Many people worldwide are always searching for the perfect tool to give them rejuvenated skin and make them look more youthful. One popular beauty tool today is LED phototherapy facial masks since they are more affordable and convenient and can be used at home. It is a mask embedded with LED lights of different colors, emitting a specific LED light wavelength that penetrates the skin.
What Does Each Color In LED Phototherapy Mean?
The LED light treatment uses different frequencies or wavelengths. In fact, the red and blue light frequencies are commonly used more since these two don’t contain ultraviolet rays as well as they are readily absorbed into the skin.
Red light
It is called the infrared, a light used for treating the epidermis, the outer layer of skin. Once the light is applied to the skin, the epidermis absorbs it and stimulates collagen proteins.
This can only mean that more collagen means smoother and fuller, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Additionally, a red LED light is also thought to reduce inflammation while improving circulation, giving a healthier glow.
Blue light
Blue LED light therapy, however, targets the sebaceous glands, also called oil glands, located beneath the hair follicles.
Sebaceous glands are necessary for lubricating the skin and hair so that it doesn’t dry out, but they can be overactive at times, leading to acne and oily skin.
The blue LED light therapy can target these oil glands and make them less active. In turn, only fewer acne breakouts can be seen. In addition, it can also kill acne-causing bacteria beneath the skin that helps treat severe acne pimples, including cysts and nodules.
On numerous occasions, blue LED light is used with red LED light to treat acne, decrease scarring, and promote anti-inflammatory effects. In one 2018 animal study, the blue LED improved the healing of third-degree skin burns.
Yellow light
This LED light therapy has an anti-inflammatory effect that can penetrate deeper into the skin. Speaking of which, it also stimulates circulation. In fact, yellow light therapy is recommended for cases of redness and irritation, rosacea, and all skin conditions that cause heat or stinging.
Greenlight
In particular, this LED light is used for melasma and other pigmentation problems. It helps decrease the production of melanin and attenuates dark spots. A study published in 2018 highlights this light’s efficacy for managing melasma.
Other Lights
Newer LED light therapy devices now include three other colors, which are:
- Violet light. It combines the properties of red and blue light that has a soothing and healing effect. It’s recommended for marks left by acne.
- Light blue light. It improves the skin’s metabolism and has a calming, relaxing, and energizing effect. It is recommended for sensitive skin.
- White light. It provides a regenerative and anti-flaccidity effect. Additionally, it tones the skin and is indicated for aged or cracked skin.
How Does LED Phototherapy Mask Work?
Phototherapy means a “Treatment with Light,’ which is based on the principle that all living cells are intended to absorb and be influenced by light. Light is a powerful energy that significantly impacts appearance, emotions, and performance when applied correctly.
Moreover, the mechanism of action is a natural response similar to that of photosynthesis through a process known as photobiomodulation. Light plays a key factor in the human body since the body has a unique capacity to heal itself.
That said, the LED treatment involves exposing the skin to specific wavelengths or nanometres (nm) from the visible (color) and infrared (invisible) parts of the light spectrum. Because of this, wavelength selection is crucial to the success of the LED treatment as it determines how effectively the light is absorbed. To emphasize, it is so much more than color choice.
What Benefits Does LED Phototherapy Mask Provide?
Primarily, LED phototherapy helps combat acne and aging. Aside from that, it also promotes the skin’s healing processes, corrects skin tone, and generally improves skin appearance. Also, it provides more firmness, uniformity, and luminosity to the skin.
In addition, below are the outstanding benefits of the LED Phototherapy Mask, including:
- Diminishes and delays the appearance of spots
- Reduces skin wounds
- Promotes nail and hair growth
- Slows down the aging process
- Eliminates bacteria that cause skin damage
- Improves acne scars
- Improves cell metabolism
- Contributes to the treatment of stretch marks
- Reduces inflammation and erythema caused by more aggressive treatments
What Skin Concerns Does LED Phototherapy Mask Address?
Several skin concerns and conditions can be treated by LED Phototherapy Mask that includes:
- Rosacea
- Psoriasis
- Eczema
- Hair loss
- Sun damage
- Wounds
- Wrinkles
- Mild to moderate acne
- Rough, scaly, pre-cancerous spots on the skin (also known as actinic keratosis)
Sometimes, LED light therapy may treat small and superficial basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Specifically, BCC is the most common type of skin cancer, affecting about 3.6 million Americans yearly.
What Are The Possible Risks Of LED Phototherapy Mask?
The risk of developing any side effects is extremely low. However, it is not impossible. The probable side effects are:
- Skin discomfort
- Skin redness
- Dry skin
- Pain
- Rash
While LED light therapy seems safe in the short term, experts say there’s less information about its long-term safety.
Who Should Not Receive The LED Phototherapy Mask?
The following should not receive this type of therapy:
- People with certain medications that increase their sensitivity to sunlight, such as isotretinoin and lithium.
- Those with a history of certain conditions, including skin cancer and inherited eye diseases.
How Long Does The Result Of LED Phototherapy Mask Show?
Typically, a series of in-office treatments are needed to see significant benefits. The treatment may be required each week for about a month. And then maintenance treatments are needed every month or every few months.
In fact, some at-home devices may also require a substantial time commitment. The device can be used twice daily for 30-60 minutes for 4-5 weeks. Other devices take just a few minutes a day.
The Bottom Line
As many people pay attention to their faces, searching for the right tools and best facial aesthetic services has become more popular. Belle Visage Medical Aesthetics offers LED Phototherapy that uses different wavelengths of light to spark the skin’s normal healing processes and a 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.