Light therapy treatment has been used since the early 1990s and is a standard treatment for many health issues including pain management and hair loss. Not only is light a proven treatment for health concerns, but it has also been shown to have many advantages for the skin, like promoting cell turnover and enhancing skin tone.
In recent years, light therapy for skin has made significant advancements, including the evolution of several light varieties to address unique skin concerns. Ready to try light therapy for yourself? Keep reading to learn all about blue and red light therapy, which is best for you, and how to seamlessly add light therapy to your existing skin routine.
What Is LED Light Therapy?
LED light, or light-emitting diode, is a type of light that can penetrate different layers of the skin.
How Does It Work?
Different wavelengths of light (represented by different light colors) interact with fibroblasts in the skin and the sebaceous glands. By interacting with skin cells, LED light therapy can produce effective results. Red light therapy is believed to interact with fibroblasts, whereas blue light therapy minimizes sebaceous, or oil gland, activity.
What Can It Do?
In terms of skin treatment, LED therapy is used for many skin conditions. It can be used to treat the following:
- Blemishes
- Sun damage (dark spots)
- Uneven skin texture and skin tone
- Lines and wrinkles
Although there are numerous different types of light, we’ll focus on the benefits of red LED light and blue LED light therapy.
What Is Blue Light Therapy?
Blue light, emitted from the sun and devices like computers and smartphones, is often brought up in discussions about eye care. Too much blue light exposure to the eyes can cause eye strain and tension headaches.
Blue light therapy uses a different form of blue light - not the same kind that comes from screens. This form of blue light can be beneficial when used on the skin. This is because blue light affects the uppermost layer of skin, also known as the epidermis. Most often, blue light is used as a method of helping rid the skin of breakouts caused by too much oil production in the sebaceous glands.
Blue light has also been shown to help ease sun damage. Dark spots, also known as sunspots, are a form of photodamage caused by exposure to the sun without sunscreen or other sun protection.
Who Should Use Blue Light Therapy?
Anyone can use blue light therapy, but remember it is only effective on the skin’s surface. Because the skin's surface is often covered with dead skin cells, you must exfoliate the skin before treatment. It’s also important to remember that not all types of breakouts will respond to blue light therapy, and sun damage that extends past the uppermost layer of the skin will need a different form of LED therapy.
What Is Red Light Therapy?
Red light and near-infrared light are wavelengths that penetrate your skin deepest. These light treatments extend beyond the epidermis, reaching deeper layers of your skin and providing more resounding skin cell support.
Red light therapy, or “RTL,” is used in dermatology to deal with skin concerns that typically require invasive techniques. By using LED light therapy devices, it’s possible to address concerns that once required surgical intervention or the use of abrasive peels.
What Does Red Light Therapy Do?
Each cell in your body is powered by its mitochondria. Mitochondria act as your cells' batteries, powering them to perform their specific cellular function. In the skin, these functions include:
- Supporting the creation of collagen, a skin protein that keeps the skin plump, firm, and youthful looking. A loss of collagen can create dark hollows beneath the eyes, create fine lines, and make skin look less smooth and plump.
- Creating elastin, another skin protein that helps give skin its shape and keeps skin contoured.
- Supporting the production of new skin cells. Cell turnover keeps skin looking healthy and rejuvenated.
Our cells begin to slow down with age, which means less collagen production, less elastin, and a slower skin cell turnover. Red light therapy supports the mitochondria in the skin cells, helping them to function appropriately and power your cells to do their jobs.
Who Should Use Red Light Therapy?
While red and blue light therapy address different skin concerns, red light therapy is the perfect solution for skin rejuvenation without invasive treatment.
You can consider red light therapy for:
- Tightening and firming skin appearance
- Improving skin texture and tone
- Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
The best news? You don’t need to schedule an appointment with your dermatologist or aesthetician to harness the power of LED light therapy. Instead, you can get the benefits in just minutes a day right in your home.
How To Add LED Light Therapy to Your Skincare Routine
LED therapy is considered safe for home use and is not associated with side effects. The NuFACE LED Red Light Wrinkle Reducer Attachment for TRINITY+ or Trinity Devices is a simple way to add light therapy to your skincare routine.
The Wrinkle Reducer Attachment reduces fine full-face lines and wrinkles in just 3 minutes per treatment area with a precise combination of red, infrared, and amber lights.
Light Up Your Skincare
Light therapy helps change skin behavior by interacting with skin cells and sebaceous glands. By supporting skin cells, you can treat fine lines and wrinkles. Red light therapy, specifically, can reach deep layers of the skin and help support the skin’s ability to maintain collagen and elastin production, creating a youthful appearance.
Sources:
LED Light Therapy: How It Works, Colors, Benefits & Risks | My Cleveland Clinic.org
LED lights: Are they a cure for your skin woes? | Harvard Health
Aging changes in the skin: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia | Medlineplus.gov
