Is Red Light Therapy Perfect for Acne Relief?

Acne is a condition in which the skin erupts in whiteheads, blackheads, cysts, papules, pustules, and nodules. Red light therapy is the use of low-energy visible and infrared light to trigger healthy responses.

The scientifically proven benefits of red light therapy for acne include:

• reduction of the number of acne bumps
• reduction in the severity of acne eruptions
• reduction in clogging of hair follicles
• reduction and elimination of P. acnes bacteria
• reduced sebum (oil)
• more even skin tone
• reduced inflammation
• SPF-15 sunscreen level of UV protection
• increased collagen and elastin
• tighter skin
• reduced sagging skin
• reduced redness
• increased blood flow to nourish tissue health

Takeaways

• Several controlled studies have had significant results in clearing acne using specific wavelengths of blue, yellow, red, and infrared light
• Red light therapy naturally reduces inflammation and redness and speeds up healing
• If you haven’t already seen it, I recommend some devices specifically for acne in my articles here: You Can Drop 80% of Your Acne in 4 Weeks Using this Device

What is Acne?

Acne is a common skin condition that occurs when hair follicles become clogged with oil and dead skin cells, and bacteria infect the skin.

The most common types of acne eruptions include:

• Whiteheads are small, round, white bumps caused by hair follicles becoming clogged with oil and dead skin cells.
• Blackheads are small, flat, black, or dark-colored bumps caused by clogged hair follicles that are exposed to air.
• Papules are small, raised, red bumps caused by inflamed hair follicles.
• Pustules are small, raised, red bumps caused by inflamed hair follicles that are filled with pus.
• Nodules are large, painful, solid bumps that develop deep under the skin.
• Cysts are tender nodules that are filled with pus.

Psychological Effects of Acne

The psychological impact of acne includes self-consciousness and social anxiety. According to a 2018 review of acne’s psychological effects, the condition can cause professional stress, private concerns, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping[i]. Stress and anxiety can lead to behaviors that make acne worse, such as skin picking. The acne can morph into post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which compounds self-consciousness and anxiety.

Acne Symptoms

Acne causes lesions and bumps including whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts. Symptoms also include tenderness, redness, and inflammation.

Acne Whiteheads

A whitehead, also known as a closed comedo, is a type of acne lesion that appears as a small, raised bump on the skin with a white or yellowish head.

It is caused by the buildup of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria in the hair follicles of the skin, which can block the opening of the follicle and cause a small, closed bump to form.

Whiteheads are typically less than 5 millimeters in size and are not inflamed or red.

They are a common type of acne and can occur on the face, neck, chest, and back.

Whiteheads can be treated with a variety of topical and oral medications, depending on the severity and duration of the acne.

Acne Blackheads

A blackhead, also known as an open comedo, is a type of acne lesion that occurs when a hair follicle becomes clogged with oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria. The clogged material oxidizes and turns black, resulting in a characteristic dark appearance.

Blackheads typically appear on the face, neck, chest, and back, and are more common in people with oily skin. They are a mild form of acne and can be treated with various topical and oral medications, as well as regular skincare practices such as gentle cleansing and exfoliation.

Acne Papules

Papules are a type of acne lesion that appears as small, raised bumps on the skin. They are typically less than 5 millimeters in size and may be pink, red, or flesh-colored.

Papules are caused by inflammation and clogging of the hair follicles in the skin, leading to the formation of a small, solid bump.

They can be painful or tender to the touch and may be accompanied by other types of acne lesions such as pustules or nodules.

Papules are a common type of acne and can occur on the face, neck, chest, and back. They can be treated with a variety of topical and oral medications, depending on the severity and duration of the acne.

Acne Pustules

Pustules are a type of acne lesion characterized by a small, raised bump on the skin that contains pus.

They often have a red base and may be painful or tender to the touch.

Pustules are typically filled with white or yellowish fluid and can occur anywhere on the body, but are most commonly found on the face, neck, chest, and back.

They are caused by inflammation and infection of the hair follicles, which can be triggered by a variety of factors including excess oil production, bacterial overgrowth, and hormonal changes.

Acne Nodules

Acne nodules are a severe form of acne lesion that typically develop deep within the skin.

Nodules are large, hard, painful bumps that can be up to several centimeters in size.

Nodules are caused by the build-up of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria within hair follicles. The immune system responds with inflammation of the skin.

Nodules can develop anywhere on the body but are most commonly found on the face, neck, chest, and back.

Unlike other types of acne lesions, nodules do not have a white or blackhead on the surface, and they do not come to a head. Instead, they are deeply embedded in the skin and can be difficult to treat.

Nodules can also lead to scarring if they are not treated properly.

Do you have acne scarring? You might want to check out the acne scarring series:

Acne Cysts

An acne cyst is a clustered of pustules[ii]. Acne cysts are a severe form of acne, characterized by large, pus-filled lesions that are deep-seated within the skin. They can be painful and may take a long time to heal. Cysts are formed when the contents of a blocked hair follicle spill out into the surrounding skin, leading to inflammation and infection. The cysts can be difficult to treat and may leave scars.

Acne Causes

According to a 2021 medical overview of acne vulgaris[iii], the disorder is caused by problems with sebum, follicles, bacteria, and inflammation.

Increased Sebum Production

Sebum is an oily, waxy substance produced by the sebaceous glands in the skin. It helps to lubricate and waterproof the skin and hair.

Increased sebum production can contribute to several symptoms of acne, including oily skin, clogged pores, and the formation of whiteheads and blackheads.

Excessive sebum production can also create an environment that is conducive to bacterial growth, which can lead to the development of inflammatory acne lesions such as pustules and cysts.

Hyperkeratinization of the Follicle

Hyperkeratinization of the follicle is a medical condition in which there is an overproduction of keratin, a protein that helps protect the skin, within the hair follicles. This can cause the follicles to become blocked, leading to the formation of whiteheads, blackheads, and other types of acne lesions.

Bacterial Colonization

Bacterial colonization refers to the process by which bacteria take up residence and multiply in a particular area of the body.

In the case of acne, the skin’s sebaceous glands can become colonized with a type of bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). This can lead to the development of inflammatory acne lesions, as the bacteria produce enzymes and other substances that can cause irritation and inflammation. Additionally, P. acnes can contribute to the formation of comedones (clogged pores) by breaking down the sebum within the follicles.

Inflammation

Inflammation is a natural response of the body’s immune system to injury or infection. It is characterized by redness, swelling, warmth, and pain in the affected area.

In the case of acne, inflammation can occur when the hair follicles become blocked with sebum and dead skin cells, leading to the formation of whiteheads, blackheads, and other types of acne lesions.

When the bacteria P. acnes colonize the follicles, they can produce substances that trigger an inflammatory response, causing redness and swelling around the affected area. Inflammatory acne lesions, such as papules, pustules, and cysts, are a result of this process.

In some cases, inflammation can also contribute to the development of acne scarring.

Acne Treatment Options

Acne treatments come in topical, oral, and physical intervention form. The information in this section was sourced from the Mayo Clinic’s page on Acne.

Topical Acne Treatments

Topical treatments include retinoids that are derived from vitamin A. Retinoids prevent hair follicles from plugging up, but do not treat the bacterial cause of acne. They can cause redness and dry skin.

Topical antibiotics can address the bacteria but don’t work well in isolation. Retinoids and antibiotics are often prescribed together.

Azelaic acid is both an acne and melasma treatment (melasma is a hormonal hyperpigmentation). This topical prevents hair follicle clogging, but not bacterial colonies. Azelaic acid can cause skin irritation.

Medical Acne Treatments

Medical acne treatments include antibiotics, contraceptives, androgen inhibitors, and Isotretinoin.

Antibiotics are photosensitive medications that cause a rash when you are exposed to the sun. They restrain the P. acnes bacteria that colonize on the skin.

Contraceptives change the estrogen profile in your body. They can prevent acne-causing processes but have a huge side effect profile. Contraceptives can cause breast cancer, cervical cancer, and cardiovascular disease.

Anti-androgens prevent hormones from triggering acne-causing processes in the skin. They can cause period and breast pain.

Isotretinoin is a derivative of vitamin A with enormous side effects and problems that include depression, birth defects, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Skin Intervention Acne Treatments

Skin interventions for acne reduction include red light therapy using blue, red, and infrared wavelengths, as well as chemical peels, drainage/extraction, and steroids.

Although the article I used to source the acne treatment information says that “further study is needed to determine the ideal method, light source, and dose,” of red light therapy for acne, the fact is that we have that information, which I will show you below. Light therapy is effective and has no side effects.

Chemical peels can give a short-term improvement in the skin’s collagen profile but do not really affect the acne processes underlying the problem.

Drainage and extraction involve the doctor draining the pimples. Extraction can cause permanent scars.

Steroid injections are therapeutic for a small subset of acne cases to reduce inflammation.

What the Science Says About Red Light Therapy for Acne Relief

Infrared, red, and blue light combined and by themselves reduce acne symptoms.

Blue light kills P. acnes bacteria. Red and infrared light stimulate collagen production and reduce inflammation.

Specifically, this is the mechanism of action that causes acne to reduce in severity and area:

• The affected skin absorbs the light energy in the mitochondria, which are where the cells make energy molecules (adenosine triphosphate, or ATP) that power repair processes
• The mitochondria signal the production of growth factors that produce new skin cells
• The mitochondria also signal the immune system to stop chronic inflammation, a key component of acne symptoms
• The light stimulates porphyrins (organic compounds) in the bacteria to release reactive oxygen species (free radicals) that also kill the P. acnes bacteria.
• The blue light kills the P. acnes bacteria colonized in the hair follicles

Taken together (literally at the same time, or alternating between the different types of light), red light therapy:

• reduction of the number of acne bumps
• reduction in the severity of acne eruptions
• reduction in clogging of hair follicles
• reduction and elimination of P. acnes bacteria
• reduced sebum (oil)
• more even skin tone
• reduced inflammation
• SPF-15 sunscreen level of UV protection
• increased collagen and elastin
• tighter skin
• reduced sagging skin
• reduced redness
• increased blood flow to nourish tissue health

Scientifically Proven Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Acne Relief

Here are just a few of many studies that successfully reduced acne symptoms using red light therapy.

Scientific Studies Using Red Light Therapy to Reduce Acne Symptoms
	Wavelength	Treatment	Results
2021	red and infrared	27 women received 6 treatments	significant drop in the sebum on the cheeks and forehead; blackheads dropped 56.5%; pustules dropped 33.3%; papules dropped 44.4%.
2016	blue light	89 subjects treated 2x week for 12 weeks	40% drop in the number of inflammatory lesions at 6 weeks; 81.6% reduction at 12 weeks.
2009	blue light	60 subjects; 30 received benzoyl peroxide 5% 2x day; 30 received blue light therapy 1x day; for 4 weeks	Benzoyl peroxide lesions dropped 31.32% but had side effects. Red light therapy had a 21.66% drop in the number of lesions, with no side effects.

 

Infrared Light Reduces Sebum and Pustules

A 2021 study of one acne reduction treated 27 women six times with infrared light[iv]. Independent observers assessed the acne before and after treatments.

Average sebum production on the forehead and cheeks dropped significantly by the third treatment and continued to drop after that.

Blackheads dropped from an average of 23 to 10; pustules dropped from an average of 12 to 8 per person; and papules dropped from an average of 9 to just 5 per person.

Blue Light Produces an 81.6% Reduction in the Number of Acne Lesions

A 2016 randomized and placebo-controlled study treated 89 people twice a week for 12 weeks with blue light therapy[v].

At 6 weeks, the was an average drop of 40% in the number of inflammatory lesions. Half the group then received another 6 weeks of treatment, achieving an 81.6% reduction in the number of lesions.

Blue Light Therapy is Equivalent to Benzoyl Peroxide without Side Effects

A 2009 study compared blue light therapy to treatment with benzoyl peroxide 5% in 60 subjects[vi]. Thirty received benzoyl peroxide twice a day, and 30 received blue light therapy once a day, each for 4 weeks.

The benzoyl peroxide group achieved a 31.32% reduction in lesions[vii], but 23% of that group complained of side effects. The blue light therapy group had a 21.66% reduction in the number of lesions, with no reported side effects.

Red and Infrared Light Reduce the Number of Lesions

A 2021 study compared red to infrared light therapy for the reduction of acne in 28 subjects.

The red light group started with an average of 27.7 pimples and finished the study with an average of 6.3.

The infrared therapy group did not have a significant drop in the number of pimples. Since other studies using infrared by itself produced excellent results, we can attribute this to the dose and not a failure of the wavelength.

Red and infrared excel at reducing inflammation. Blue light excels at reducing the number of pimples. However, blue light has some inflammatory effects; red and infrared light can reduce the number of pimples. They work best together.

Science of How Red Light Therapy Reduces Acne

By far the most satisfying mechanism of red light therapy is how it kills the Cutibacterium acne (C. acne)[viii] and Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacteria.

Blue and red light both have the capacity to kill bacterial colonies. Blue light is more effective than red[ix] light.

The light excites organic compounds in the bacteria that cause acne, causing the organic compounds to vibrate faster. The excitation creates free radicals that turn around and kill the bacteria that host them.

Bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, but not to red light therapy. The bacteria cannot become resistant to light; it has no choice but to absorb photons in their organic compounds.

Bacteria would have to evolve over eons to adapt to red and blue light therapy.

Red light therapy also reduces highly inflammatory proteins in the skin that is affected by acne.

Nitty Gritty Science of Red Light Therapy for Acne Reduction

Porphyrins in Acne

Porphyrins are a group of organic compounds. Cutibacterium acne (C. acne)[x] and Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) bacteria on the skin produce porphyrins as part of their normal metabolism.

Red and blue light absorbed in the porphyrins[xi]. The molecular excitation results in the production of singlet oxygen, a free radical that then kills the bacteria. The skin recovers when the bacterial colonies are killed.

Interleukin-1 Beta (IL-1β) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in Acne

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that plays a crucial role in the body’s immune response. It is produced in response to infection, injury, or inflammation. IL-1β is involved in acne inflammation. It can cause tissue damage and chronic inflammation.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that responds to infection and inflammation. IL-6 is involved in acne formation as well as chronic inflammatory diseases.

Red and blue light significantly reduces the levels of IL-1β and IL-6, causing acne reduction[xii].

Red light therapy causes retrograde signaling from the mitochondria that call for inflammation reduction. That mechanism might be the one that causes IL-1β and IL-6 to drop in skin affected by acne.

Conclusion

Red light therapy by itself reduces acne, and blue light is a powerful force for killing acne bacteria. Controlled studies repeatedly show that red light therapy (with or without blue light) works to reduce acne. In addition to the acne article I posted at the top, here’s another look at some acne lights: 2 ReVive Acne Relief Devices: Are They Worth It?