Do IPL and BBL Treatments Work for Acne-Prone Skin?
When you hear of intense pulse light (IPL), you probably think of laser hair removal. And when you think about broadband light (BBL) therapy, you most likely think about photorejuvenation. While it’s true that those are what IPL and BBL are most known for, did you know that these techniques also work for acne?
IPL and BBL Explained
To appreciate how IPL and BBL can help treat acne, you need to understand how each works. IPL and BBL are not two entirely different technologies. BBL is actually an enhanced form of IPL. BBL is an FDA and Health Canada-approved procedure intended to treat skin conditions such as sun damage, age spots, small veins, and even acne.
How Effective is BBL in Treating Acne?
Acne is caused by several factors, ranging from hormonal imbalance to sebaceous glands producing excessive amounts of sebum. When hair follicle pores become blocked, the plugged follicles become inflamed and result in the red bumps and cysts that we know as acne. The reason why BBL can be effective at treating acne is that it targets the sources – the bacteria that causes the inflammation and the sebaceous gland that may overproduce sebum or oil. With BBL, a highly controlled pulsed infrared and visible light energy heats the upper layers of the target area. BBL has shorter wavelengths in its blue-light spectrum, which attacks the acne-causing bacteria on the skin’s surface and in the sebaceous gland. The BBL device will be used to take a second pass at the skin, but this time using a yellow filter which reduces redness. The last filter on the BBL device is used to minimize oil production by reducing sebaceous gland activity. Depending on your treatment, another infrared light may be used to trigger your body’s natural healing process, targeting deep acne lesions. This means that BBL is also used to treat existing acne scars. Because the technology was also meant to increase the production of collagen, which is a protein that the body uses to repair wounded skin – it can reduce visible acne marks.“
I’ve been to CüR relatively frequently to help with my Acne and scarring with Alina, and everyone there has been nothing but courteous and helpful! Alina makes you feel at ease by explaining everything thoroughly, and when she makes recommendations she lays everything out with no pressure. CüR is fantastic, and I’ll continue recommending them to my friends.
What to Expect After BBL Treatment
