By Rebecca Barnes
Our skin faces an onslaught of different light sources on a regular basis, whether it’s from our devices, phones or UV rays emitted from sunlight. But how detrimental can light be, and how does LED light therapy work to benefit various skin concerns? Jane Saint, Skin Expert at BEAUTYPRO, tells us more."Light can affect our skin in a variety of ways, but the main issues include causing oxidative stress leading to accelerated ageing, eye strain and discomfort from prolonged exposure in close range, and sleep disruption through melatonin disruption, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep.
Natural sunlight, also known as UV light, is closely associated with skin impact due to prolonged exposure leading to skin damage, premature ageing, wrinkles, pigmentation, sunburn and increased risk of skin cancer. Prolonged exposure to UV isn't just about how long you spend in the sun at one time, as UV exposure accumulates skin damage over time, which is why it's important to protect the skin with sunscreen daily.
Blue light, also known as HEV (high-energy visible light) light from our computers, phones and TV's has been shown to penetrate deeper into the skin and may contribute to skin ageing, hyperpigmentation and acne. Blue light may also stimulate photo-ageing and over time lead to skin discolouration, inflammation and a weakened skin surface.
Easy to use, non invasive and with no downtime, LED light therapy is a measured science to enhance intracellular activity in the layers of the skin, stimulating collagen production and enhancing cellular renewal. Each colour has a different light length measured in nano millimetres to target different concerns.
- Red Light (630nm): Boosts collagen and elastin production, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, and enhances skin elasticity.
- Blue Light (470nm): Targets acne-causing bacteria to reduce breakouts and calm inflammation.
- Purple Light (420nm): Combats inflammation, reduces redness, and helps brighten dull skin.
- Yellow Light (590nm): Improves circulation, reduces redness, and detoxifies the skin.
- Infrared Light (850nm): Penetrates deeper layers of the skin to promote healing, reduce inflammation, and stimulate cell regeneration.
How LED light therapy can benefit skin
- Stimulates collagen production: Red light boosts collagen synthesis, helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles and improve overall skin texture.
- Fights acne: Blue light penetrates the skin’s surface to kill acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation.
- Evens skin tone: Purple light reduces redness, combats inflammation, and improves overall brightness.
- Calms irritation: Yellow light soothes redness and promotes calming sensitive or inflamed skin.
- Accelerates healing: Infrared light aids in tissue repair and reduces the appearance of scars.
LED light therapy is a powerful addition to any skincare routine, offering a range of benefits for every skin type—some of the many devices include BEAUTYPRO PHOTON LED Mask and LED Wand 5 in 1 Anti-Ageing Device. The benefits of red light therapy are more successful with consistent, long term use; you can usually expect to see benefits within two weeks.
These short term results are likely to be related to cosmetic improvements such as a more even skin tone, while we can expect more significant results to be achieved after a longer period of time, with changes to skin texture and a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles visible after 4-6 weeks of regular use. When looking at hair LED treatments, you will usually start to see an improvement after 12 weeks."
