If you like to keep up with beauty and skincare trends, you’ve probably heard about LED light therapy facials. They continue to grow in popularity, and companies are producing more and more DIY devices.
So, are they worth the hype?
While research about the long-term benefits is ongoing, current studies show numerous happy results. Plus, thousands of people have been pleased with the improvements they’ve seen in their skin after treatments.
But before you drop a bunch of money on what sounds like a deal, there are some things you need to understand about the benefits of LED light therapy facials and why cheaper isn’t always better.
So, let’s explore what happens during this treatment, its benefits, and other things you should know about light therapy.
What is LED Light Therapy?
LED (light-emitting diode) was originally developed by NASA as an experiment to see if they could grow plants in space. Subsequent tests revealed its effects on wound healing, providing evidence that LED light therapy increases cell production in tissue. Over time, its benefits made it popular with dermatologists and aestheticians.
As the least invasive skin treatment, LED light therapy facials involve exposing your skin to an LED light for a certain amount of time, usually 20 minutes.
While this light therapy is terrific for your skin alone, combining it with other skincare treatments, such as HydraFacial, microdermabrasion, or chemical peels, you’ll see even greater benefits.
Most medspas and other professional settings use high-end light therapy devices that can come in several forms. Some have panels you lay under; others have wands for more targeted treatment. Professional tools provide the most benefits for two reasons:
- They emit a much deeper-penetrating (but still very safe) light than at-home devices.
- Unlike the mask style of some at-home products, they hover over your face, providing enough room to wear eye protection.
Home-use devices aren’t as strong, and you’ll need to use them much more frequently to see the same benefits that you would get at a MedSpa or dermatologist.
However, both professional and at-home LED devices use different colors to achieve unique results.
What Are the Benefits of LED Light Therapy Facials?
LED light therapy uses different visible colors with unique wavelengths. These wavelengths penetrate the skin at specific depths and can provide various benefits.
The two most common colors are blue and red; many devices also use green and yellow.
Blue light targets the upper portion of the epidermis and sebaceous glands.
Red LED light therapy targets cells, called dermal fibroblasts, deeper in the epidermis. These specialized cells produce collagen and elastin, which promote wound healing, tissue growth, and support for the other cells in your skin and organs.
The effects of red and blue light and their combinations can provide many benefits. These include improving:
- Wrinkles and fine lines
- Hyperpigmentation
- Sun damage
- Inflammation
- Acne and scar prevention
- Wound healing
- Recovery from other skin treatments
- Small blood vessel visibility
- Psoriasis and other skin conditions
LED light therapy has even been used to treat hair loss and basal cell carcinoma.
LED Light Therapy Colors and Benefits
Each color provides unique benefits because of how the wavelengths of LED light therapy work.
Depending on your needs, your aesthetician will advise you on what color combination would work best for your skin.
- Blue — Blue light primarily targets sebaceous glands and acne-causing bacteria, which lowers oil production, treats active acne, and prevents future breakouts. Blue light may also calm irritated skin and lessen inflammation.
- Green — Like green primer or concealer, green light can reduce redness and hyperpigmentation and improve uneven skin tone. The combination of blue and yellow also soothes irritated skin and calms inflammation. Some studies have shown that green light can even help with migraines and chronic pain.
- Yellow — Yellow or amber light penetrates a little deeper than green and helps reduce redness, improve rosacea, and solve other hyperpigmentation issues. Some studies have shown promising results for correcting prematurely aged skin caused by sun damage.
- Red — Besides the near-infrared light of some devices, red is the deepest penetrating light used in LED light therapy facials. It also has the broadest range of scientifically backed benefits for your skin. These include promoting collagen and elastin production, speeding wound healing, reducing inflammation, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, treating inflammatory skin conditions, and many others.
While some boast other colors, such as purple and pink, there is little research to support their use. Depending on the device, alternate colors may only come from colored bulbs, not skin-penetrating LED lights.
That doesn’t mean all other colors are ineffective, though. Many devices allow a combination of colors, resulting in different visible colors.
In a MedSpa setting, your aesthetician will decide what color or combination is best for your specific skin needs.
Are There Any Side Effects?
Since LED light therapy facials are still relatively new, at least in terms of being used for skin care, long-term side effects are still unknown. However, since it doesn’t use UV rays, experts believe this is a safe treatment in both the long- and short-term.
For the same reasons, it’s also relatively risk-free. Very few people experience any side effects—those who do typically see only mild redness, tenderness, and a rash that goes away quickly.
However, LED light therapy isn’t appropriate for everybody.
People who take medications that make them more sensitive to light, such as Accutane, shouldn’t receive LED light therapy. It’s also not the proper treatment for those with a history of skin cancer and eye diseases.
Another crucial factor in maintaining safety during the procedure is shielding the eyes. Although the current data suggests that short-term light therapy is safe for your eyes, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Finally, sun protection, both before and after therapy, is vital. Like most skin treatments, LED light therapy facials will make your skin more photosensitive. Wear an SPF 30 or, preferably, above to protect yourself from harmful UV rays.
Is It Right For Me?
With LED light therapy’s high level of safety, it is an excellent choice for almost anybody.
The main considerations are your specific needs and expectations for what you’d like to improve. The biggest drawbacks of light therapy are efficacy and the amount of treatments you may need.
Unfortunately, it can be hard to know whether your device uses suitable bulbs and strengths to achieve the effects it promises. Little to no oversight exists on the effectiveness of light therapy devices; the FDA only checks them for safety.
Additionally, chronic conditions and natural signs of aging require repeated treatments to lessen or reverse visible problems effectively. If you struggle with acne, rosacea, psoriasis, sun damage, and similar issues, you’ll need consistent treatments, ranging from weekly to daily, to see significant results.
That doesn’t mean LED light therapy facials aren’t worth your time, though.
The most significant benefit of intermittent use occurs in combination with other treatments, especially those that cause minuscule damage or inflammation, like microchanneling and sublative skin resurfacing. Light therapy reduces irritation and redness, speeds healing, and increases collagen production.
Light therapy is also an excellent complementary treatment with more traditional methods specific to your skin condition.
Interested in LED Light Therapy Facials?
Because light therapy is completely non-invasive, very safe for most people, and effective for all skin types, it is a wonderful choice to start your skincare journey.
While a single treatment may not give you the dramatic improvements other facials can provide, it will reduce your recovery time and help make other treatments more effective.
Plus, consistent use has been proven to treat acne, improve skin conditions, reduce fine lines and sun damage, and promote faster healing.
If you don’t know if it can help you, schedule a free consultation with us to discuss your issues and worries. We will take a VISIA scan of your face to help us understand what treatments and products would be best for you.
