Procedure | Non-Surgical
Blu-u-blue Light
also known as Blue Light or Blu-U is a state-of-the-art system in photofacial therapy. The blue light system delivers painless light of blue color that greatly enhances the results of your skin rejuvenation. Levulan (5-Amino Levulinic Acid) is a medication that is applied to the skin. This medication makes acne-causing bacteria and precancerous sun spots more sensitive to the Blu-U (Blue Light) treatments.* The therapy uses a combination of photosynthesizing (or light-sensitive) drugs and a high-intensity natural light source to activate them and is considered a safe treatment.
Blue light therapy can only treat areas that the light can reach. So it’s typically used to treat conditions present on, or just underneath, the surface of the skin.
In office setting, the room will be darkened. If they’re using photosynthesizing drugs, they’ll apply the medication topically, directly to the area being treated. The medication may need to be on the skin for a couple of hours up to a couple of days, to be absorbed.
You’ll be advised to stay out of the sunlight and other bright light, protect your skin, and stay indoors as much as possible while the medication is on.
During the session, you simply sit with your face close to the light for a short time with goggles to protect your eyes. Treatment sessions can be anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes long.
Immediately following treatment, the area may be red, swollen, tender, and mildly bruised or blistered, especially when medication has been applied to the skin. The treated area may crust over or peel, but this is considered normal. Most people heal within 7 days, and the crusting resolves within 3 to 14 days.
If light-sensitive drugs are used for photodynamic therapy, as is the case in most cases, your skin will be very sensitive to light for several weeks after the procedure. Try to avoid bright, direct sunlight, though fluorescent lights are fine. Sunscreens won’t be effective, because they protect from UV light and not photosensitivity reactions.
Most people heal within 7 days, and the crusting resolves within 3 to 14 days.
Blue light therapy is an effective treatment for skin conditions when used repeatedly and maintenance. Some condition may take:
• One to four treatments for actinic keratosis (precancerous sun spots), with annual maintenance.
• Four to six treatments for acne, with maintenance appointments every six months.
The biggest risk is for a potential skin infection if any post-treatment blisters occur and are popped or not cared for.
Swelling in the area of treatment, for example, can cause trouble breathing. If you experience these symptoms, seek emergency medical attention.
