Skin Experts On LED Light Therapy, The Latest Beauty Trend On The Block For Clear Skin

Thanks to celebrities like Kylie Jenner, we have been obsessing over beauty and skincare a little too much now. From going gaga over Korean skincare 101 to practicing skinimalism, we love how beauty trends have become a major part of our lifestyle. And now it’s time for high tech skincare. With LED light therapy becoming the “it” trend recently, we cannot keep ourselves from learning about it. The secret to rejuvenated and radiant skin might be an LED light mask. Who would have thought that colours and lights could help us treat our skin; the modern skincare routine is getting tech-savvy with this trend. We have the dermatologist-approved guide on LED light therapy.

What Is LED Light Therapy?

“LED stands for light-emitting diode. LED is a form of light therapy in which skin is exposed to a specific wavelength or colour band of light, commonly red or blue light, for a certain period to take a biological action on the skin tissue and skin cells,” explains Dr Chytra Anand, Celebrity cosmetic dermatologist at Kosmoderma Clinics.

Dr Niketa Sonavane, Celebrity dermatologist and founder of Ambrosia Aesthetics explains the need to use LED light therapy for skin. “When your skin is exposed to LED light, it is absorbed into the skin at different depths and stimulates cell repair. It also encourages cell growth giving you a healthy, youthful glow. This treatment is mainly used to treat acne, sun damage, wounds, and other skin issues,” she says.

How Does LED Light Therapy Work On The Skin?

Finally tech skincare is taking over. Just like any other beauty treatment, our skin needs preparation so before LED light therapy also, our skin needs to be prepped. Make sure your face is cleansed and washed before beginning the therapy.

“There are LED devices available that combine different colour wavelengths too. The light once emitted penetrates the skin and targets the tissues in skin dependent on the wavelength. This enables them to work on different skin issues,” states Dr Madhuri Agarwal, founder and medical director, Yavana Aesthetics Clinic.

Tech Skin Care Is The New Beauty Trend

Skincare is now tech approved with the new trend of LED light therapy. More like a rejuvenation therapy, this skincare technique is all about getting glowing and radiant skin using LED light. “LED was first used by NASA for their astronauts to help heal skin and muscle systems and now it is in use at dermatologist offices and as home use devices for boosting skin and hair function,” says Dr Anand.

Seconding the notion, Dr Sonavane adds, “The activity of the sebaceous glands, which are small oil-producing glands in the skin, is reduced by blue LED light. This decrease in activity causes the glands to produce less oil, potentially alleviating acne symptoms.”

Importance Of Colour In LED Light Therapy

Different colours create various reactions, depending on your skin concern and hence the different coloured lights help in treating your skincare woes.

1. Red light works on inflammation and is good for rosacea and ageing concerns.

2. The blue light is in the 400 – 520 nm spectrum and is used for its antibacterial properties to help treat acne and control oil production to reduce the inflammation in the oil glands.

3. Green light works on hyperpigmentation, dark blemishes and calms the skin.

4. Yellow light shows results for fine lines, wrinkles, and skin rejuvenation by boosting collagen.

Things To Keep In Mind Before Doing This

It’s always best to be cautious before doing LED light therapy. Skin experts tell us the best tips to keep in mind.

“Before beginning light therapy treatments, wash your face. Remove your makeup because pigments and mica in beauty products can scatter light, rendering your treatment ineffective and increasing the likelihood of reactions. SPF in your foundation and other products can also block the light waves,” explains Dr Sonavane.

Dr Agarwal says, “There are LED masks and hands-free devices available. It is painless and no discomfort is felt. Home devices need to be used regularly at least 5-6 days a week for visible results. It is advisable to combine it with a good skin care routine and in clinic procedures with a dermatologist for long term results.

Pros And Cons Of LED Light Therapy

There are primary advantages and disadvantages to almost everything we do and experts decode the same for us for LED light therapy.

“Professional LED light therapy can help your skin improve over time. You will, however, require maintenance treatments to keep your results. Home devices operate at lower frequencies and have not been shown to be as effective,” tells Dr Sonavane.

Expert-Suggested Pros And Cons

Pros

1. Proven benefit for acne and overall skin health

2. Boosts scalp circulation for hair growth

3. Easy to use

4. It is a skin friendly therapy that can be used safely on all skin types. The LED light therapy can be used for various skin concerns as an addition to the main treatments.

Cons

1. LED therapy can be costly.

2. It’s also not safe if you’re taking certain medications or have an active skin condition.

3. While you may believe that multiple daily LED light therapy treatments will be more beneficial, this may actually be counterproductive, just as sensible sun exposure of 10-15 minutes per day is not only beneficial but also an important component of optimal health.

4. The strength of the LED is essential; not all LED devices are strong enough to stimulate.