Let's Talk: LED Light Therapy
At home skincare routines have gotten waaaay more sophisticated in the last few years. High-tech devices and tools that promise to tackle our skin concerns are readily available whether at the spa or on the sofa and more of us than ever are interested in going the extra mile if it means happy and healthy skin.
Among the offerings is LED light therapy, a non-invasive treatment that helps to heal skin, reduce fine lines + wrinkles and treat acne. Beyond this, it boasts the ability to potentially boost our mood!
We've put together an introductory guide to LED Light Therapy and the science-backed results that might just sway you into making the investment for yourself and your skin.
WHAT IS LED LIGHT THERAPY AND WHAT DOES IT DO?
LED Light Therapy was first developed for clinical use by NASA in the nineties as a way to speed up wound healing for astronauts but as research progressed, it was found to have a myriad of additional therapeutic and skincare benefits.
LED stands for Light Emitting Diode and uses infrared light (causing heat) in varying wavelengths/ spectrums that penetrate skin at different depths, this is largely what makes this non-invasive treatment successful. By stimulating cellular targets, it triggers different reactions when absorbed by the molecules in the skin.
Each colour of LED light has it's own unique skincare benefits with Red and Blue being the most commonly used. Green and Yellow may also be used but have have less scientific studies to back them up.
WHAT BENEFITS DOES EACH COLOUR LIGHT HAVE?
RED LIGHT has been shown to stimulate collagen production, reduce inflammation and stimulate blood circulation which is why it is typically the go-to choice when treating fine lines, wrinkles and for healing wounds.
There has also been positive outcomes when using red light to help minimize inflammatory skin conditions such as Psoriasis and Rosacea.
BLUE LIGHT continues to show encouraging evidence in the treatment of acne and reduction of skin texture. It's ability to balance oil production and control sebum, as well as recalibrate the microbiome could help to prevent certain types of acne as well as reduce active breakouts.
YELLOW (OR AMBER) LIGHT as mentioned, doesn't have as many clinical studies behind it but it shown promise for speeding up wound healing and reducing redness.
At-home devices and in-spa treatments will use a combination of LED light colours dependant on your skin's needs.
AT-HOME VS IN-SPA TREATMENT
Devices intended for at-home use are lower in strength but that doesn't mean to say they can't be impactful. When looking to purchase an at-home LED therapy device you want to look at how many LED's the device contains and the wavelengths to get a gauge of the strength, this will be measured in Nanometers or NM for short.
We've found the Ember Wellness Rejuvenating Light Therapy Mask to be one of the best out there with 3 settings to personalize your treatment each time (plus it's Canadian and FDA registered). It's recommended that you use your device 10-15 minutes per day to make an impact. As with everything in the skincare world, consistency is key!
We offer LED Light Therapy in our own skincare studio, as part of our Calming LED Facial and as an add-on to the other facials which is a nice way to work on your skin concerns further and extends your treatment time for an extra relaxing experience.
WHO IS LED LIGHT THERAPY FOR?
Many of us could benefit from LED Light Therapy, it's benefits extend past skincare and can also provide a boost in mood which is very much welcomed for those of us living in the PNW where sunlight is often hard to come by. Side effects are very uncommon and it's safe for all skin types and tones.
It's worth noting that LED Light Therapy is non-invasive and does not cause any harm when used properly. The light emitted is also non-cancerous as it does not contain UV.
LED Light Therapy is unfortunately not suitable for those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or those with a history of epilepsy. Anyone taking photosensitive medicine or having steroid (including cortisone) injections should also not use LED Light Therapy. If in doubt, talk to your healthcare practitioner to find out if LED Light Therapy is suitable for you.
TO SUMMARISE
LED Light Therapy possesses some really wonderful healing abilities and can be hugely beneficial for lots of us however, it is not a quick-fix (nothing really is) and requires ongoing maintenance to be impactful so if you're serious about tackling some skin issues like fine lines, wrinkles, inflammation and acne texture you may want to book your treatment now or begin incorporating into your at-home routine.
