BLU-U® Blue Light Therapy

What is BLU-U® Blue Light Therapy?

BLU-U® light is a unique high intensity blue light that is a promising treatment for acne and precancerous lesions.

For acne: The BLU-U® takes advantage of the fact that the Propionibacterium (P. acnes) bacteria naturally makes a porphyrin (light-sensitive chemical). The blue light activates this chemical which selectively kills the P. acnes bacteria. BLU-U® can also be used in conjunction to other acne regimens.

What areas are treated with Laser Hair Removal/Reduction?
Lip, chin, cheek, neck, underarm, arm, leg, bikini line, back and chest.

• For actinic keratoses: The BLU-U® is used in combination with a topical medication called Levulan for the treatment of actinic keratoses (AK’s). Actinic keratoses are pre-cancerous, scaly, rough lesions that occur as a result of sun damage. When many actinic keratoses are present, it often makes more sense to treat the entire affected area with something like Photodynamic Therapy as opposed to just spot treating multiple small areas with cryotherapy or topical therapies.
• Levulan (Aminolevulinic acid 20%): A naturally occurring photosensitizing compound which has been approved by the FDA to treat pre-cancerous skin lesions called actinic keratoses. Levulan is applied to the skin and is activated by specific wavelengths of light. This process is called Photodynamic Therapy (PDT). BLU-U® light in conjunction with Levulan (Photodynamic Therapy) is an excellent treatment for actinic keratoses.

Who is BLU-U® Blue Light Therapy for?
For anyone with any skin type having trouble with acne that is hard to control and are seeking an alternative to medication or antibiotics or as an adjunct to their current acne regimen.

For patients with minimally to moderately thick actinic keratosis who do not want to have cryotherapy or use topical therapies.

What areas are treated with BLU-U® Blue Light Therapy?
The BLU-U® can be used to treat both acne and actinic keratosis on the face and scalp.

What kind of results should I expect?

• A decrease in acne breakouts.
• A decrease or elimination of the actinic keratosis.

How long does the procedure take?
Treatments for acne using BLU-U® light alone are simple. You simply sit with your face close to the blue light for about 15-17 minutes wearing protective eye goggles. The treatment is very safe. It is not hot or painful at all. Treatments should be done once or twice a week for up to 5 weeks at a time.

Treatments for actinic keratoses are somewhat more involved because you will need to sit from 60 to 90 minutes with Levulan on the area being treated prior to being placed in front of the blue light for 17 minutes for a total of 1 ½ hours of actual procedure time.

How long before results can be seen?
After several weeks, improvement of the acne can be seen but may require additional maintenance treatments to sustain results.

The treatment effects are temporary and should completely resolve by 4 weeks after treatment. However, depending on the amount and extinct of the sun damage depends on if additional treatments are necessary.

How long does BLU-U® Blue Light Therapy last for?
For acne, treatments are typically repeated weekly to twice weekly for several weeks until optimal results are achieved. Some patients experience an improvement of their acne for several months. However, maintenance treatments are often recommended to sustain results. The number of treatments needed to reach optimal results may vary depending on the severity of the acne.

For actinic keratoses, it depends on the extinct and amount of sun damage a patient has had over their life time. The effects of Blue Light can last for months to years.

What does the procedure feel like?
Acne treatments are simple, the patient sits with their face close to the light for approximately 17 minutes. The procedure is noninvasive and pain-free. Once the treatment is done, patients can return to their daily routine.

For treatment of actinic keratosis, the skin will be thoroughly cleansed with Acetone before the Levulan (photosensitizing drug) is applied. This removes the oil from the skin enabling the skin to absorb the drug more readily. Then the Levulan is applied to the entire surface of the treated skin. The skin is then given generally an hour to penetrate the skin. The area is then treated with the blue light for approximately 17 minutes. During the procedure, a burning sensation on the treated skin can be felt, which can be alleviated by cold air or fans.

What is the recovery time for BLU-U® Blue Light Therapy?
The patient treated for acne may experience stinging or burning during your BLU-U® treatment, but this should lessen in about 1 minute to 24 hours after the BLU-U® is turned off.

Following treatment, your skin may become red, swollen and become scaly for a few days and up to a week or so depending on the severity of the sun damage you have. These effects are temporary and should completely resolve by 4 weeks after treatment. It is important to keep the treated area protected from light for 48 hours after the procedure because the Levulan medication remains active for 48 hours and exposure to light can result in a burn. Patients should avoid going out in the sun during this time if they can, but if they can’t avoid being outside, wear long sleeves and pants, a brimmed hat and a scarf, and thick zinc-oxide-based sunblock is recommended.

What are the side effects?
The patient treated for acne may experience skin redness, irritation and peeling as well as mild discomfort that feels like a sunburn.

Following treatment of actinic keratoses, the skin may become red, swollen and become scaly for a few days and up to a week or so depending on the severity of the sun damage you have.

What Is The Cost Of Blue Light Therapy In Zionsville and Carmel?
The price of blue light therapy varies for each person depending on the extent of treatment necessary. Booth Dermatology & Cosmetic Care Center of Zionsville and Carmel accepts CareCredit® financing options that work with every budget! Please speak to our concierge team for more information.

How Do I Get Started?
Dr. Sally A. Booth and her staff will be happy to discuss the details with you. Please feel free to call for a private consultation at one of our offices in Carmel or Zionsville. Dr. Booth and her staff at Booth Dermatology & Cosmetic Care Center provide personalized care to residents of Zionsville and Carmel with state-of-the-art technology for optimal health, aesthetics, and patient satisfaction. To receive more information or schedule a consultation, call (317) 848-2427 to speak with our friendly staff.