats why I thought at first that I need to sit a few hours every day reading a book under blue lights. Though I would be willing to make that sacrifice anyday if it would really help me.

Its just that this idea seems very promising, but so have a hundred others, and they have also failed miserably or side effects have been too harsh. I think this is the story of quite many acne sufferers. Seems like an endless search for the right treatment...

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(@stvn758)

Posted : 09/17/2014 3:37 pm

I would check the instructions if you get just a bulb, they get very hot. You might need a ceramic light bulb fitting. An all in one lamp would be an easier option.

I agree Wikkid, finding something that works and doesn't take up too much time is the main goal. When I stopped taking the tetracycline I expected to be plagued again by spots but the red and blue light is keeping them at bay quite nicely.

I only spend a few minutes under the blue light now, with three bulbs I can cover a large area with maximum brightness and be done with it. The Infrared heat lamp is very soothing so that's a bonus.

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(@wikkid)

Posted : 10/07/2014 3:37 am

Hello again,

How is your light therapy going, still working? I looked a bit more into this and thought I would buy the same lamp as you have. But as with every treatment I try to look into the seide effects and risks beforehand. So the cheap toothbrush like blue light sticks which are marketed for like over 200$ claim they do not emit UV-light at all, and are therefor safe. And this one you are using obviously is an UV flood light. UV-light is said to have all kinds of risks, well anyone who has tried tanning beds has probably read the warning signs. Can cause early cataracts in eyes (can be avoided with goggles I think). Increased risk of skin cancer. Premature aging of skin. Those are the main things. So are you just taking the risk or have I misunderstood that it is actually somehow safer than tanning beds?

Im concerned of the long term side effects as if I find that this would work effectively, I would be using it for a long time, maybe years even as I'm not looking for a short term fix. This looks promising but has scary long term side effects in my opinion.

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(@stvn758)

Posted : 10/16/2014 11:10 pm

It's branded a UV Floodlight but the light wave is 415nm which is pretty much devoid of ultraviolet radiation according to all the research on it's use for Acne. They do this bulb in 390nm as well which is UV radiation, mine have the wavelength written on the bulbs so I'm not worried.

My treatment is going well, been off the tetracycline for quite a while now and the combination of blue and the infrared heat lamp really does work. Had a slight break out these past few days but that's definitely down to flu season being here - woke up with a bit of a sore throat and have been coughing a little so my immune system has obvious taken a hit but they have all but gone now thanks to some more light.

As I mentioned in my previous posts, if you want to try light therapy then this is the cheapest and most effective way to do it I could see, all the other devices are too small, too expensive or both. If it doesn't work for you then you haven't lost much money and the infrared lamp helps with so many other aches, pains and ailments it pays for itself in no time at all.

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