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BBL for Acne: How to Banish Adult Breakouts For Good

November 12, 2018

Are you struggling with acne and haven’t found a treatment that works for you? It’s time to consider BroadBand Light (BBL) – and I’ll tell you why.

By: Kaitlyn, NP

Why BBL for acne?

Acne is one of the most commonly seen and treated skin conditions in our MedSpa. Many people struggling with acne feel like they’re alone, but this isn’t the case at all. In fact, there are over 60 million acne cases every single year. Out of that, 90% have self-esteem issues, with 30% avoiding social activities because their acne is so severe.

Unfortunately, I think people are just so accustomed to acne being an issue and have accepted it as a part of puberty and other hormonal changes. Acne, however, is not “normal” and there are endless treatment options. You don’t have to suffer with this if you truly want to clear up your breakouts. I not only treat acne, but aim to determine the cause of it.

BBL is an incredible treatment for acne. If you have acne, you have probably tried many over-the-counter products. You’ve probably had light peels and facials – and they’re not quite working for you.

BBL stands for BroadBand Light. It’s very similar to IPL, which is Intense Pulse Light, an older version of BBL.

How does BBL for acne work?

BBL for acne (and oily skin) works by:

  • Targeting and destroying p. acnes bacteria on the skin that cause breakouts.
  • Reducing redness from active lesions. A lot of time with breakouts you can have what’s called inflammatory breakouts. This is the redness around the lesion. BBL light targets this to help minimize it and clear out your complexion.
  • Lightening the appearance of scars. Over 20% of acne breakouts will cause scars. BroadBand Light stimulates collagen to lighten the redness or pink scar there.

What can I expect during treatment?

When you come in for a BroadBand Light treatment, the first thing we’re going to do is clean your face and apply clear ultrasound jelly. The BBL device is then used to pulse light across your face, doing multiple passes. I highly believe the best results come from a customized treatment, so a variety of settings will be used to best suit your skin conditions.

When the light pulses into your skin, it feels very warm and can be just a little prickly in sensitive areas such as the upper lip and cheeks. 

Another benefit to having BBL is there’s no downtime. Your skin is going to look a little sunburnt pink, but makeup can be applied immediately after if you desire. 

Should I start with BBL or something lighter?

There are a lot of different types of acne and everyone is in their own stage. If you are new to the game and haven’t really tried other treatments, I highly suggest starting with lighter treatments such as the HydraFacial or a Facial Peel.

If you have been trying treatments for a long time and aren’t achieving the results you desire, it’s time to give BBL a chance. BBL is effective because it’s not only killing bacteria that causes your breakouts, it’s also reducing the appearance of breakouts and helping your skin heal from light acne scars.

Is there anything else I can do to help control my acne?

Investing in quality treatments and products that are going to produce results are the best management tools you can have. I know it’s very easy to purchase those cheaper products or treatments, but when you add up all of the money you’ve spent on them, you could have probably used that same money towards higher-quality skin care. Try your best to avoid harmful ingredients in your products.

Can I get a consultation first? I’m just not sure if it’s right for me yet.

Of course! All of our skin care consultations are complimentary. We work with you to develop a plan that will best treat your skin conditions and fits your budget. Either Alison, our Esthetician, or myself will walk you through our Visia Facial Analysis system, whose in-depth photos will show you exactly what lies beneath the surface (such as UV damage and redness).

We’ll then discuss your skin type, goals, and what treatments we think will help clear up your skin and give it a natural, radiant glow.

Ready to come chat with us? You can book your appointment by calling us at 513-791-9474 or filling out our online form to give us a brief look at your health history to make sure there are no contraindications. We look forward to helping you restore your shine!