Acne.org Products
Phototherapy
Acne.org’s Real World Take
Light therapy is a temporary and time-consuming treatment option that produces only modest results. However, it is the least invasive of any acne treatment, and its only downside is that it reduces folic acid levels.
Phototherapy
How to Get It
Light therapy can be performed with stronger, professional light devices at a doctor’s office. Have a dermatologist? Make an appointment to get this procedure done. Don't have a dermatologist? See The American Academy of Dermatology Physician Database to find one. Weaker light therapy devices are also available over-the-counter. Here are some places you can find it online.
Used Light Therapy? Rate It:
Choose from 1 to 5 stars
May 19, 2008
Product used: ClearLight Acne Treatment
Cons:
The clearlight has done nothing for my skin. I paid for 8 treatments and had no results so they gave me 4 more. The treatment is way to expensive not to see any results what so ever. Very inconvenient as well. Driving there 2x a week is annoying.
I would not recommend this. When I went they said my skin was not too bad and that the clearlight should clear it right up. They said it would get worse before it gets better and even that didn't happen. Dont waste your money or your time.
July 16, 2007
Product used: ClearLight Acne Treatment
Cons:
No effect at all,so expensive
When I have horrible breakout, my dermatologist ask me to do 8 round of Blue Light theraphy called iClear with SGD 88/session. It cost me more than 900 include tax.. Gosh.. So expensive. It has to be done at least once a week. I thought I can see improvement within a few treatment.. But too bad, I am just wasting my money. Don't try this.
Try cheaper alternative. Even benzyl peroxide works better.
January 9, 2010
Product used: Verilux (ClearWave Light Therapy Acne Treatment System)
Pros:
Compared to some other units I have purchased this seems well made.
Unlike some reviews I like the bulkyness as you get more complete facial coverage.
Cons:
Wish it had a tilt control so you could sit more comfortably in front. The thickness of the removable front cover seems to be a safety feature which may serve to reduce the lights effectiveness.
I have suffered from moderate acne my whole life but I have always know the sun can clear it up. Unfortunately, until recently this was not an option due to the UV damage that goes with it. Luckily science has finally solved this problem and brought the benefits of sunlight indoors. Now for all those people that claim the technology does not work after only a few weeks of use brief use. Have you considered that almost all acne treatments make your skin appear worse before you begin to see continued improvement. Let me give you a perfect example of this. Recently I did an at home chemical peel and what I noticed is the day after its use my skin was full of little of little pimples. Why I wondered? Because the peel brought these "future" pimples to the surface. I knew the peel could not have caused this and sure enough winthin a few days they were all gone! In otherwords the peel did not cause the pimples; it simply brought them to the surface were they could be shed. Think of it another way. The blue light simply kills the bacteria it does not remove it. Your body still has to expel these. The problem is people are looking for immediate results and the body does not work that way.
August 12, 2008
Product used: Verilux (ClearWave Light Therapy Acne Treatment System)
Pros:
Easy to use, no side effects.
Cons:
Not a miracle cure, I still break out. Not easy to travel with, so I have to skip days when I'm out of town. I also skip days here and there when I'm busy, as it takes 15 minutes at least, which is an inconvenience. Takes a long time to see results!
May be worth trying if you are sick of dermatologists, antibiotics, and harsh products. There is a money back guarantee. I like the theory behind this product, it just didn't provide the results I had hoped for.
July 20, 2007
Product used: ClearLight Acne Treatment
Pros:
None!!!
Cons:
I had a horrible experience with it.
I don't know if the doctor didn't do it right or if I just had a bad reaction to it but my skin wasn't THAT bad and after I had my first treatment, I had the worst breakout ever! Every inch of skin on my face was covered with pimples. It took a while to clear up and I never went back for more. Based on my experience, I would not recomment or at least research it carefully. I think my doctor pushed me to try it because it was new and maybe he didn't know what he was doing?
December 27, 2007
Product used: Omnilux (Light Treatment)
Pros:
Really has helped with my hormonal acne on chin...seems to keep the "bug ones" away. I love it and will continue to use it in the future.
Cons:
I get a little red right after the treatment--but think it may be too close to my face...my nose touches it?!
I pay $60/Tx approximately twice weekly or once weekly for about 5 motnhs and think my skin is the best it has been in a long time. I am sensitive and my blemishes have reduced in size, redness and frequency. I also like Smoothbeam Tx's that help dry up the sebacous glands and help with very minor scarring I have. You have to continue the Tx's for at least 4-6 weeks to give your skin a chance to adapt to the light therapy.
March 8, 2011
Product used: Omnilux (Light Treatment)
Pros:
I don't think I have any...honestly. The facials felt good in between treatments. That's about it.
Cons:
Too expensive
Didn't do squat.
Did I say too expensive?
May work for some, but not for me....I'd rather go tanning outside, at least that seems to help and get me tan.
October 9, 2007
Product used: Omnilux (Light Treatment)
Pros:
None
Cons:
Didn't work for me. Paid too much, I'm disappointed.
Maybe it works for some people, but not me. I'll try something else. Wish I could get my money back.
January 10, 2011
Product used: Lumie Clear (Blue and Red Light Therapy Acne Treatment)
Pros:
Completely cleared my skin;
Helped acne marks to heal faster;
No negative side-effects.
Cons:
Intiially expensive;
Mildly inconvenient.
Before using Lumie Clear, I had been taking antibiotics for 10 years and birth control pills for 3 years but neither of them completely cleared my moderate acne. I always had three or four small but noticable spots near my mouth, and could reliably expect one cyst or spot per month on my cheek. I was nervous about buying Lumie Clear due to the high price and high proportion of "trial" reviews, but decided to try it for the 30 day guarantee. I saw noticable clearing within 3 weeks and total clearing within 8 weeks. I've now been using Lumie Clear for more than 4 months and can't remember the last time I had a spot, despite eating lots of chocolate and having the 'flu this Christmas (two things that would previously have triggered a breakout). My post-acne marks have also faded much faster than they did before using Lumie Clear, which is an added bonus. I also don't have to use topical treatments or face washes any more; warm water and a cotton pad is all I need whilst using Lumie Clear (something else I could never have countenanced before), so I'm saving upwards of £60 per year on toiletries. I'm surprised that other reviewers are complaining about the inconvenience of treatment. Treating an area the size of your hand takes 15 minutes so it takes 30 minutes per day for your whole face. The fact that the device is small means that you can read or watch TV with it pressed up against your skin so it's actually a lot less restrictive than full-face lamps (which actually take 15 mins longer per day as they have to be positioned further away), and it's much easier to travel with if you need to take it on a trip with you. I can't recommend Lumie Clear highly enough. It's the only thing that has completely resolved my moderate acne and I'm so much happier and more confident now. If my Lumie Clear broke I would replace it immediately, but since the LEDS have a lifespan of 54 years (approx) I'm hoping that it will outlast my acne!
January 8, 2008
Product used: Omnilux (Light Treatment)
Pros:
None, it didn't work for me.
Cons:
It cost a lot of money and time away from work for something that made no difference, and I even got it for half price!
This is no better than buying clearasil from your local WalMart, it just costs a lot more. They told me that if I did 8 sessions within a 4 week period that it would clear up my skin and last at least 16 weeks. It made no difference at all. I wish I could find a treatment that works!
Pros:
None that I have seen so far.