It is only natural for people to want their skin to look its best. When faced with stubborn acne lesions, sun damage, skin aging, and more, patients can often feel at a loss after trying typical pharmacological or topical dermatological solutions. These traditional treatments do not always yield the best results for the skin and can present with unfavorable side effects. Fortunately, light-emitting diode (LED) therapy has been gaining more traction for a variety of beneficial reasons to target a multitude of skin concerns, including anti-aging and inflammation. Below, we cover the benefits of LED light therapy.
Benefits of LED Light Therapy
LED light therapy can serve as a beneficial alternative or addition to a typical pharmacological or topical treatment plan. For starters, LED light therapy is:
- Noninvasive
- Safe and suitable for most skin types
- No post-treatment recovery time
- Can target multiple skin goals
- Can safely be used with other treatments
- Shown to be effective through data
- Easily absorbed into the skin
Through the stimulation of light-sensitive receptors within the cell, regular treatments with LED light therapy can alter cellular activity. These changes can result in improved skin structure and appearance. For example, blue LED light can trigger oxygen radicals, which can eliminate acne-causing bacteria.
Skin Conditions Treatable by LED Light Therapy
Patients can achieve improved skin through LED light therapy. The treatment has many applications, such as:
- Anti-aging
- Scar reduction
- Skin rejuvenation
- Stimulating collagen production
Due to the many applications, LED light therapy can target a large scope of conditions, such as:
- Acne vulgaris
- Hair loss disorders
- Sun damage
- Photoaging
- Uneven skin texture
Different Goals, Different Colors
Every patient’s skin is different. To account for this, the wavelength of light can be altered, which changes the LED color. Different LED color lights can be used to focus on specific skin concerns, which can vary from patient to patient. Below is a breakdown of what the many colors can target.
Red Light
Red LEDs can penetrate the skin very deeply, which allows for targeting the dermal layer of the skin. In a particular study, eyelid lift patients who underwent postoperative treatments of red LED light therapy had faster rates of recovery and healing. Through such studies, it has been found that red LEDs can potentially boost wound healing, enhance collagen production, reduce inflammation, and protect against photodamage while supporting anti-aging goals.
Yellow Light
Yellow LEDs penetrate the skin between 0.5 and 2 mm deep and can potentially reduce photoaging and redness. Additionally, yellow LEDs have been used in combination with laser hair removal. This has helped to reduce redness, which is a common side effect of laser hair removal. Also, patients who have received yellow LED therapy have reported a reduction in the visibility of fine lines.
Blue Light
Blue LEDs penetrate no more than one mm beneath the skin and are used for concerns closer to the skin’s surface. For example, they can be used to target bacteria such as P. acnes, which is commonly present on the skin in acne vulgaris. Studies have shown that with increased exposure to blue LEDs, patients experienced a reduction in their acne symptoms. Specifically, they had improvements in redness, the amount of lesions, and the size of lesions. Blue LEDs have also been shown to improve symptoms related to psoriasis.
Combination Therapy
Studies have also shown that treating the skin with multiple colors together can achieve better results, especially for photoaging and acne. Some skin benefits noted through combination LED therapy include:
- Reduced fine lines and wrinkles
- Increased collagen production
- Increased elasticity of the skin
- Improved skin texture overall
Moreover, a combination of both red and blue LEDs has shown promise in treating acne, as the red LEDs are able to target inflammation, while blue LEDs address acne-causing bacteria. Other colors that can be used across various skin concerns include green, cyan, and white LED light.
Consult a Professional
LED light therapy is not only safe but also has numerous benefits for the skin. For LED light therapy to be effective, multiple treatments over certain intervals may be necessary. Patients interested in amplifying their skin care regimen for improved skin and anti-aging benefits should consult licensed professionals. The team at our medical spa can advise on an appropriate and suitable treatment plan tailored to the patient’s needs.