Recommended Products: Photons Flex, Photons Mask, Photons Steamer, Photons Shell
Acne is a common dermatological condition which causes pimples to appear on the surface level of the skin, commonly affecting the face, chest, and back. Buildup of excess oil, bacteria, or dead skin cells in the sebaceous glands, or oil glands, can cause red, puss filled bumps. Despite chronic acne affecting 80% of the population, flare ups and breakouts can cause self-consciousness and stress due to skin discoloration, unevenness, and potential scarring. Many at-home treatments for acne are unreliable and can worsen the breakout before it gets better. This is because removing the bacteria, oil, and dead skin from glands is more about the health and care of underlying layers of tissue, not just picking and treating pimples on the surface.
Blackheads are a common variation of acne, often found on the nose, chin, and forehead. Named after their appearance, they appear as tiny black dots on the surface of the skin. The skin’s pore gets clogged due to excess oil and dead skin cells. Due to their position within the skin’s gland, blackheads are extremely difficult to remove without further damaging the skin’s integrity, making them a constant obstacle in achieving smooth and clear skin. Whiteheads are also caused by oil and bacteria building up beneath the skin, but a thin layer of skin remains, covering the clogged gland. The common solution is to pop whiteheads using your fingers, but oftentimes, this introduces more bacteria into the gland and increases inflammation and irritation, worsening the breakout. Many individuals suffering from cystic acne are also familiar with cysts and nodules, which embed deep into the inner layers of the skin. They are often large bumps filled with pus, and can leave scars if treated improperly.
Treatments to fight acne come in many different forms, some commonly found in drug stores such as masks, creams, and peels to higher end solutions found in salons such as facials, laser treatments, and extractions. Difficulty arises in determining which treatments and ingredients are best for fighting each unique case of acne while not drying out or causing adverse side effects to the rest of the face, neck, or back. Products such as peels, lasers, or extractions can initially show an improvement in the appearance in acne, but can often damage the epidermis and disrupt the natural protective oils of the skin, resulting in long term damage to skin texture and health. Prescribed acne fighting treatments have also emerged as a common last stage defense against unrelenting acne breakouts. These solutions often have drastic effects and improvements, but can be paired with drastic side effects such as dehydration, skin irritation, and muscle aches. Similarly, it is important to be aware of each ingredient used in over-the-counter facial masks, serums, and washes. While it is important to have a clean face, some products include common skin irritants and toxins such as parabens, phthalates, and sulfates. Natural products that cleanse the skin while maintaining hormonal balance are ideal for cleansing out the dead skin and oil that can clog the sebaceous glands and cause acne breakouts.
Blue light therapy introduces an effective acne-fighting and prevention treatment with little to no downtime or side-effects following treatment sessions. The blue light penetrates the layers of the epidermis, targeting P. acnes, a bacteria that causes breakouts and rough patches of skin that are often painful and difficult to treat. The blue light rays target and minimize acne without any picking, peeling, or squeezing, keeping the surrounding skin intact and healthy. Additionally, the blue light utilizes the skin’s own healing and revitalizing mechanisms to produce healthy, acne free pores without disrupting any natural bodily or hormonal processes. After killing the bacteria, your glands are able to reduce in size and relax, reducing redness and inflammation.
Our Photons Collection provides many different LED light therapy options to help combat acne, all in the convenience of your own home. The Photons Mask can directly target the face and can be comfortably worn while relaxing at home. The Photons Plus and Photons Shell come equipped with all four wavelengths of LED light therapy and can target large sections of the body. For a more compact and versatile option, the Photons Flex can bend to fit any limb or joint in the body. If you are looking to combine the benefits of a spa with LED therapy, the Photons Steamer provides steam to open the pores as the LED light penetrates the skin, heightening the effects of the acne fighting blue light.
Cleveland Clinic Medical Professional. “Acne: Treatment, Types, Causes & Prevention.” Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, 1 Sept. 2020.
Sorbellini, Elisabetta, et al. “Photodynamic and Photobiological Effects of Light-Emitting Diode (Led) Therapy in Dermatological Disease: An Update.” Lasers in Medical Science, Springer London, 14 July 2018.
