Contrary to popular belief, breakouts don’t discriminate by age. Here’s how LED light therapy can help address your acne at its source, no matter what stage your skin is in, or how it’s evolving over time. All the goodness, none of the harsh stuff.
Just when you thought life was getting ready to cut you a break – along comes adult acne. Sadly, it’s more common than most women realise, and for many, it pops up (no pun intended) right as our anti-aging conversations start to kick-off. What’s even more frustrating than the breakouts themselves is that the cycle of treatments we think are helping can actually dry our skin and irritate it even more. Thankfully, LED light therapy provides a non-invasive and pain-free solution for when you need something that works beneath the surface of the skin to treat the root cause acne in the first place. Keep reading to learn more.
Why, oh why, acne happens to begin with
Acne develops when the sebaceous glands produce excess oil. This builds up and clogs your pores, which can lead to a bacterium called Cutibacterium acnes. This spreads and then triggers inflammation, and the breakouts are just the cherry on top that follow. It’s important to understand this part of the process as it helps to explain why so many surface-level treatments only go so far. The bacterial activity that drives your breakouts is happening deeper within the skin – not on that top layer.
What LED light therapy actually does
If you’re a fan of us here at Trudermal, you’ll know by now that LED is a well-established and pain-free treatment for the skin that uses targeted wavelengths of light to stimulate the skin’s natural healing and repair responses. Different wavelengths reach different depths, and each triggers a distinct biological process. For acne, there are three wavelengths that are most relevant.
Blue light (465nm): This targets C. acnes bacteria directly – the bacteria that naturally produces compounds called porphyrins. Blue light causes these to generate free radicals, which destroys the bacteria. At the same time, blue light reduces sebaceous gland activity, which can address the excess oil production that sets up the conditions for breakouts. Clinical studies have shown that a combo of blue and red LED phototherapy can produce a significant reduction in mean acne lesion count, which is why this wavelength pairing has become the standard in both clinical and at-home LED devices. Read more about how LED works here.
Red light (633nm): This penetrates deeper into the skin to reduce inflammation, calm redness, and support the skin’s healing process. For adult acne, this is where much of the repair work actually happens.
Near infrared light (850nm): This option goes even further – working at a subcutaneous level to reduce inflammation and support cellular repair. It also plays a role in reactivating mitochondrial function, the cellular processes responsible for skin repair and renewal that can become impaired by stress, pollution, and UV exposure over periods of time.
Three modes not to sleep on
The Trudermal GLOW LED Light Therapy Face Mask combines all three wavelengths across three targeted treatment modes, each designed around a specific stage of acne.
Anti-acne mode pairs blue and near infrared to neutralise bacteria, reduce sebaceous gland activity, and begin the wound-healing process. this is the starting point if you have an active breakout.
Acne repair mode however combines blue and red light to reduce oil production, eliminate bacteria and address inflammation. This mode is great for adult acne, where skin rejuvenation is also a priority alongside clearing breakouts.
Finally, cell rejuvenation mode uses red and near-infrared wavelengths to stimulate fibroblast cells and increase collagen production, supporting the repair of post-acne texture and redness that can linger long after breakouts resolve.
Using the mask three to four times per week and you’ll start seeing results around the six-week mark. The key here is consistency. Best of all, the mask is suitable for all skin types – just not those with photosensitive conditions or on medications that cause light sensitivity.
Keep in mind
LED light therapy is not a single-session fix. You’ll need to keep using it consistently to see results. While it won’t address the root cause of hormonal acne, for mild to moderate breakouts or persistent congestion on the skin, it can be a well-supported option that works alongside your existing routine. No compromising your skin barrier necessary.
