“Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light.” — Groucho Marx
I’m over 40 years old… a baby boomer in fact. On top of that I’m an aesthetician and skincare fanatic. So, any technology claiming anti-aging benefits always pique my interest.
Recently, it has been LED light therapy that has social media buzzing with celebrities and influencers, posting selfies with their LED masks. And so, I thought it may be a great time to talk about this popular treatment.
What is an LED?
LED, or light emitting diode, is a skincare treatment that uses varying wavelengths of light, including red, blue and more recently green.
NASA originally developed it for plant growth experiments on shuttle missions and later found it to have promise for wound treatment. How? It triggers collagen production, improves circulation, and decreases inflammation. Further studies have provided evidence that it works wonders for the body and for the skin. At SkinSense we use both blue and red light therapy to treat acne, eczema, rosacea and even aging. And we are just about to add green light therapy for pigmentation and scarring.
Here’s a rundown of the different LED light therapy benefits…
Blue Light
Blue light therapy has a shorter wavelength and can be very effective when applied topically to kill the acne-causing bacteria known as Propionibacterium acnes, or P acnes. These bacteria found in the sebum and oil glands cause inflammation and breakouts on the skin surface. The good news is that P acnes is sensitive to blue light and can be eliminated with this kind of therapy. Coupled with proper cleansing and treatment regimens the blue light offers a safe alternative to antibiotics and harsh topicals.
Red Light
Red light therapy has a longer wavelength and a different function to blue light. It can speed wound healing and stimulate collagen production, promote firmness and improve skin texture. It can also be used to relieve chronic pain and some injuries. Additionally, red and blue light treatments can be used together on acne conditions to heal the skin, diminish scarring and reduce inflammation.
Green Light
Handheld green light devices for at home use are proving to be quite effective at reducing pigmentation especially on the hands. Green light waves penetrate more deeply than blue light, so it is recommended that the application of green light to the face be done in a salon.
At our salon we have been using the handheld units during our facial treatments to great effect and have also been retailing them to many clients for home use. It is great to have a zit zapper that can get rid of pimples and breakouts at your fingertips. We have also found that by using the blue light at home, clients are less tempted to pick their skin because the breakouts clear up quickly and don’t leave a mark. It only takes minutes a day to treat each area. Results from using red light therapy take longer but are noticeable after 4–6 weeks of regular application.
Light therapy is painless, non-invasive and requires no recovery time. Both red, blue and green lights can be used on all skin conditions and ages with no side effects. I highly recommend adding a hand held or even a full face unit to your skincare routine at home.
To know more about the latest skincare trends, check out my other blogs on Medium, or call us at Skinsense Wellness at (323) 653–4701.
