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Acne is a chronic inflammatory disease of the sebaceous hair follicles. Each follicle contains a tiny hair and
multiple sebaceous glands. Under normal circumstances, sebum, the oily substance made by the sebaceous glands, travels up
the hair follicle and out to the skin's surface. However, with acne, sebum is trapped within the follicles and skin bacteria
multiples within the clogged pores. Acne develops on those areas of the skin were sebaceous glands are most numerous;
the face, scalp, neck, chest, back and upper arms and shoulders. Acne typically begins in adolescence, although onset in the
twenties or thirties is common. One approach to treatment acne is to target the bacteria that produces the inflammation
associated with acne known as Propionobacterium Acnes, or P. acnes. P. Acnes releases porphyrins, which are naturally
occurring molecules in the body. When porphyrins absorb certain wavelengths of light free radicals damage is produced
which destroys the bacteria.
Studies show that porphyrins absorb light best in the blue wavelength range, by combining anitbacterial and anti-inflammatory
activity, and that the blue phototherapy is an effective and safe treatment for acne. In the study two 30 minute treatments
a week for period of 3 to 4 weeks produced a 60 percent reduction in acne in 80 percent of patients.
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