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
January 11, 2008
Product used: Verilux (ClearWave Light Therapy Acne Treatment System)
Cons:
If you're very sensitive to bright light, this might not be for you. Sitting in front of it for 15 minutes sometimes gives me a headache, but the results are worth some temporary head pain!
My story is different from the majority of people's on acne.org. I suffer horribly from acne dysmorphia. From birth to age 18, I had pristine skin. When I turned 19, not only did I begin to get horrible breakouts, but checking the mirror hundreds of times a day became my obsession. Sometimes I would lock myself in the bathroom for HOURS and mutilate my face thinking that it would make everything better. Of course, that's part of the disorder, and only made everything worse. I went to countless dermatologists and therapists who were all a waste of money. The therapists always looked at me and told me that they couldn't see anything bad about my face, but I told them that I had become brilliant at covering up my mess. Dermatologists didn't know what to do with me because I would always ruin my "progress" by picking. This light prevents my blemishes from getting to a point where I want to squeeze the pain out. It has also evened my skin tone. Now I use this instead of mutilating my face.
January 6, 2007
Product used: ClearLight Acne Treatment
Pros:
I had mild to moderate acne, lots of little ones that would leave a lasting scar behind. I used the clearlight for 2 weeks twice a week and my skin looks amazing. I would recommend this to anyone.
Cons:
none
Using harsh topicals is what contributed to my acne problem. With the clear light, it took care of my active pimples, and prevented new ones, as well as regulating my sebum production. Which allowed me to use a gentle cleanser on my face, not one full of salicylic or glycolic acid to help with the acne. I think that everyone needs to have their hormones checked to see if there is an imbalance or even food allergies. For women, try different birth control. The doctors that offer these treatments really do care about their patients, and from the studies, clear light really does work, their not scamming you. It worked for me and I have super sensitive skin. Try it.
September 13, 2008
Product used: Verilux (ClearWave Light Therapy Acne Treatment System)
Pros:
Cheaper then dermatologist sessions.
You sit in front of it for 15 minutes and can have "me" time. No effort if you're lazy!
Cons:
It says it'll take 3 months to see results.
With all the products I use I can't determine if it really works but it obviously does something because I sat too close to it and it burned my face for a couple days!
In the end it's still using blue and red light therapy which is known to help acne.
It was 200 dollars and you HAVE to be consistent.
It's only 15 minutes a day and I think the people who rated it so low expected clear skin in a day.
September 8, 2008
Product used: Verilux (ClearWave Light Therapy Acne Treatment System)
Pros:
clears acne, doesn't dry skin, well worth the expensive price tag!
Cons:
the price is pretty hefty (£180!!), and the thing is pretty bulky, so can't really be moved around easily
i didnt actually get the Verilux one, but i got the one from beautyskin (which uses the same technology). at the start i didnt use it that consistently, but after about 2/3 weeks i started using it once a day for the recommended 15 mins, and now, 2 months on, my skin is 95% clear (and my acne was pretty bad), and hopefully in a couple of weeks i will be spot free. however, if your planning on buying the lamp, make sure that u give it 2 months - at beauty skin there is a 2 month guarentee (the only reason i parted with the cash in the first place!). if you are intersted, definately give it a go - it might be wat your looking for.
August 28, 2007
Product used: Omnilux (Light Treatment)
Pros:
none
Cons:
very expensive and my skins still coming out in big sore spots!
I paid a lot of money for two omnilux lights a week for 4 weeks to get no result! Id been having alpha-beta peels also (at £55 a peel which I had a course of 6 and continue having one a month!) which is supposed to increase the effectiveness of the light treatment. Im at my wits end - spent a fortune and still seriously suffering from acne. Contemplating laser now!
August 24, 2015
Product used: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
PLEASE READ THIS AND RESPOND
Does it work? I'm thinking about treating with this laser, and I'm not entirely sure its positive effects. I read mixed reviews here and elsewhere, and I am very scared !. I would say that practically suffer from severe acne, I went to 3 dermatologists and have tomadod different pills and creams, including doxycycline, monoxiclina, Tetralysal, benzoyl peroxide, Differin, among others. Including some natural remedies, some helped me but didn ´t saw significant changes. I suffered from acne for several years and I'm 19, and I definitely want to solve this problem!
August 24, 2015
I apologize for the bad writing, my native language is not English
August 24, 2015
I apologize for the bad writing, my native language is not English
October 8, 2008
Product used: Verilux (ClearWave Light Therapy Acne Treatment System)
Pros:
Zero
Cons:
This product is a joke. I tried it for 2 months. Nothing.
Don't waste your time or money. I don't know where the positive reviews came from, must have been from the vendor. I completely agree with the reviewer that feels stupid trying this thing - and hoping it was going to help. It didn't.
March 22, 2008
Product used: Verilux (ClearWave Light Therapy Acne Treatment System)
Pros:
None
Cons:
It simply had no effect. I'm not sure what else I could have done to make it work (I followed the directions and used it everyday).
Don't waste your money. I have no idea how this thing got ranked so high. Snake Oil anyone?
January 13, 2015
Product used: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
uk bournemouth
After my allergic reaction to roaccutane and suffering for 5years gradually getting worse, I decided to give this a go as a last resort.
I first met the at the clinic to discuss the procedure and the effectiveness and was told it would clear the acne and reduce scaring over 8-10 weeks. also that i had to purchase £100 worth of creams. which I felt was a bit of a scam to be honest. considering the treatment was a £1000. The treatment was uncomfortable, slightly painful at times.
I found no benefits at all, if anything It aged my skin considerably and the cost was horrendous.
I then tried another form of roaccutane 10 months later and that had stopped my acne for 6 months completely. now 10 months on i get the odd couple here and there.
save your money!!!
March 14, 2017
Product used: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
Painful but DOES work!! 8/10.
IPL acne treatment (went once every 2 weeks). I hate my freckles, acne and has some new (never had before) red flat acne scars. I had 2 sessions of IPL laser facial (AKA Skin Rejuvination). She set it on a setting that would be anti bacterial and also reduce sun damage (freckles). It certainly got rid of ALL of my flat red acne scars. It also really really improved the loads of under the skin pimples (I'd say about 80% helped them). I didn't see any difference in the freckles but that was the least of my skin problems tbh. Maybe if I had more sessions it would have started to target them. It is quite painful to have done, and I've had IPL hair removal, tattoos, piercings etc. I'd say pain level is about 8/10 (maybe just because i'm freckily). It did definitely reduce the large, painful acne cysts around my jawline, however it didn't really prevent them from coming again,it just treated the ones that were currently there. But the clusters of under skin pimples it got rid of them and prevented new ones. I had to stop after the 2nd session as I am now pregnant. I am now having Red Light Therapy which is not painful, much cheaper, but obviously less effective. Nice effect after 1st treatment and going for another one today (once a week). Will 100% go back to the IPL treatment after I've had the baby. Think it really does work and worth the money (varies from £75- £150 depending on where you go).
Pros:
This works. End of story. A must have for skin-pickers who are obsessive about it.