But what actually is LED light therapy, and could it help your skin woes?
“Suitable for almost all skin types, LED facials help to supercharge other treatments and reduce recovery time making it the perfect add-on,” says EV Expert and Aesthetic Skin Specialist, Balsam Alabassi. “But, you can also use it on its own to youth-boost, calm and clear skin too."
Interested? Read on to find out more…
What is LED light therapy?
Discovered in 1903, LED (Light-Emitting Diodes) light therapy, or photo therapy as it was known, was mainly for pain management and other chronic muscular-skeletal conditions. NASA even used red light therapy to improve the cellular function of their astronauts. But it wasn’t until the 1980s, that scientists found that cosmetic conditions also improved under the use of red and near infrared light. LED blue light however, is a very recent invention and has only been around for the past seven years.In the beauty world, LED light therapy is a pain-free, non-invasive skin treatment that exposes skin to various different coloured lights. Each coloured light has a different wavelength and therefore penetrates into your skin at varying depths, to produce a range of results.
What colour do I need?
The main colours used in LED therapy include Red, Blue, Yellow and Infrared...Red light increases blood circulation and stimulates cellular activity, including the fibro blasts that produce collagen and makes skin look plump. This means it’s excellent for skin renewal and minimising fine lines and wrinkles. It is also helpful in alleviating acne scars, treating allergic dermatitis, rosacea and boosting the actives in topical beauty skincare.
Blue light is best for killing acne-causing bacteria (propionibacterium acnes), inhibiting sebaceous glands and preventing wound infections. Blue light also slows down the overactive production of skin cells and suppresses certain immune cells meaning that it can help calm allergic skin and help with conditions such as psoriasis and eczema.
Yellow, which is sometimes referred to as Amber, is great for treating skin redness and reducing skin swelling. It works by stimulating the lymphatic system to remove toxins and this aids in the rejuvenation process within your cells.
Near-Infrared (NIR), which is colourless, also reduces redness and inflammation in the skin. It’s a great option for reducing pigmentation damage and speeding up wound healing. This is all because NIR light penetrates deeper into the skin to improve the mitochondrial functioning of a cell. NIR wavelengths, therefore, have the ability to activate antioxidant molecules that sweep up free radicals and support cell repair.
The colours can be used in combination or separately. And, while there’s been a sharp increase in the number of LED masks now available for home use, in-clinic LED therapy treatments remain unquestionable more powerful and produce better results. This is because, not only can a practitioner precisely evaluate and recommend the most efficient light combination for your skin, but in-clinic equipment can guarantee that the correct wavelength is being used.
How often should have LED light therapy?
Promising results such as these, it’d be tempting to be using LED light therapy each day, but our experts warn against that.“A course of 5-10 sessions, depending on the area targeted, is recommended with maintenance needed every 6-12 months,” says EV Expert and Clinical Director of Ashley Aesthetics, Dr Emmaline Ashley.
If you’re using an at-home mask, then Alabassi adds: “Only use it twice a week for 15-20 minutes.”