If you’re a skincare lover, you’ve likely seen red light therapy devices and masks while scrolling Instagram, and for good reason; red light therapy is proven to be effective for smoothing lines and wrinkles. Board-certified dermatologists and expert aestheticians have trusted LED red light therapy for decades to address signs of aging and improve skin appearance. In recent years, consumer brands have harnessed this technology, making it easy to use from home.
Here’s a closer look at how LED red light therapy enhances skin, kinds of red light therapy, and how to find the best red light device for your unique skin need.
How Do Skin Cells Work?
Skin cells are constantly renewing. New skin cells are created in the deepest layers of your skin and are pushed to the epidermis, or the topmost layer of skin, where they are eventually sloughed or exfoliated away. Complete cell turnover takes about 28 to 30 days in young adults but slows to 45 to 50 days in older adults.
When skin cell turnover slows down with age, the skin will appear dull, rough, or flaky. Additionally, when cell turnover slows down, it takes longer for scars and wounds to heal, and fine lines and wrinkles become more pronounced. This is why skin loses it’s smooth appearance with age, and lines and wrinkles form on the skin’s surface.
In addition to slowing cell turnover, collagen and elastin production slows dramatically with age. Collagen and elastin are responsible for skin remaining plump and elastic. Beginning around age 20, collagen and elastin production slows, and we start to lose existing stores of collagen and elastin. A decrease in both proteins can cause the skin to sag and look less contoured and youthful. This may result in sagging jowls, drooping under the eyes, and overall looser skin.
Red light therapy is an effective, non-invasive, and pain-free way to treat these signs of aging and help to increase cell turnover and the production of collagen and elastin.
What Is Light Therapy?
Light therapy was initially discovered by NASA. The scientists at NASA harnessed the power of LED (light-emitting diodes) to grow plants and feed astronauts while in space. The technology was so successful, that it has since been developed for numerous other benefits— including skin care.
How Does Light Therapy Work?
Light therapy, or photobiomodulation therapy (PBM), works by using different wavelengths of different colored light to increase the speed, quality, and strength of some cellular processes. For example, skin cells react when exposed to red and near-infrared light.
The mitochondria inside our skin cells begin to excite when exposed to these light sources, which supports the rate at which they produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This is the energy compound your cells need to carry out cellular functions— and support for a cellular function also means support for cellular energy.
What Are the Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Skin?
Remember that with age, skin naturally loses collagen production and elastin, and cell turnover slows down. Red light therapy increases cell turnover and helps to increase the production of collagen and elastin, which can effectively minimize signs of aging and keep our skin youthful.
Red light therapy devices help keep your skin looking plump and firm for an overall youthful appearance, even as you age. Red light therapy can work to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, two main signs of aging that can appear on your skin over time.
How To Add Red Light Therapy to Your Skincare Routine
The best part about red light therapy is that you can do it right in your home. At-home devices make it possible to achieve your desired results without a trip to a dermatologist or aesthetician.
NuFACE skin tools are unique. NuFACE Trinity and TRINITY+ Facial Toning Devices have interchangeable Microcurrent and LED Red Light Therapy attachments. This allows users to utilize Microcurrent Technology to tone, lift, and contour the skin and facial muscles and LED Red Light Therapy to help smooth full-face wrinkles.
Users who want to target fine lines and wrinkles and harness the benefits of microcurrent treatment with red light therapy will love the NuFACE Trinity® and Wrinkle Reducer Gift Set. Perfect for anyone who wants to use red light therapy and microcurrent.
How Long Does It Take?
The Wrinkle Reducer Attachment is designed for 3 minutes daily, five days a week. You will see cumulative results within weeks of consistent use. This set also includes the Aqua Gel Activator to help ensure proper microcurrent conduction of the microcurrent attachments.
For Advanced Users
The TRINITY+ and Wrinkle Reducer Attachment bundle is the perfect set for the tech-savvy skincare maven. The TRINITY+ device features the exclusive NuFACE 3-Depth Technology that targets different layers from skin’s surface down to the muscle to blur fine lines, reduce wrinkles, and create an instant, visible lift. In addition, this set includes the newly redesigned LED Red Light Wrinkle Reducer Attachment for advanced line-smoothing results.
How Long Will It Take?
You can use the TRINITY+ to tone and firm different areas of your skin for various lengths of time, depending on your goals and progress. The device is set to turn off after 20 minutes of use. When using LED Red Light Therapy, the attachment will ping after 3 minutes, signal that it’s time to move to another treatment area.
Already Have a Trinity or TRINITY+ Device?
If you already have the Trinity or TRINITY+ device and want to ramp up your results with red light therapy, the Trinity Wrinkle Reducer Red Light Attachment or TRINITY+ Wrinkle Reducer Attachment is for you.
The Trinity Wrinkle Reducer Red Light Attachment, transforms your NuFACE Trinity® Device into a handheld device that helps address numerous other skin concerns. Effectively minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles with red LED light by using the red light attachment on your Trinity Device.
The TRINITY+ Wrinkle Reducer Attachment works with the TRINITY+ device to help reduce the look of full-face wrinkles and fine lines while supporting circulation.
Get on a New Wavelength
Transforming your skin with the power of light just got easier. With the easy-to-use, at-home tools available through NuFACE, you can tone, tighten, and firm your skin’s appearance, all while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Red light therapy is a non-invasive solution for redefining your skin for a youthful look.
Sources:
Red Light Therapy: Benefits, Side Effects & Uses | Cleveland Clinic.org
SEER Training: Layers of the Skin | Training.Seer.Cancer.gov
