You must know about red light therapy, what about blue light therapy? What do you know about that? Is it a derivative of red light? What does it have to do with red light? No worry, this guide provides all the answers.
Quick Answers for Commonly Asked Questions
Can I use bulbs/LED strips/heat lamps to get the benefits of blue light?
Not all bulbs, LED strips, or heat lamps are safe for therapeutic use. Although they might emit blue light, their wavelengths are inconsistent and may not be within the desired range of 400nm-495nm for beneficial blue light therapy. If you are looking for a targeted benefit, like better mood or treating skin conditions, it is best to use devices specifically designed for light therapy.
Are all blue lights the same?
Not all blue lights are the same. Depending on the source, blue light has different wavelengths, intensities, and purposes. Typically, the therapeutic blue light operates at around 460nm, which is different from the blue light emitted by screens or regular LEDs. Meanwhile, the blue light emitted by screens or fluorescent bulbs is different and can lead to side effects like disrupted sleep or eye strain.
Definition of Blue Light Therapy
Blue light is a high energy, short wavelength part of the visible spectrum, with wavelengths from 400 to 495 nanometers (nm). Besides the sun, you get blue light from screens, LEDs, and other lighting systems.
The blue spectrum plays an important role in regulating your circadian rhythms, alertness, and mood[1]. The specific effect of blue light on your physiology depends on the wavelength and intensity. Literature suggests that a wavelength of 460nm produces the most beneficial effects, including improving your skin health and mental focus [2, 3].
Science Behind Blue Light
Blue light therapy works by sending light into your skin that interacts with chromophores, light-sensitive molecules in the cells [4].
The light of this wavelength targets the mitochondria in your cells, making them more efficient and encouraging natural healing [5]. It’s a scientifically proven, noninvasive approach to treating various physical and mental health issues [6].
Treatment Applications
Blue light therapy can treat many conditions, mainly in dermatology and mental health. It effectively treats acne by killing Propionibacterium acnes bacteria [7].
It also helps control your circadian rhythm, which can help people dealing with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or insomnia [8].
In addition, blue light is investigated for its potential to aid wound healing and pain-relieving as a versatile tool for both medical and cosmetic treatments [9].
Benefits of Blue Light Therapy
The main effect of blue light is reflected in anti-inflammatory. When combined with red light or other lights, they can improve skin health, support oral health, and relieve eczema and even reduce pain.
Oral Health
You can have a marked improvement in your oral health by combining blue light with red light.
Blue light at 460nm is antibacterial and helps kill harmful oral bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis, which is linked to gum disease and bad breath [9]. Red light, especially at 660nm, on the other hand, exerts an anti-inflammatory effect and stimulates tissue regeneration [10].
Such dual therapy is especially beneficial after a dental procedure like a deep cleaning or gum surgery. The antibacterial effect of blue light combined with the anti-inflammatory effect of red light can speed up recovery and improve oral hygiene.
Studies also show that regular use of blue and red light therapy might also improve the health of your gums by preventing plaque formation [11].
Reducing Acne
Blue light treatment (at 460nm) is scientifically proven to reduce mild to moderate acne. The blue light targets bacteria in your skin called Propionibacterium acnes, which causes breakouts. The light damages the bacterial cell membrane by inducing a series of chemical reactions [12].
When you combine this blue light with near-infrared light of wavelength 850nm, the therapy penetrates deeper into your skin, reducing inflammation and promoting collagen synthesis [13].
The combination of red and blue light treatment targets any existing acne on your skin and might also reduce scarring from future breakouts.
Local Eczema
Blue light attacks inflammatory pathways in your skin, decreasing redness, itching, and swelling often linked with eczema [14].
Blue light of wavelengths in the 450–470nm range can suppress your immune responses, which makes the condition worse while promoting skin barrier repair [15].
Light therapy with blue light is especially good at targeting smaller areas of your skin, like patches on the hands or elbows. It is a simple-to-use, noninvasive alternative to topical corticosteroids, which often cause side effects.
Depending on the severity of your condition, you might see an improvement in your skin health in 2–4 weeks.
Is Blue Light Therapy Safe?
Generally, blue light therapy is safe and non-invasive, but it’s not without a few risks. Therapeutic devices to deliver specific wavelengths are very safe to use, but overexposure or misuse may result in incidents.
Improper or extended exposure to blue light can lead to some mild side effects, including:
- Redness or irritation in sensitive skin areas
- Dryness, especially if you're not using a moisturizing skincare routine
- Eye irritation if protective goggles are not worn
Considerations for Safe Use
- Use a high-quality device that operates in the optimal therapeutic wavelength range of 460nm
- Avoid blue light treatments if you have photosensitive conditions or if you take medications that may increase photosensitivity
- Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines regarding intensity and session duration
How to Use Blue Light Effectively
To maximize the benefits of blue light therapy, it’s crucial to follow a guided regimen.
- Start Small: Begin with shorter sessions to see how your skin reacts.Typically, we would recommend starting with 3 minutes. Keep an eye on the area of use. If there is no discomfort then continue or increase the dosage.
- Opt for Combination Therapy: Pairing blue light withother color light, like red or NIR light. In addition to this, care also needs to be taken to regulate lifestyle and diet to maximize results.
- Keep using: As a non-invasive physical therapy, light therapy may not work as fast as some chemical therapies, and results are usually seen within a week. However, we highly recommend sticking with it for a longer period of time to witness the best results!
- Choose the right light products: If you want to use it on a large range of body parts, the large size panel light will be better; but if you are using it on some small areas like oral, it will be more convenient to use a small hand-held device.
Conclusion
When combined with red light or near-infrared (NIR), blue light therapy offers a powerful, synergistic approach to treating skin conditions. The combination enhances treatment outcomes by addressing multiple layers of the skin, from surface-level bacteria elimination to deeper tissue repair and inflammation reduction.
By using complementary wavelengths, this dual approach minimizes potential side effects and allows for greater customization to target specific skin concerns effectively. Whether treating acne, eczema, or general skin rejuvenation, incorporating blue and red light therapies together ensures a more holistic and efficient treatment.
References
- Tosini, G., Ferguson, I., & Tsubota, K. (2016). Effects of blue light on the circadian system and eye physiology. Molecular vision, 22, 61–72. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4734149/
- Sadowska, M., Narbutt, J., & Lesiak, A. (2021). Blue Light in Dermatology. Life (Basel, Switzerland), 11(7), 670. https://doi.org/10.3390/life11070670
- Killgore, W. D. S., Dailey, N. S., Raikes, A. C., Vanuk, J. R., Taylor, E., & Alkozei, A. (2020). Blue light exposure enhances neural efficiency of the task positive network during a cognitive interference task. Neuroscience letters, 735, 135242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2020.135242
- Hernández-Bule, M. L., Naharro-Rodríguez, J., Bacci, S., & Fernández-Guarino, M. (2024). Unlocking the Power of Light on the Skin: A Comprehensive Review on Photobiomodulation. International journal of molecular sciences, 25(8), 4483. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084483
- Lee, J. S., Park, H. J., Kang, S. O., Lee, S. H., & Lee, C. K. (2024). The effects of light emitting diodes on mitochondrial function and cellular viability of M-1 cell and mouse CD1 brain cortex neurons. PloS one, 19(8), e0306656. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0306656
- Strong, R. E., Marchant, B. K., Reimherr, F. W., Williams, E., Soni, P., & Mestas, R. (2009). Narrow-band blue-light treatment of seasonal affective disorder in adults and the influence of additional nonseasonal symptoms. Depression and anxiety, 26(3), 273–278. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.20538
- Li, D., Fang, P., Liu, H., Chen, L., Fu, Y., Liu, J., Xie, B., Liu, Y., Ye, H., & Gu, P. (2022). The Clinical Effect of Blue Light Therapy on Patients with Delayed Sleep-Wake Phase Disorder. Nature and science of sleep, 14, 75–82. https://doi.org/10.2147/NSS.S344616
- Reuss, A. M., Groos, D., Scholl, R., Schröter, M., & Maihöfner, C. (2021). Blue-light treatment reduces spontaneous and evoked pain in a human experimental pain model. Pain reports, 6(4), e968. https://doi.org/10.1097/PR9.0000000000000968
- Leanse, L. G., Dos Anjos, C., Mushtaq, S., & Dai, T. (2022). Antimicrobial blue light: A 'Magic Bullet' for the 21st century and beyond? Advanced drug delivery reviews, 180, 114057. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2021.114057
- Ferraresi, C., Huang, Y. Y., & Hamblin, M. R. (2016). Photobiomodulation in human muscle tissue: an advantage in sports performance? Journal of biophotonics, 9(11-12), 1273–1299. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbio.201600176
- Ichinose-Tsuno, A., Aoki, A., Takeuchi, Y., Kirikae, T., Shimbo, T., Lee, M. C., Yoshino, F., Maruoka, Y., Itoh, T., Ishikawa, I., & Izumi, Y. (2014). Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy suppresses dental plaque formation in healthy adults: a randomized controlled clinical trial. BMC oral health, 14, 152. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6831-14-152
- Dai, T., Gupta, A., Murray, C. K., Vrahas, M. S., Tegos, G. P., & Hamblin, M. R. (2012). Blue light for infectious diseases: Propionibacterium acnes, Helicobacter pylori, and beyond?. Drug resistance updates : reviews and commentaries in antimicrobial and anticancer chemotherapy, 15(4), 223–236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drup.2012.07.001
- Li, W. H., Seo, I., Kim, B., Fassih, A., Southall, M. D., & Parsa, R. (2021). Low-level red plus near infrared lights combination induces expressions of collagen and elastin in human skin in vitro. International journal of cosmetic science, 43(3), 311–320. https://doi.org/10.1111/ics.12698
- Sadowska, M., Narbutt, J., Nolberczak, D., Ciążyńska, M., Skibińska, M., Sobolewska-Sztychny, D., Aubert, D., & Lesiak, A. (2024). Prospective Clinical Study: Full-Body Blue Irradiation in the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis. Dermatology and therapy, 14(9), 2631–2643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13555-024-01248-3
- Kromer, C., Nühnen, V. P., Pfützner, W., Pfeiffer, S., Laubach, H. J., Boehncke, W. H., Liebmann, J., Born, M., Schön, M. P., & Buhl, T. (2019). Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis Using a Full-Body Blue Light Device (AD-Blue): Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR research protocols, 8(1), e11911. https://doi.org/10.2196/11911