LED Phototherapy is the secret to beautiful and glowing skin. LED or light-emitting diode therapy is a non-invasive skin treatment that helps relieve sun damage, acne, wounds, and other skin complications. LED Phototherapy uses different wavelengths of light to spark the skin’s normal healing processes. Here is a brief guide about this remarkable procedure.
What is LED Phototherapy?
LED Phototherapy is a growing, popular light therapy both in aesthetician offices and at home. With the use of varying LED wavelengths, this skincare technique is known to help in:
- Acne treatment
- Inflammation reduction
- Anti-aging effects promotion
Having these kinds of skincare issues and concerns can make you a candidate for LED therapy. If you haven’t had any luck with over-the-counter (OTC) skin products, this therapy might be the right one for you. In addition, LED therapy is proven safe for all skin types and colors and will not cause any burning.
However, there are several potential drawbacks. Here are some:
- It can be expensive.
- Results aren’t that guaranteed for everyone.
- It is unsafe for those who take certain medications or have active skin disorders.
A good option for you is to talk to your dermatologist about your skincare concerns and whether LED light therapy is the best procedure for you.
How it works
LED Phototherapy goes way back with an established history in terms of skin uses. During the 1990s, the U.S. Navy SEALs began using it to help quickly heal wounds and assist in regenerating damaged muscle tissues.
From then on, this treatment has undergone research for numerous scenarios in aesthetics. One important note on this procedure is its use for increasing collagen and tissues that can smooth out skin and reduce the damage in appearance from:
- acne
- wrinkles
- age spots
Blue and Red Lights
Different frequencies, or wavelengths, are used with LED Phototherapy. These wavelengths include red and blue light frequencies that don’t contain ultraviolet rays, which are readily absorbed into the skin.
Blue light in LED therapy reduces activity in your sebaceous glands or the small oil-producing glands in your skin. The reduction of oil production in these glands improves acne symptoms. Blue light may also kill the bacteria that contribute to acne. Recent research shows that blue light therapy improves third-degree burn healing on animals.
Red light waves in LED Phototherapy improves scarring and the signs of aging. Red light may reduce wrinkles by acting on fibroblasts that are the skin cells responsible for collagen production.
LED Phototherapy is safe and does not use UV rays which are damaging to the skin. LED therapy does not cause burns which can happen with laser therapy or chemical peels. The treatment is safe for all skin colors and types.
Do not use LED phototherapy if you take isotretinoin or Accutane for acne or use a topical treatment that may cause your skin to be sensitive to sunlight.
You may need several treatment sessions to receive the full benefits of LED Phototherapy. Most patients see results several weeks after their last treatment. You may need follow-up sessions to maintain the results of LED Phototherapy.
Blue LED light is often used in conjunction with red LED light to:
- help treat acne
- decrease scarring
- promote anti-inflammatory effects
LED Phototherapy Procedure
Usually, each LED phototherapy treatment takes about 20 minutes. Depending on the results you want to achieve, you will probably need around ten treatments in total.
Some procedures will require you to lie down directly under the lights, while some use wands that are LED light-infused and go now over your skin. This choice of what to use between these two techniques often depends on the provider and the treatment area.
- Preparations
In-office LED phototherapy sessions usually take around 20 minutes at a time. You will be given protective goggles to wear to be safe from the light and don’t cause any damage to your eyes. It would be best if you never had any makeup during sessions, whether you see a provider for treatment or at home.
- Targeted areas
Technically, LED Phototherapy can be used on any part of the body; however, the most popular use for this treatment is usually for the face. More than any other body part, the face is more prone to skin damage because it’s exposed to the elements more than anything else. However, LED Phototherapy can also be used on other areas that show signs of aging, like the neck and chest.
- Home procedures
You can still try LED phototherapy and do it at home if you cannot make it to a healthcare provider’s office. Devices used at home come in the form of masks or wands that need to be applied to your face for several minutes at a time. With this option, it is crucial to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully.
Benefits
The benefits of LED Phototherapy include:
- Skin elasticity improvement
- Appearance reduction of fine lines and wrinkles
- Acne scar treatment
- Redness and inflammation reduction
- Appearance reduction of dark spots.
- Skin bacteria reduction
Risks and Side Effects
Overall, LED therapy is deemed a safe procedure by the American Academy of Dermatology since LEDs don’t have UV rays, considering it a safer form of light therapy that doesn’t have and causes long-term damage to your skin. In addition, this procedure is non-invasive but with a few risks.
YouYou may be recommended to have LED Phototherapy if you possess darker or more sensitive skin. Compared to invasive procedures like laser therapy, LED Phototherapy doesn’t burn your skin and cause any pain. However, risks are still associated with LED Phototherapy.
Never use LED Phototherapy if you are using anything that makes your skin sensitive to sunlight. Products like Accutane for acne is a powerful drug derived from vitamin A. This vitamin increases your skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and other related forms and may cause scarring in some cases.
If you have an active rash, you might also reconsider having this treatment. Talk to your doctor first and ask if you might have psoriasis. Red light in LED Phototherapy may help you. However, this instance is accepted only if you use it in conjunction with your regularly prescribed treatments.
Side effects from LED Phototherapy are pretty rare. Best to call your doctor if you start experiencing any of the following symptoms after your treatment:
- pain
- redness
- increased inflammation
- rash
- tenderness
- hives
What to Expect After
Since LED therapy is non-invasive, no recovery time is required, and you should continue your everyday activities after your treatment. In-office procedures require you up to 10 sessions or more, each session spaced out about a week apart from one another. Results will start to show after your first session, with better results becoming more noticeable and dramatic as you finish all of your recommended treatments. But even after achieving these recommended sessions, results aren’t that permanent still.
You may lose some collagen as your skin cells turn over and start seeing signs of aging once again. Acne breakouts may also begin to occur again. These occurrences are the reason behind all those additional recommendations so that you return for maintenance treatments every few months or as deemed necessary by your doctor or your provider. LED phototherapy treatments done at home are not as dramatic compared to in-office treatments. This is because light frequencies used at home aren’t as high as those used in the office.
LED Phototherapy might be the future of skin therapies, but it is still essential to know the facts before treatment. We hope that all the information you got here today is helpful enough for your decision-making. It is also necessary to always consult your doctors first. With LED Phototherapy, say goodbye to your old, ugly skin and say hello to a rejuvenated and young-looking one.
Are you ready for your LED phototherapy consultation? If you still have questions, our great friends from Belle Visage Medical Aesthetics are here to help you out! Visit them now! https://belleburlesonmedspa.com/