Reading Time: 2 min.
LED light therapies for skin improvement are a modern method that has been growing strong lately. And after a tedious and stressful year, your skin might need a boost to regain its radiance. In addition, these therapies can help reduce wrinkles, treat acne and stimulate hair growth.
But, how do they work? What are their benefits? And what are their advantages over other treatments? Here we answer these questions with some information that perhaps you did not know.
What's the story of this technology?
Nasa developed Light-Emitting Diodes or LED lights to achieve plant growth in space. They have been available since the 1960s, but their use in skin treatment only have been used recently.
How does LED light therapy work?
Doctors have discovered various uses and benefits over the years. These therapies work with different wavelengths entering the skin at different depths. It makes them helpful for the treatment of a variety of skin and scalp conditions.
Sometimes dermatologists combine them with a drug (5-aminolevulinic acid) that makes the skin more sensitive to light. And with this photosensitive medication, the skin reacts better to the treatment.
Benefits
We are always concerned that new treatments, like this one, might damage our skin. But LEDs do not emit UV light, which makes them safer for the skin. Also, unlike other treatments (such as laser, chemical peels, and dermabrasion), they do not burn the skin. Another benefit is that they have fewer side effects.
LED light has different colors, but the more used in skin treatments are blue and red. Both are employed to treat specific conditions and sometimes together.
Red light:
- Collagen stimulation: accelerates the healing process of the skin and softens wrinkles.
- Perfect to tight the skin and makes it smoother and softer.
- Stimulates the scalp and helps hair growth.
Blue light:
- Helps to treat acne: reduces oil production in glands and kills the bacteria responsible for acne.
- Great to heal burns.
Things to consider
Despite being a non-invasive treatment, we should keep in mind some adverse effects. After one of these treatments, the skin may present mild reactions, like redness, slight inflammation, itching, and dryness. In addition, you should always use eye protection for it can cause eye damage, especially to people with previous eye problems.
We must take into account that these therapies require around ten weekly sessions of approximately 20 minutes each. But after the initial treatment, sessions are only required only once every few months.
There are also at-home devices available in the market. They are safe enough not to damage your skin but weaker and might not give you the same results you might achieve from a professional treatment.
In conclusion, LED therapy is a promising cutting-edge treatment and a trendy experience. But we must remember that it is always better to go to your dermatologist and talk about the best treatment for you. And that, hand in hand with a professional, you will achieve better results.
Images
DMH Aesthetics.