Light Therapy involves using different frequencies of light to treat the skin. Each frequency has its own benefits.
Blue light targets the sebaceous glands to kill bacteria and regulate natural oil production. It also reduces inflammatory cytokines that cause acne.
Red light travels through the outer layer of skin and stimulates fibroblast cells to produce collagen proteins, decreasing fine lines and wrinkles.
Increases Collagen
When the light hits the skin, it triggers natural intracellular reactions. This process stimulates collagen production which results in the tightening of the skin, reduction of fine lines and wrinkles and an increase in the elasticity of your skin.
LED therapy devices send safe and controlled doses of light deep into your skin’s layers. Different wavelengths are used in combination to trigger specific cellular reactions. For example, blue light helps reduce acne by targeting your oil glands to reduce cytokines that play a role in chronic inflammation and cystic acne. Red infrared and near infrared wavelengths penetrate deeper into your skin to increase micro-circulation, decrease inflammation, enhance wound healing and help reduce pain from arthritis and other conditions.
Blue and red light therapy also works to improve your skin’s texture. The blue light targets the bacteria that causes acne while the red light boosts collagen and elastin, which helps firm and smooth your skin.
A study showed that when fibroblasts (cells that create collagen and elastin) are treated with low-level red plus near infrared light treatment, it increased LOXL1, ELN and COL1A1 gene expressions as well as type III collagen and elastic fiber formation and crosslinking. It also stimulated ATP production, and the cell membrane permeability was enhanced.
Green light has calming properties that help to decrease inflammation. It also addresses hyperpigmentation and promotes a brighter and more even skin tone. It is particularly useful for treating circles under the eyes, sun spots and dilated skin capillaries.
During a session, you lay comfortably while the machine delivers the treatment to your face and body. The session lasts about twenty to thirty minutes and is great as a stand-alone treatment, as part of a more comprehensive treatment regimen or as a compliment to other facial treatments such as a Hydrafacial.
People who have undergone cosmetic surgery find that LED light therapy accelerates their recovery time, reduces the swelling and bruising and enhances the effects of other treatment modalities such as laser skin rejuvenation. It has also been found to encourage hair growth in those suffering from male or female pattern baldness, as well as to lower redness and itching associated with mild psoriasis.
Reduces Inflammation
Although light therapy has been around for decades – and is widely used by NASA – it wasn’t until recently that the medical community really embraced it. Perhaps one reason is that it hasn’t always been understood how the treatment works. After all, it’s pretty amazing that something as simple as light can help heal wounds and alleviate pain.
What’s more, this natural healing process takes place on a cellular level. As the light waves penetrate the skin, they’re absorbed by photoreceptors and trigger a series of metabolic events that help to restore and repair damaged cells.
For example, the red wavelengths absorbed by photoreceptors in the epidermis (the outer layer of your skin) stimulate collagen production, which makes your skin firmer and smoother and reduces fine lines and wrinkles. This also increases circulation, which helps to remove waste products and deliver oxygen to your skin’s cells.
Another great benefit of red light therapy is that it stimulates the production of nitric oxide, a key molecule that’s essential for healthy blood vessels and an increased flow of oxygen to your skin’s tissues. This boost in nitric oxide promotes cell turnover, reduces inflammation and fights free radicals that cause oxidative damage to your tissues.
As for blue wavelengths, they help to eliminate blemishes by targeting the oil glands and reducing cytokines, which are known to play a major role in acne inflammation and progression. In addition, the blue wavelengths absorbed by photoreceptors on the skin’s surface stimulate the production of oxygen radicals that destroy bacteria known as Propionibacterium Acnes.
The CURES study aims to determine whether LED-RL can limit postsurgical scarring by inhibiting the formation of fibrous tissue and encouraging normal tissue formation in a human mini-facelift surgery model. This clinical trial will be conducted at several sites across the United States and Canada with 30 participants who will receive LED-RL therapy in the area of their surgical facelift incisions. Participants will be monitored over the course of six months for efficacy. Results are expected to be published in 2022.
Clears Acne
Light therapy is FDA-cleared to treat a variety of conditions, including acne, arthritic pain, compromised blood flow and circulation, inflammation and even depression. It’s also been found to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as reduce stretch marks.
Unlike topical treatments, which target the surface of the skin, LED light therapy treats conditions on a cellular level. Different wavelengths are used for different purposes, and each color impacts the body differently. Blue light, for example, has antibacterial properties and can kill bacteria like C. acnes, the bacteria that cause acne. Red light, on the other hand, can stimulate collagen production and help the body repair itself.
The combination of both red and blue light can significantly reduce acne, particularly when paired with a photosensitizing agent. A study published in the March-April 2017 issue of Clinics in Dermatology found that patients treated with a photosensitizing agent and LED light therapy experienced an improvement in both oil gland size and acne bacteria count.
However, it’s important to note that this doesn’t work for all acne types. It is most effective for inflammatory acne, such as the red, tender bumps and pustules that appear on the face. It may not be as effective for comedonal acne, which is characterized by blackheads and whiteheads.
Another option is to use an app that can combine both blue and red light therapy, like Joovv, which uses medical-grade LEDs to deliver red and near-infrared wavelengths. The red and near-infrared wavelengths penetrate the body to boost collagen production, and the blue wavelength destroys acne-causing bacteria and reduces inflammation. In addition, the Joovv app emits a soothing warmth that relaxes your skin and promotes better sleep. To use it, place the device gently on your skin and let it run for about 3 minutes. Then move the Light to a new area and repeat the treatment daily.
Reduces Stretch Marks
Red light Therapy helps reduce stretch marks and improves the elasticity of the skin. When a light source is directed at the stretch mark, the infrared and visible light penetrates the outer layer of the skin and stimulates the cells that produce collagen. This stimulation causes the stretch mark to fade in color, soften and flatten in appearance. A series of up to 20 treatment sessions is required over several weeks to see a dramatic reduction in the appearance of the stretch marks.
Stretch marks are a common problem that can occur due to rapid weight gain, pregnancy and puberty. They also can result from certain underlying medical conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Regardless of the cause, stretch marks can make your skin look old and tired. While many products can help fade the color of stretch marks, few actually work to remove them. Red light therapy is a safe and effective treatment that can significantly reduce the appearance of stretch marks, giving your skin a smoother, more even tone.
The benefits of red light therapy go beyond reducing fine lines and wrinkles and treating acne. It also works on the deeper layers of the skin to stimulate the production of collagen. This is why it can also be used to treat stretch marks. Unlike laser treatments, LED light does not use heat to damage the skin. The light energy penetrates the outer layer of the skin, which stimulates the fibroblasts in the lower layers to create more collagen. The fibroblasts then heal the scarred areas, causing the stretch marks to fade in color, soften and flatten.
In addition, the light can increase circulation and the formation of new capillaries in the skin. This provides additional nutrients, oxygen and water to the skin cells. It can also help reduce puffiness and swelling. In the short term, this provides a healthy glow to the skin, while in the long term it increases the speed of the cell’s growth and repair processes.
If you are frustrated with your stretch marks, or want to prevent them from forming in the first place, contact us for a free consultation about our light therapy treatments. We can recommend the best treatments for you based on your unique needs and skin type.