Home Phototherapy for Mild/Moderate Acne

[Ruthy]

After 8 days of 15 min. phototherapy on each side of my son's face, we do see a definite improvement. His complexion is smoothing out, and he is not developing any new big cystic acne. He has a few small pimples, but not anything in comparison to what he had been suffering from previously. His derm did put him back on minocyline this past Monday, after Accutane failed for him. He's just one of those few patients that did not respond positively to Accutane. He's taking l - 400 mg. vitamin E, and l - 1000 mg. vitamin C - morning and evening also. The derm also suggested l gelcap ibuprofen morning and evening to help reduce inflammation which he'll start tonight.
We're hoping for continued improvement! Now, if there was just something to make the red spots go away faster!! I do appreciate hearing how others are doing with their phototherapy. Thank you.

[Clark]

Ruthy - What exactly are you using for your son? Above you refer to the "blue and red 150s." Can you provide the specifics and where you got them? Thanks!

[Ruthy]

Clark - I'll give you some ideas of where to search, since I cannot just state the website name of where I ordered the blue/red lights. They are dichromatic 150 watt bulbs and just look like regular floodlight bulbs, but they have a filter that alters the UV rays, so there is absolutely NO burning of the skin. So look for red & blue light phototherapy, or natural acne treatment. It's a package deal where you can get both bulbs, and believe me I checked every where and could not find a better price. This all started when I learned about the Clearlight treatments that some derms are offering, and we are not located close to a derm that offers the fairly new treatment method. It is the same concept of what the blue Clearlight does to kill the p. acne, plus the red light helps with healing. I truly believe this is what is helping my son the most, over the antibiotics. I purchased two clip-on fixtures to hold the bulbs at a farm store of all places! They are just simple fixtures that are usually used for keeping poultry warm. They also have a wire guard that fits over the bulb to prevent you from touching the bulb, or maybe breaking the bulb -- since they are kind of pricey. We clipped them on top a trifold mirror that sits on top of an antique vanity dresser that we have, and he sits under the light 15 minutes on each side of his face daily with earphones listening to Iron Maiden..... oh well, whatever works. He does use the goggles that come with the set too. Hope this helps!

[Neca]

Originally Posted by Ruthy

Now, if there was just something to make the red spots go away faster!!

This is the problem I am experiencing. The red spots/marks just won't go away full stop and my overall skin tone is not even however I have been experiencing a reasonable improvement recently. But this improvement was just thrown out of the window after I had applied tiny amounts of 2.5% B.P. one night. The next day I woke up and everywhere I had applied B.P. there were red patches.

B.P. is soooo unreliable. Sometimes it will work and improve your skin but most of the time you just get redness. I don't get it.

Anyway, Ruthy it does seem that this form of light treatment is much more effective with those who have cystic acne. I find this kind of strange because the whole principal of light treatment is aimed mainly toward mild-moderate acne suffers. I was told by the Dermalux guys that severe acne suffers might not benefit much from this treatment. Well it seems like the opposite is turning out to be true.

I do have a question regarding your son's treatment though. You say he was on Accutane but stopped as it didn't work. How long has it been since he stopped the treatment because this is what the Dermalux (U.K. company who produces this light box) faq says:

"Can I use it while taking Roaccutane?
No, Roaccutane can sensitise the skin to light so it would be unwise to use light therapy until 28 days after the course has finished."

Hopefully it has been 28 days since your son took Accutane. Remember it is an incredibly powerful antibiotic and it does increase skin's sensitivity to light. Your son is now on minocycline which can also increase the skin's sensitivity to light but not to the same extent that Accutane can. I was on minocycline a year ago and did notice this. It might be a good idea to check with your doctor/derm if using the red/blue lights in coordination with antibiotics is safe.

Also, further to Clark's question, are you using the "HappySkin"/ "Verliux" brand version of the light box? Don't worry you can list brand names, just not websites/adverts etc.

[Ruthy]

Neca - Thank you for your input. My son was on Accutane for 11 weeks, and then his derm said the extent of his cystic outbreak was just too much. We agreed totally -- his back acne however did totally clear, but his face was hardly recognizable - just horrible. I have not seen any pictures in medical studies that looked quite like his did. He is very fair complected -- so it was quite devastating for him. His dosage had only been 40 mg. every other day, and then the last week, she backed him off to 10 mg. every other day, and he just continued to break out - even inside his ears and nose.
So she stopped the accutane, put him on Cephalexin for 3-l/2 weeks, and then said he could start the minocycline. Things seem better now. I had talked to another derm in the Dallas area that has Clearlight and he had advised no Clearlight with accutane.... the treatments could not be mixed. Thank you for the tip on minocyline and light sensitivity. He was on minocycline once before and almost totally cleared and had worked outside in the sun that summer and looked great -- so hopefully we'll continue to see that kind of progress. Changing derms, starting new meds, accutane just really set him back -- in a matter of 6 months. But with everything he is doing now, hopefully by April (prom for him) -- he will look alot better. Thanks again... finding this board has been a great help -- and encouragement also.