Have you ever seen celebrities get hyped up about light masks and LED facials? You might be wondering what these devices and procedures are all about.
LED Light Therapy is growing in popularity these years and we’re here to answer the most-asked questions about it. On this page, you’ll learn what LED Light Therapy is and what’s there to rave about it.
Let’s see why this trend is buzzing the media by starting off with the basics:
LED Light Therapy Meaning
Did you know that Light Therapy existed in 1986? In fact, a type of light therapy was first used to treat lupus vulgaris, a type of tuberculosis in that year!
In 1986, a scientist named Niels Ryberg Finsen studied the effect of light on living bodies and used electric light to treat affected skin.
Thanks to Dr. Finsen, this technology began to develop and improve into what we have today: LED Light Therapy. The first LED therapy was introduced in the 1990s to aid in treating wounds and regenerating damaged tissue for the U.S. Navy SEALs.
Similar to its first use, LED (Light-emitting Diode) Light Therapy is a non-invasive procedure used to treat skin problems and improve the condition of its layers. This procedure uses low-level light in different wavelengths enough to stimulate reactions in the skin.
LED Light Therapy is also sometimes called LED Light Facials. One of the reasons why LED Light Facials are popular is their ability to promote cellular growth, give a healthy and youthful glow, and result in energized skin.
The many benefits of this type of therapy depend on the kind of light it uses and the intensity of each light. In the next section, you’ll learn the different types of lights used in LED Light Therapy and their uses.
Types of Light Used in LED Light Therapy
For the procedure to be effective in treating different kinds of skin ailments, various types of LEDs are used. Each color goes within your skin at different depths.
Blue Light
Blue light is responsible for the outermost layer of your skin. It destroys acne-causing bacteria (P. acnes) on the skin. For this reason, it hits the root cause of acne and helps with the aftereffects too.
Green Light
Green light offers benefits relating to sleep and pain relief. LED Therapy under green light has an impact on dark circles, hyperpigmentation, and sunspots as well. Because of this, using green light for LED Light Therapy induces a brighter complexion.
Yellow Light
Yellow light penetrates into deeper layers of your skin. Using yellow light for LED Light Therapy stimulates the production of RBCs or red blood cells.
This makes yellow light extremely vital to skin cell rejuvenation and healing. It can also reduce redness and improve wrinkles by boosting blood circulation. It hastens wound healing too!
Red Light
Red light uses low-level wavelengths that penetrate your skin deeper than yellow light. Red LED Light Therapy can affect skin and muscle tissues. It is believed that this type of light is ideal for wrinkles, fine lines, pigmentation, photoaging, and texture concerns.
Red light therapy is beneficial in both medical and cosmetic aspects. According to experts, LED therapy using red light may even help restore hair for patients with hair loss.
Although more in-depth research is needed to report on its long-term effects, this benefit of Red LED Therapy is an interesting study.
Near-infrared Light
Near-infrared Light Therapy, or NIR Light Therapy, can penetrate the deepest layers of your skin. This type of innovative light therapy is known to treat chronic joint pain, inflammation, muscle injury, and bone disorder.
By stimulating cellular energy metabolism and production, NIR Therapy is considered a “magic pill” for better health.
To put it simply, the “warmer” the light is, the deeper it penetrates the skin. You may ask, how is the therapy done? We’ve jotted down and simplified the LED Light Therapy procedure for you:
How is LED Light Therapy done?
You may choose to have your LED Light Therapy done in an esthetic clinic, spa, dermatologist’s office, or perform the procedure by yourself in the comfort of your home.
A typical procedure lasts around 20 to 30 minutes. Protective eye goggles are worn for your safety.
For in-office LED Light Therapy, you may be asked to lie on your back and have the LED light directly above your face.
During the entire session, you will be lying down until the procedure is completed. Sometimes, estheticians may use an LED wand to perform the therapy instead.
In some cases, other LED Light Therapy devices are used. Some of these include light masks and hand-held LED wands.
How to Prepare for a Therapy Session
Ensure that your skin is clean and make-up-free. You may be asked by your doctor to wash your face before the procedure. Use a gentle cleanser to prevent irritating your skin. Don’t forget to wear your safety goggles!
LED Light Therapy Aftercare
After LED Light Therapy, no recovery time is required. The reason for this is that this procedure is non-invasive, so you will be able to perform daily activities like usual.
It is important to know that after one therapy session, only minimal results may be noticeable. This is because LED Light Therapy requires several appointments to see the optimum results.
Tip: It’s best to have your session one to two weeks before a special event. For regular therapy sessions, booking an LED Light Therapy session once a month will help you achieve effective outcomes.
In-office LED Light Therapy vs. At-home LED Light Therapy
You might be thinking about whether you should book an appointment with your dermatologist or do the LED Light Therapy at home. Here is a short guide to know the difference between in-office and at-home LED Light Therapy:
Basis of Comparison | In-office LED Light Therapy | At-home LED Light Therapy |
Wavelength | Ensures the use of the correct wavelength to penetrate the skin | May not reach the correct wavelength |
Cost | Because professionals do this procedure, it costs more | You don’t have to pay a professional fee but you have to purchase your own device |
Effectiveness | In-office LED Light Therapy may be more effective because their special equipment and devices reach the correct wavelength to target your skin’s layers | At-home LED Light Therapy may be less effective |
What are the benefits of LED Light Therapy?
LED Light Therapy is popular because of the number of benefits it provides. Even celebrities like the Kardashians are raving about it! If you’re wondering what the fuss is all about, check the benefits of LED Light Therapy below:
LED Light Therapy helps to treat or improve the following conditions:
- Rosacea
- Actinic keratosis
- Acne vulgaris
- Hair loss
- Eczema
- Inflammation
- Sunspots
- Dermatitis
- Wounds
- Scaly spots on the skin
- Wrinkles and fine lines
- Aging
- Sun damage
- Skin cancer
- Depressions
Other than that, LED Light Therapy can also rejuvenate your skin by:
- Promoting cellular growth
- Destroying acne-causing bacteria
- Improving skin texture
- Hastening wound healing
- Brightening your skin
- Soothes inflamed areas
- Lightening blemishes
- Increasing mRNA in the cells
- Protecting skin cells from damage
What are the side effects of LED Light Therapy?
As the number of benefits piles up, you might ask whether there are risks that come with LED Light Therapy. Is LED Light Therapy safe? What side effects should one expect after treatment? Those are important questions we’ll help you get the answer to.
Generally, LED Light Therapy is considered safe. This procedure does not cause UltraViolet rays (UV rays) that may cause damage to your skin when used regularly.
LED Light Therapy does not cause burns unlike other treatments like dermabrasion, laser therapy, and peels. Thankfully, phototherapy or LED facials are skin-safe!
However, although it happens very rarely, there are still adverse effects that you may possibly experience. These include the following:
- Inflammation or swelling
- Redness
- Rashes
- Itchiness
- Mild to moderate pain
- Peeling of the skin
- Acne flare-up
- Tightness
- Crusting of the skin
Usually, these adverse effects go away within 24 to 48 hours. Consult your dermatologist once you experience unwanted effects after your session.
How Much Does LED Light Therapy Cost?
The price of one session of LED Light Therapy depends on the treatment area and your location. On average, LED Light Therapy costs around $25 to $85 per session. Home LED kits, on the other hand, range from $25 to $250.
As you see, the prices are quite fair. While some clinics usually include LED Light Therapy as add-ons to other treatments, you may opt to have the LED Therapy by itself.
Key Takeaways
LED Light Therapy is a non-invasive treatment that provides great results in improving skin conditions and treating health issues.
What’s interesting about this procedure is that you can do it in the comfort of your home. With the number of benefits it can give, we can’t doubt why this technology is getting all the hype!