Welke lichttherapie is het beste voor acnelittekens?

Combination therapy using both blue and red LED light is often considered best. ^{1 2} Blue light tackles active acne bacteria to prevent new scars, while red light promotes healing, reduces inflammation, and stimulates collagen to improve the appearance of existing scars. ^{3 4}

Light therapy can visibly diminish the look of acne scars.

As veterans in the LED light therapy game for over 15 years at REDDOT LED, we've seen the data and the results. Deciding which light works best depends on understanding how they interact with your skin and the specific type of scarring you have. Let's shed some light on the specifics.

What type of light therapy is good for acne scars?

Feeling lost in the spectrum of light therapies advertised for acne scars? It's confusing trying to figure out which color or type actually makes a difference for those lingering marks.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) therapy, specifically using red light wavelengths (around 630-660nm) and sometimes blue light (around 415nm), is considered beneficial for acne scars. ^{1 4} Red light aids healing and collagen remodeling, while blue light helps manage active acne, preventing future scarring. ²

Not all light is created equal when it comes to skin repair. The effectiveness hinges on the specific wavelength and its ability to interact with skin cells involved in healing and inflammation.

How LEDs Target Acne Scars

• Red Light (Healing & Collagen): This is the MVP for existing scars. Red light penetrates deeper into the skin, reaching the dermis. ⁴ There, it stimulates fibroblasts – the cells responsible for producing ⁴ . Increased collagen helps rebuild the damaged skin structure from within, potentially smoothing out certain types of scars (especially atrophic or depressed scars) over time. ³ It also has potent anti-inflammatory effects, crucial for reducing the redness (post-inflammatory erythema or PIE) often associated with fresh acne scars. ²
• Blue Light (Prevention): Blue light works more superficially, targeting and killing Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), the primary bacteria implicated in acne breakouts. ^{1 5} By controlling active acne, blue light plays a crucial role in preventing the formation of new scars. Fewer breakouts mean fewer chances for scarring to occur.
• Scar Types: It's important to note that light therapy is generally most effective for discoloration (red or brown marks) and mild textural irregularities. ³ Deep ice pick, boxcar, or raised (hypertrophic/keloid) scars often require more intensive treatments like lasers or microneedling, though light therapy can be a valuable complementary treatment. ⁶

At REDDOT LED, our devices, manufactured under strict ISO 13485 standards and holding MDSAP/FDA/CE certifications, deliver these clinically relevant wavelengths precisely.

Is red or blue light therapy better for acne scars?

Caught between red and blue light for your acne scars? It's a common point of confusion, as both are frequently mentioned in relation to acne treatment. Let's clarify which one takes the lead for scar improvement.
Red light therapy is generally better for improving the appearance of existing acne scars. ^{3 4} Its strength lies in stimulating collagen production and reducing inflammation/redness. Blue light excels at preventing new scars by treating active acne. ^{1 5}

Red targets existing scar structure; blue targets active acne bacteria.

Think of it this way: blue light is your defense, stopping new scar formation at the source (active breakouts), while red light is your offense, actively working to repair and fade the marks left behind.

Why Red Takes the Lead for Scars:

• Deeper Penetration: Red light wavelengths (630-660nm) travel deeper into the skin than blue light (around 415nm). Scarring often involves damage extending into the dermis, where collagen production occurs. Red light reaches these deeper layers to stimulate fibroblasts effectively. ⁴
• Collagen Synthesis: The primary mechanism for improving textural scars (like shallow depressions) is rebuilding collagen. Red light is scientifically recognized for boosting this process. ³
• Anti-inflammatory Action: Many acne "scars" are initially red marks (Post-Inflammatory Erythema – PIE). Red light's proven anti-inflammatory effects help calm this redness, making scars less noticeable faster. ²

The Power of Combination:

While red light is better for the scars themselves, the best approach often involves both. Why? Because ongoing acne leads to new scars. Using blue light to manage breakouts alongside red light to heal existing marks provides a comprehensive strategy. ² Many high-quality devices, including customizable options from REDDOT LED, offer both red and blue light settings for this reason. Some protocols even incorporate Near-Infrared (NIR) light for potentially deeper healing support. ⁴

What color light helps acne scars?

Scanning through LED device options reveals a rainbow of colors. If targeting acne scars specifically, which color should you prioritize amidst the marketing noise?

Red light is the primary color recognized for helping improve the appearance of acne scars due to its healing, anti-inflammatory, and collagen-boosting properties. Blue light is crucial for preventing new scars by managing active acne. ⁵

Focus on red for scar healing, blue for acne prevention.

While various colors are sometimes mentioned, the bulk of scientific evidence for acne scar improvement centers around red light, with blue light playing a critical preventative role.

Color Breakdown for Acne Scars:

• Red Light (Approx. 630-660nm): The workhorse for scar improvement.
  • Mechanism: Stimulates fibroblasts, increases collagen production, reduces inflammation, promotes circulation and healing. ^{3 4}
  • Effect: Helps fade red marks (PIE), may improve mild textural irregularities over time. ^{2 3}
• Blue Light (Approx. 415nm): The prevention specialist.
  • Mechanism: Kills C. acnes bacteria on the skin surface. ^{1 5}
  • Effect: Reduces active acne breakouts, thereby preventing the formation of new scars.
• Green Light (Approx. 525nm): Sometimes mentioned for hyperpigmentation (brown marks or Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation – PIH) left after acne. ⁷
  • Mechanism: Targets melanocytes, the cells producing pigment.
  • Effect: May help fade brown spots, but evidence specifically for scar structure improvement is less robust than for red light. Its role is more about the discoloration aspect of PIH.

For directly addressing the healing and structural aspects of scarring, red light remains the most evidence-based LED color choice. At REDDOT LED, we focus on delivering these proven wavelengths and can customize combinations based on specific B2B or ODM requirements.

Does UV light help with acne scars?

You might have heard old tales about sunlight helping acne or scars. But does UV light actually benefit acne scars, or could it be doing more harm than good? Let's set the record straight.

Absolutely not. UV (ultraviolet) light is harmful and does not help acne scars. It damages skin cells, increases skin cancer risk, accelerates aging, and can actually worsen hyperpigmentation, making scars darker and more prominent. ⁸

UV light damages skin and worsens scar appearance.

This is a critical point to understand: therapeutic LED light is completely different from UV light found in sunlight or tanning beds.

Why UV Light is Bad News for Scars (and Skin):

• DNA Damage & Skin Cancer: UV radiation (UVA and UVB) directly damages the DNA in skin cells, significantly increasing the risk of skin cancers like melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. ⁹
• Worsening Hyperpigmentation: Scars, especially newer ones, are prone to darkening (Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation – PIH) when exposed to UV light. ⁸ A tan might temporarily camouflage redness, but it often leads to stubborn brown marks in the scars themselves.
• Collagen Degradation & Aging: Chronic UV exposure breaks down collagen and elastin, the very proteins needed for scar healing and youthful skin. ⁹ It accelerates skin aging, leading to more wrinkles and leathery texture.
• Inflammation: While a tan might look "healing" to some, UV exposure is inherently inflammatory, which can hinder the scar remodeling process.

LED vs. UV: A Crucial Distinction

• LED Therapy: Uses specific, narrow wavelengths of visible (like red, blue) or near-infrared light. These wavelengths are chosen for their therapeutic cellular interactions (like stimulating mitochondria or killing bacteria) without causing the DNA damage associated with UV light. ⁴ It's non-thermal and non-damaging when used correctly.
• UV Light: Invisible, high-energy radiation that causes cellular damage.

Never expose acne scars (or any skin) to excessive UV light hoping for improvement. Always use broad-spectrum sunscreen, especially on scarred areas. Stick to proven, safe technologies like LED therapy from certified manufacturers like REDDOT LED.

Which LED light is best for acne?

We've talked a lot about scars, but what about tackling the root cause – active acne itself? Which LED light is the champion when it comes to clearing up current breakouts?

Blue LED light (around 415nm) is considered the best for directly targeting active acne. It works by killing the C. acnes bacteria responsible for many breakouts. Combining blue with red light is often the most effective approach. ²

While scarring is the aftermath, managing active acne is key to preventing future marks. Blue light therapy offers a non-invasive, drug-free option for this.

How Blue Light Fights Acne:

• Targeting C. acnes: The Cutibacterium acnes bacteria naturally lives in pores. In acne-prone individuals, it can multiply excessively, contributing to inflammation and breakouts.
• Porphyrin Activation: C. acnes produces natural compounds called porphyrins. When blue light hits these porphyrins, it excites them, causing them to produce singlet oxygen (a type of free radical). ⁵
• Bacterial Death: This singlet oxygen is toxic to the C. acnes bacteria, effectively killing them off without harming surrounding skin tissue. ⁵

The Blue + Red Synergy:

While blue light kills the bacteria, it doesn't do much for the inflammation and redness that accompany pimples. This is where red light comes in:

• Red Light's Role: Reduces inflammation, promotes healing, and may help reduce sebum production in some individuals. ²
• Combined Effect: Using blue and red light together tackles acne from two angles: killing the bacteria et calming the inflammation. ² This often leads to faster clearance of breakouts and reduced redness compared to using blue light alone.

Devices like those from REDDOT LED, offering both blue and red light modes, provide this comprehensive approach, aligning with clinical findings for optimal acne management.

What is the best treatment for acne scars?

Knowing light therapy's role is great, but how does it stack up against other options? What's truly considered the best way to tackle those persistent acne scars?

There's no single "best" treatment; the optimal approach depends heavily on the type, depth, and age of your scars, plus your skin type. ¹⁰ Often, a combination of therapies tailored by a dermatologist yields the best results. LED therapy is a valuable tool, especially for redness and mild texture. ³

Multiple treatments exist; the best depends on scar type.

Acne scars are diverse, ranging from flat discoloration to deep pits or raised tissue. Effective treatment requires matching the therapy to the specific scar morphology.

Common Professional Acne Scar Treatments:

• Laser Resurfacing (Ablative & Non-Ablative): Uses focused light beams to remove outer skin layers (ablative) or heat the dermis to stimulate collagen (non-ablative). Effective for various scar types, especially textural issues.
• Microneedling: Creates controlled micro-injuries using fine needles, triggering the skin's natural wound healing response and boosting collagen production. Good for atrophic (depressed) scars. ⁶
• Chemical Peels: Apply chemical solutions to exfoliate the skin, removing damaged outer layers and promoting regeneration. Varying depths target different scar severities. ¹⁰
• Dermal Fillers: Injected substances (like hyaluronic acid) to temporarily plump up and raise depressed scars, making them level with surrounding skin. Best for certain types of atrophic scars.
• Subcision: A minor surgical procedure where a needle is inserted under the skin to break fibrous bands that tether down depressed scars, allowing them to rise.

Where LED Therapy Fits In:

• Post-Inflammatory Erythema (PIE): Red light therapy is excellent for reducing the red marks left after acne clears.
• Mild Texture Issues: Consistent red light use can improve mild textural irregularities by promoting collagen.
• Adjunct Therapy: LEDs can be used alongside other treatments to reduce inflammation, enhance healing, and improve overall skin health. ¹
• Prevention: Blue light helps control active acne and prevents new scars. ⁵

Conclusion

Red light therapy stands out for improving existing acne scars, particularly redness and mild texture, by boosting healing and collagen. Blue light is key for preventing new scars and targeting active acne. Often, combining them yields the best results. Remember, UV light is harmful , and severe scars typically require professional treatments , where LED therapy can serve as a valuable supporting tool.

References