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Acne, a problem for you?  Feeling 'blue'?

Red, spotty face? Spotty back, not pleasant for unfortunate sufferers.

Acne, caused by a hormone imbalance and bacteria, is often treated with antibiotics; antibiotics which are becoming increasingly ineffective in the late 20th century.

Acne vulgaris is one of the most common and resistant skin conditions to affect humans. Indeed, regardless of skin type, lifestyle or cleanliness, approximately 80% of the population will suffer from acne at some point in their lives, with a staggering 70% of adolescents developing acne. Yet many sufferers fail to respond adequately to current treatment options and/or develop problematic side effects. In addition, the cost and duration of acne treatment with topical applications and oral antibiotics make standard therapy far from ideal.

Acne usually starts in adolescents as an affect of hormonal changes, however, acne can also start in people in their 20's and 30's. Acne is the result of the obstruction and inflammation of the sebaceous gland. The obstruction of the glands' openings causes the accumulation of sebum, which is inevitably followed by a build up of bacterial population, or more specifically Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). As part of the process, P. acnes attract inflammatory cells, which cause the red and painful expression of acne. These inflamed pustules can lead to permanent scarring.

Researchers at Hammersmith Hospital in London have now developed a new, effective treatment for acne, without the use of antibiotics or UV rays from sunlight.

Dr. Tony Chu, consultant dermatologist at Hammersmith Hospital, has discovered that regular sessions with a special kind of light treatment, a combination of blue and red light, can radically improve the number of (visible) spots in mild to moderate acne sufferers.

The discovery was revealed in the July 2000 issue of the British Journal of Dermatology. The treatment was subjected to a small random controlled trial of 150 patients some years ago. Patients sit in front of a light box, which emits red and blue light, 15 minutes a day for 12 weeks. The study showed a 76% improvement in the number of visible spots (inflammatory lesions) after just 12 weeks, which was statistically significant when compared to placebo (in which a harmless substance is given as medicine). It seems that the blue light kills the bacteria causing the spots, while the red light aids the healing process. 

Dr. Tony Chu, who has developed this treatment is concerned about the growing levels of resistance to antibiotics used for treatment of acne and the side effect profile of Roaccutane, a different, very potent treatment, which is usually reserved for severe, persistent acne. He is keen to increase the treatment options for patients with acne.

While UV rays in natural sunlight can help clear up acne, they also harm the skin. Other forms of light with higher wavelengths, however, can help treat acne in a similar way but without causing damage. Both the blue and red lights have higher wavelengths than ultraviolet sun and, possess different properties. The blue light is visible and peaks at 415nm (nanometers), while the red light peaks at 660nm. The study was the first ever to compare this mixture of blue and red light treatment against benzoyl peroxide, the most commonly used antibiotic for acne.

If you are interested in this type of healing, suitable lamps are now available, and you could visit  this site to find out more: http://www.best-vacuum.com/verliux_happyskin.html