How Does Light Therapy Work?
Light emitting diode (LED) light therapy is growing in popularity in both in-office treatments and at home treatments. Using varying LED wavelengths, this skincare technique may help treat:
acne
reduce inflammation
Encourage anti-ageing effects
LED therapy is safe for all skin colours, and you may benefit from the treatment if you suffer with any of the problems above, but haven’t found success with any over the counter products you’ve used so far.
Sounds like magic right? Well, it’s not! Let’s break down how it works!
The treatment has quite an interesting history. The U.S. Navy SEALs initially began using it in the 1990s to help heal wounds quickly and to help regenerate damaged muscle tissues. Nowadays, It’s mainly used for increasing collagen and tissues, which can smooth out your skin and reduce the appearance of damage from things such as acne, the sun and wrinkles.
There are different frequencies and wavelengths used with LED light treatment, including red and blue light frequencies.
Red light, also known as infrared, is used for treating the outer layer of skin, the dermis. The light is absorbed by the epidermis and then collagen proteins are stimulated.
Collagen helps your skin look smoother, plumper and fuller, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Red LED light is also thought to reduce inflammation while simultaneously improving circulation, which can give you a healthier glow.
However, blue light targets the oil glands, aka the sebaceous glands, located underneath your hair follicles. These glands help lubricate your skin and hair to prevent it from getting dry. When these glands become overactive, it leads to oily skin and acne.
Blue LED light therapy can target these oil glands and make them less active, meaning fewer acne breakouts in the future. Blue light can also kill acne-causing bacteria that sits beneath the skin, which can help treat severe acne pimples, including cysts and nodules.
Oftentimes, blue LED light is used in conjunction with red LED light to:
help treat acne
decrease scarring
promote anti-inflammatory effects
Procedure
Each LED light therapy treatment lasts roughly 20 minutes. It’s advised to get up to 10 treatments total, depending on the results you’re looking to achieve.
Some technicians will ask you to lie down directly under the lights, while others use LED light-infused wands or masks that are placed directly over your skin.
LED light therapy can be used on any part of the body, however its most popular use is for the face, neck and chest.
Your provider may recommend LED light therapy if you have darker or sensitive skin. Unlike more invasive procedures such as laser therapy, LEDs don’t burn your skin.
The procedure is non-invasive and completely safe, however, If you use Accutane for acne, this increases your skin’s sensitivity to light and may cause scarring in some instances. You also might consider avoiding this treatment if you currently have an active rash. The best option is to always speak to a trained, experienced professional and let them advise you.
What to expect post-treatment
LED light therapy is noninvasive, so there is no recovery time is required. You should be able to continue with your everyday activities once your treatment is over. You may start to see minor results after your first session, however results will be more noticeable once you’ve finished all of your treatments, and results aren’t permanent.
You may lose some collagen and start to see signs of aging again. You may also start to see acne breakouts. It’s recommended that you go back for maintenance treatments every few months or as recommended by your technician.
Here at Aspire Beauty and Aesthetics, located in Hounslow, we offer a series of treatments that cater to a plethora of concerns. We offer laser hair removal, lip and face fillers, facials for skin care and much more to help you with your self care journey! Don’t hesitate to contact us today or book in a consultation.