LED Light Therapy: Everything You Need to Know
Light-emitting diode (LED) light therapy has been gaining popularity over the last few years, especially within the Australian healthcare and beauty industries. It’s mainly focused on skincare to reduce the signs of ageing, treat a range of skin conditions, help to combat inflammation and provide pain relief. From salon services to self care treatments that you can perform at home, there are many ways in which you can use LED light as therapy. But what exactly is it and how can you benefit? Our guide has you covered.
Originally developed by NASA as a way to promote wound healing for astronauts and encourage plant growth, it was discovered that LED light actually helps cells and tissues to grow. A non-invasive treatment, the light enters the skin’s layers to rejuvenate and promote new growth.
In the present day, LED light is commonly used to treat a diverse variety of skin issues. This therapy can be combined with other tools such as creams and serums to give you optimal results. A dermatologist or esthetician will provide you with a plan that outlines the best course of treatment for both your skin issue and skin type alongside LED light therapy treatment.
In this type of therapy, the different wavelengths that are used correspond to a different colour. Each colour will penetrate the skin at a different depth, treat a different skin problem and provide you with different results.
Red Light
This popular type of light stimulates the fibroblast skin cells which are responsible for making collagen and as a result, face red light are most associated with anti-ageing. They travel further into your skin than other colours and show promise in treating wrinkles, redness, acne, scars and more. Collagen is responsible for the elasticity in skin and levels naturally reduce with age. By stimulating the cells that make collagen, the levels are better maintained and, as a result, the visible signs of ageing are reduced.
Blue Light
Another common choice for LED light therapy, blue light is often used to treat acne. It’s known to kill the bacteria that is responsible for acne and reduce the amount of oil your skin produces. In doing so, this therapy aims to prevents your skin follicles from becoming clogged which, in turn, minimises the chance of acne developing. Blue light therapy has been found to be effective for those suffering from acne of all severities. If you are interested in using light as a type of therapy for acne, it’s important to seek the advice of a professional to ensure that it can be used alongside any other treatments that you undergo.
There are other less common light colours including yellow, green and white. These can be used to calm skin, combat inflammation, soothe the surface of the skin, brighten the complexion and so much more. These types of light can be used alongside blue and red to create a personalised treatment plan for your specific needs for optimal results.