You may have noticed some medispas putting an extra step in their hybrid facials – LED red or blue light. What exactly is LED light therapy and what does it do to the skin?
LED stands for “light emitting diode”, which emits different colours of light energy. Not to be confused with a laser, LED light therapy was originally developed to speed up healing of wounds and post-surgical scars. In the correct wavelength, the light energy provides energy for fibroblasts in the dermis to produce collagen, giving skin a more youthful and plump appearance. Hence, apart from skin healing properties, LED light therapy has also happily found its niche in rejuvenation of healthy skin. The fact that many doctors now use LED red light as a post-laser treatment to speaks volumes of its effectiveness as an anti-ageing adjuvant.
LED Light Therapy As Standalone Or Add-On Treatments
Indeed, according to Dr Kenneth Lee, founder of the SW1 Clinic, which uses the Healite II in almost all their laser treatment programs, LED Red, in particular is great at speeding up recovery so their patients are able to experience the least downtime possible (even after a treatment such as their Dazzling Skin Program, which uses the SmartX CO2 laser for various skin concerns), it is also great at reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and even evening of skin tone – almost universal problems of ageing. LED light therapy is completely non-invasive. At the SW1 Clinic, you are whisked back to your private suite after your laser treatment and a pair of goggles is applied to shield your eyes before the light therapy is applied for approximately 20 minutes.
LED Red can make your strengthen the skin, because of the collagen production. You will find your skin more resilient over time, and this in turn ameliorates other sensitive-skin problems such as tuning down redness in rosacea. The skin becomes thicker and retains moisture more effectively.
Red therapy also helps to strengthen the skin, thanks to the additional collagen production making the skin more resilient. Making it a very effective treatment for rosacea and reducing the redness that is associated with broken / weak capillaries. It also helps the skin to retain moisture more effectively.
At the SW1 Clinic and SW1 Spa, LED Blue light (I-Clear) is used to kill acne-causing bacteria. These can be found in their acne facials and acne laser treatment programs, such as Clear Blue Facial and Purity Program.
Are Home LED Devices The Same As In-Clinic Ones?
LED Light Therapy is completely pain-free, but it does take several sessions to build up to visible results. Standalone treatments can be done two to three times a week for four to six weeks. There are home LED devices available for purchase at a fraction of the price, but Dr Lee does not recommend home LED treatments over clinic ones – home devices are usually underpowered.
-by Megan Thomas