According to a Dermatologist, LED Therapy Can Transform Your Skin

LED therapy has grown in popularity in the past few years. The cool thing about beauty is the next best thing is always popping up, so the excitement never ceases. LED therapy promises to fight acne and signs of aging with the use of light technology. Pair that claim with cool fancy contraptions that make it look like you’re in the year 2145 and you have a trendy beauty treatment everyone is dying to try. But how exactly can a device that emits bright lights help you get a clearer and brighter complexion?

If you deal with things like sagging, wrinkling skin, acne, and inflammation, you should try this. Because innovative beauty products are just more fun. We turned to dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, and Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Sheila Nazarian, MD, and asked them to give us the scoop on everything about LED light therapy. From what it is to how it works, they laid it all out in our comprehensive guide to this type of skin treatment.

 

MEET THE EXPERT

Dendy Engelman, MD is a board-certified dermatologic surgeon with a focus on cosmetic enhancement procedures for both the face and body as well as skin cancer treatment. She is also a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, and American College of Mohs Surgery.

Sheila Nazarian, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon located in Beverly Hills, CA. Nazarian specializes in non-invasive surgery like CoolSculpting and invasive procedures such as Tummy Tucks.

Keep reading to see what LED light therapy is all about for the skin.

What is it?

LED means light-emitting diode. “It works by emitting infrared lights (causing heat) in different wavelengths/spectrums, which have different skincare benefits,” says Engelman. “Amber light stimulates collagen and elastin. Red light is most commonly used to promote circulation. White light penetrates the deepest and works to tighten and reduce inflammation. Blue light kills bacteria.”

She explains that during LED therapy, devices send light waves deep into the skin to trigger natural intracellular reactions. Depending on the light, your skin is going to respond differently. “If [the light is] red, your skin responds by building, strengthening, and maximizing cellular structure. Red light is also believed to target oil glands to reduce cytokines, which cause inflammation and play a role in chronic acne. In the case of blue light, specific wavelengths stimulate production of oxygen radicals that kill P. acnes bacteria, all without damaging skin,” Engelman says.

These treatments are usually add-ons to other treatments, but you can get LED therapy by itself. She says costs are varied depending on where you go but generally cost from $150 to $300.

How Does It Work?

More and more brands are coming out with at-home LED systems so that you can treat these skin problems on your own. “I always say that things done at home are like working out by yourself and things done in the office are like working out with a trainer. Both are good. But you’re not going to get as intense of a treatment at home,” says Nazarian.

The light doesn’t cause any burns or skin damage. It’s pretty much painless, and if you like lights, the colors can even be relaxing. “We typically recommend light therapy every one to two weeks if an important event is coming up,” says Nazarian. “If it’s just for maintenance, we treat with our patients’ monthly microdermabrasion or micro-needling treatments.”

What Are the Benefits?

People turn to LED therapy to fix skin problems such as acne or reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. As mentioned above, each infrared light targets specific areas and skin concerns. “The red infrared lights are used for fine lines and wrinkles. The blue lights are used to improve acne and prevent breakouts by killing the acne-causing bacteria. Also, blue light penetrates deep to [treat] cystic acne,” says Nazarian.

LED Light Therapy has never been so simple. 

The Luma Aesthetics Shield™ is the first LED Mask to offer a completely hands-free experience. You just need your hands to place it on your face and turn it on. The perfect tool if you’re looking for a beautifying pick me up with no downtime.

The shield is light and transparent allowing you to go about your life however you want, while treating your skin.