Sunlight can improve skin care in the short-term. However, recent studies have shown that exposure to sunlight worsens acne in the long-term [citation needed]. More recently, visible light treatments (phototherapy) have successfully treated mild acne--in particular intense violet light (405-420nm) generated by purpose-built fluorescent lighting, dichroic bulbs, LEDs or lasers. Used twice weekly, this procedure resulted in a reduction of the number of acne lesions by about 64 percent. Studies show that this treatment is even more effective when applied daily. Scientifically speaking, the method of violet light treatment is effective because porphyrin (Coproporphyrin III), produced within P. acnes, generates free radicals when irradiated by 420nm and shorter wavelengths of light. Over the course of a few days, these free radicals ultimately kill the bacteria they spawned from. Since porphyrins are not otherwise present in skin, and the UV light applied is safe in its spectrum, this treatment is safe and licensed by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The ultra violet treatment works even better with red visible light (660nm) resulting in a 76 percent reduction of lesions after three months of daily treatment for 80 percent of patients. The overall skin clearing was similar or better than benzoyl peroxide. Unlike most of the other treatments, there are few if any negative side effects to this treatment and a development of bacterial resistance seems very unlikely. After treatment, a patient can achieve clear skin with topical or oral antibiotic treatments. The equipment or treatment, however, is relatively new and expensive, although the total cost of ownership may outweigh other costs (such as the total cost of benzoyl peroxide, moisturizer, and washes) over a couple of years.

More Resources

Health Care Provider

  A health care provider is an individual or an institution that provides preventive, curative, promotional or rehabilitative health care services in a systematic way to individuals, families or communities. An individual health care provider (also known as a health worker) may be a health care professional, an allied health professional, a community health worker, or another person trained and knowledgeable in medicine, nursing or other allied health professions, or public/community health. Institutions (also known as health facilities) include hospitals, clinics, primary care centers and other service delivery points. The practice of health professionals and operation of health care institutions is typically regulated by national or state/provincial authorities through appropriate regulatory bodies for purposes of quality assurance. Together, they form part of an overall health care system. A hospital is an institution for health care typically providing specialized treatment for inpatient (or overnight) stays. Some hospitals primarily admit patients suffering from a specific disease or affection, or are reserved for the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting a specific age group. Others have a mandate that expands beyond offering dominantly curative and rehabilitative care services to include promotional, preventive and educational roles as part of a primary health care approach. Today, hospitals are usually funded by the state, health organizations (for profit or non-profit), by health insurances or by charities and by donations. Historically, however, they were often founded and funded by religious orders or charitable individuals and leaders. Hospitals are nowadays staffed by professionally trained doctors, nurses, paramedical clinicians, etc., whereas in history, this work was usually done by the founding religious orders or by volunteers. Health care practitioners includes physicians (including general practitioners and specialists), dentists, physician assistants, nurses (including advanced practice registered nurses), midwives, pharmacists, dietitians, therapists, psychologists, chiropractors, clinical officers, and phlebotomists. Therapist Include: physical therapists, respiratory therapists, occupational therapists, audiologists, speech pathologists, optometrists, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, medical laboratory technicians, medical prosthetic technicians, radiographers, social workers, and a wide variety of other human resources trained to provide some type of health care service. They often work in hospitals, health care centers and other service delivery points, but also in academic training, research and administration. Some provide care and treatment services for patients in private homes. Many countries have a large number of community health workers who work outside of formal health care institutions. Managers of health care services, medical records and health information technicians, and other assistive personnel and support workers are also considered a vital part of health care teams. Medical nursing homes, including residential treatment centers and geriatric care facilities, are health care institutions which have accommodation facilities and which engage in providing short-term or long-term medical treatment of a general or specialized nature not performed by hospitals to inpatients with any of a wide variety of medical conditions. McLeod Addictive Disease Center Concord Hope Valley Inc Elmore Blackley Fellowship Home Harvest House Tri County Community Health Alternative Integrated Methods Health Se BAART Community Healthcare Caring Hearts Counseling Services Ctr for Adol Sub Use Trt (CAST) Duke Chi Duke Family Care Program Durham Treatment Center Easter Seals UCP NC and VA El Futuro Inc First Step Services Freedom House Recovery Center Durham Acc Freedom House Recovery Center Francis St Freedom House Recovery Center Transition Full Potential Behavioral Healthcare Healing with CAARE Inc Parriss and Associate Resource Center TROSA Transitional House TROSA Triangle Residential Options For S VisionQuest Nonprofit Corp (SAIOP)Subst Life Changes Counseling Life Changes DWI Integrated Family Services P Pathways Counseling Center Alternative Care Treatment Systems Cardinal Clinic Carolina Treatment Center Fayetteville Cumberland County CommuniCare Fayetteville VAMC Haymount Inst for Psychological Servs Metro Treatment of North Carolina LP Fay Peterkin and Associates Huggs Moore Hous Raintree Clinic Roxie Avenue Center Substance Abuse Serv Trust The Process Inc Family Mental Health PA Mental Health Professional Division MYR Meridian Behavioral Health Services Southlight Inc Warren Counseling Services Jennifer McLu Carolinas Psychiatric Association Christ Flynn Fellowship Home of Gastonia Inc Insights in Recovery McLeod Addictive Disease Center Gastonia New Beginnings of Gaston County Outreach Management Services Self Concepts Clinical Counseling Inc Sunpath Turning Point Behavioral Health Group ATS of North Carolina Carolina Treatment Department of Corrections DART Cherry Fa Family Works Psychological Center Tranquility Counseling Services Waynesboro Family Clinic Life Changes Counseling A CDM Assesment and Counseling of Guilfo Alcohol and Drug Services ADS East Al Con Counseling ASAP Residential Treatment Youth Focus Behavioral Health Center Cornerstone Psychological Services D R E A M S Treatment Services Inc Family Service of the Piedmont Fellowship Hall Freedom House Greensboro Greensboro Metro Treatment Center Hope Street Group Home Marys House Piedmont Counseling Services Recovery Resources Greensboro Ringer Center TRC Counseling Triad Psychiatric and Counseling Center UNA Psychological and Psycotherapy Assoc Carolina Compreh Psychiatric Services Carter Behavioral Health Services Cascade Behavior Treatment Service Inc Choices SA MH Inc Dixon Social Interactive Services Grace G Johnston MSW LCSW LCAS Greenville Psychiatric Associates Winsto Greenville Recovery Center (GRC) PORT Human Services Adolescent Substance PORT Human Services Adult Program PORT Human Services Facility Based Crisi PORT Human Services Methadone IV Program PORT Human Services Restart Inc Side by Side Counseling Walter B Jones Alcohol and Drug Abuse Tr Addiction Recovery Center for Men Back On Track Intensive Outpatient Treat Carolina Behavioral Health Family Preservation Services of North Ca Genesis Substance Abuse Services Prodigious Health Services Recovery Innovations of NC Recovery Response Center ARP Crossroads