Could LED light therapy be the key to amazing skin?

With some pretty impressive before and after photos, LED light therapy has become a popular treatment for those wanting to improve the look of their skin. While originally developed by NASA to experiment on plant growth rates, it was found that LED light therapy could promote skin regeneration, and is now used to aid a handful of skin concerns, such as acne, eczema and rosacea and even signs of ageing.

 

From professional treatments to at-home light therapy masks, there are multiple ways in which people are testing out this revolutionary treatment with the hope it’ll give them the skin they’ve always wanted - but how exactly does it work?

 

LED, otherwise known as light emitting diode therapy, uses varying wavelengths of light which penetrate the skin; unlike other types of light therapy, such as tanning beds, LEDs do not contain ultraviolet rays which could be damaging if used regularly. LED light is also considered more skin friendly than treatments such as chemical peels and laser therapy, as there is no risk of chemical burns and is safe for all skin tones and types.

 

All this talk of light wavelengths is enough to make anyone feel as if they’re in a physics lesson, but all you really need to know is that different wavelengths of light emit different colours, and different colours are used to treat specific skincare concerns.

 

Red and blue light are the most commonly used in LED therapy, with red being primarily used for anti-ageing. Collagen is a protein found in many anti-ageing creams, and red light actually stimulates collagen production within the upper layer of the skin. The result? Your skin will look smoother, plumper and overall more youthful.

 

On the other hand, blue light is commonly used to treat acne. This form of LED therapy targets the oil glands in your skin and makes them less active, meaning there is less chance of your pores becoming clogged. Scientists also think that blue light may kill a type of bacteria that lives on your skin and worsens acne by causing inflammation. There is even research to indicate it could improve the healing of third-degree burns.

Although LED skin therapy is more on the pricey side than various creams and serums, some have called it a skincare miracle, and many believe it's more effective to use a treatment which actually penetrates the skin instead of sitting on top of it like a lotion would.

 

So, if you’re struggling with skin care concerns and feel like you’ve tried every product on the market to no avail, it could be time to give LED light therapy a go.