How does LED light therapy work for skincare?

LED light therapy is becoming increasingly popular. Whether it’s using an at-home LED device or getting a light therapy treatment done in a beauty salon by a professional, this skincare technology offers a myriad of benefits. 

These benefits include reducing redness, diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, improving acne, and making skin look more radiant. 

You’ll be amazed to know that light therapy helps with many other health conditions apart from skin issues. Research shows that light therapy helps with seasonal affective disorder, hair loss, arthritis pain, and ocular health. 

But how does LED light therapy work, and how do the different types of LED lights work to improve the skin? This article covers everything you need to know about this popular skincare treatment. 

What is LED light therapy?

LED light therapy is a skincare treatment that involves non-invasive wavelengths of light to target specific skin conditions and concerns. This pain-free skincare technique can be carried out by professionals at a skincare clinic, or be availed through at-home devices, such as products offered by Platinum Therapy Lights. 

How does LED light therapy work?

It is difficult to give a short answer to how light therapy actually works. As light therapy has different types of uses, how the therapy works depends on the purpose of usage. However, for now, we’ll stick to how light therapy works for skincare. 

Research has shown that red and near-infrared light can penetrate deep into the tissues of the body, reaching the mitochondria of the cells. This stimulates the production of ATP, which in turn promotes cellular repair and regeneration.

When your body is exposed to the rays of red or near-infrared light, the mitochondria of your cells receive a boost in terms of ATP production. ATP is responsible for cellular repair and regeneration. That means light therapy can help you get rid of dead skin cells and replace them with new, rejuvenated cells. This way your skin looks fresh and healthy. 

Experts at Harvard Medical School explain how LED light therapy works: “Different wavelengths of the visible light spectrum correspond to different colours of LED light and penetrate the skin to different depths. Depending on how deeply they penetrate, LED lights are thought to have different biological effects.”

Think of the LED lights as an energy source for your skin. 

Blue light affects the uppermost layer of your skin, yellow light penetrates deeper, red light travels further into your skin, and near-infrared light penetrates deepest.

Each LED light colour offers different skin benefits, which will be discussed later in this article.

Is LED light therapy safe?

LED light therapy is safe to use. The treatment doesn’t contain UV lights, unlike some other light therapy treatments, so it doesn’t pose a sun damage risk that could otherwise lead to skin cancer. This also means you can use LED light therapy devices more frequently without any adverse effects. 

While doing an LED light therapy treatment, you’re supposed to protect your eyes, normally by wearing protective goggles, to avoid any potential damage. Also, it’s paramount to keep your skin protected from the sun after use, as this treatment can increase the skin’s sensitivity to light. 

At-home devices are unlikely to burn your skin.

Different LED light colours and their benefits

There are multiple different LED light colours that can be found in skincare devices, and each colour offers different skin benefits. Colours may include red, blue, yellow, and green. Sometimes, at-home devices incorporate a combination of LED colours for a mixed light treatment. 

However, the 2 most common and widely researched colours are blue and red.

Blue LED light is often used to treat acne. It can help to kill bacteria associated with causing acne and ease how much oil sebaceous glands make, which can lead to pores being clogged and thus triggering acne. 

Red LED light targets fine lines, wrinkles, and a loss of collagen. Red light stimulates skin cells called fibroblasts, which help make collagen. Collagen is an essential building block to ensuring skin is plump and firm, so targeting the fibroblasts can make skin appear more youthful and tighter.

If you’re looking to discover the benefits of red LED light therapy for yourself, Platinumtherapylights offers premium devices for home use. 

With over 8,000 5-star reviews on the Platinumtherapylights website, the brand’s BIOMAX LED light therapy series harnesses 7 different red and near-infrared wavelengths for a powerful and effective solution. 

Beyond the numerous skin benefits of red LED light therapy, the BIOMAX range can also reduce inflammation, relieve pain, improve blood circulation, and contribute to faster healing, thanks to the treatment’s ability to improve cellular function. 

Each device enables you to tailor the treatment based on your wants and needs, as you can completely control the output. The difference between the models is strictly size, output strength, and coverage area. The size/model of light or setup you choose is entirely up to you, your budget, and your desired performance level.

The brand’s top-of-the-range BIOMAX 900 boasts 300 LED lights and targets your whole body in 1 simple treatment for fast results.

Sarah Sarsby is the owner of A Woman's Confidence. With over 6 years' experience of writing in the fields of beauty and lifestyle, Sarah is passionate about all things content, makeup, skincare, wellness, and lifestyle. She has oily skin, is obsessed with lip gloss, and loves cookie dough.