Three derms tell us whether the Colour Light Therapy is a fad or a long-term miraculous solution to skin problems.
Every time we hear about new skin treatment, we dive deep into research aka Google and try to find every single detail about it. And especially when something sounds as miraculous and intriguing as LED Face Treatment or Colour Light Therapy.
Though it is not a new concept, LED Face Treatments have sparked a debate among dermatologists on whether they are a fad or a long-term solution like a laser. We spoke to three dermatologists to understand everything about the treatment.
Dr Rinky Kapoor, Consultant Cosmetic Dermatologist, SL Raheja Fortis Hospital, Mumbai and Director, The Esthetic Clinic, Mumbai, India
The use of light for treatment of skin is not a new concept; it has proven its effectiveness many a times. In fact, NASA has been using LED light therapy on its astronauts in space since the 1980s for self-healing and repair. The LED light face treatments are beneficial in treating many skin concerns from the first use itself.
What is LED light therapy?
LED face treatments use non-thermal LED light energy to rejuvenate the skin. There are manifold benefits of this therapy and is recommend by dermatologists, cosmetologists and plastic surgeons for skin rejuvenation, acne treatment, regulating natural oil production, treating sun damage, stimulating collagen production, increasing elastin, reducing wrinkles and dark spots, healing scars and wounds, treatment of eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis and restore the skin’s natural glow and tone.
How does it work?
LED face treatments work by using the visible spectrum of light of different wavelengths and functions on the skin. There are no UV rays used in LED light therapy therefore it is completely safe to use and works one very skin type. Different LED lights include:
· Red to improve blood circulation and reducing inflammation
· Amber to build new collagen and elastin
· Blue to reduce bacterial infection that causes acne
· Infrared to even out the skin tone and recovery
· White light to tighten the skin
During LED light therapy, the light waves penetrate deep into your skin and trigger the natural reaction in the cells. The cells respond to the different light waves by strengthening and rebuilding the cellular structure.
There are two ways to reap the benefits of LED face treatments: at the professional setting or at home.
In a professional setting, the practitioner will first examine your facial skin for damage and then decide on which wavelength of lights will be suitable for your results that you desire. Be candid in your discussion with the practitioner and be realistic about the result expectations. Your skin will be cleaned and the practitioner will use a LED mask on your face and turn on each light for a few minutes. Once the treatment is done, a hydrating mask will be placed on your skin to finish off the process.
At home, LED masks are not as effective as the professional treatment but you can surely use them for regular maintenance. LED face treatments are not a onetime option; you need to do them regularly as with consistent use LED lights penetrate the skin at different depths and cause different results.
LED light therapy is completely non-invasive and does not cause any pain or burn. The only thing you need to take care is to keep your eyes safe as the light is very intense and can cause irritation in the eyes.
Dr Jaishree Sharad, Celebrity Cosmetic Dermatologist and Founder, Skinfiniti, Mumbai, India
LED or light emitting diode therapy is a skincare treatment that uses varying wavelengths of light including red and blue. They are non-ablative, office treatments and are safe. They can be used for skin rejuvenation as well as acne. They are usually used in combination with other treatments as an adjunctive therapy. They do not have long-term solutions but are not a fad either. However, there are a lot of cheap LED devices available, which are not potent and may be duplicates.
Dr Rashmi Shetty, Celebrity Dermatologist, Aesthetic Medicine Expert and Author
This is another new fad. There are various colours of light and different lights have different properties. Red light is more stimulating; you can use it for collagen stimulation. A blue light is more calming and anti-bacterial, so we use it for acne. But honestly, they don’t do much. They are very low-levels of light, and there is only that much they can do, even when we use really targeted laser treatment. If you think some light sitting there will do magic for your skin, that’s not going to happen. What you can expect out of a facial is probably what you can expect from an LED facial as well. Whatever little things happen, they will be temporary for that point of time.
It is nice as an add on but I am not a big believer for it and is not backed scientifically either. If you want to just put an LED lamp, while you have put up a mask and you are lying back at home. For whatever it’s worth.
Article Source – https://www.cosmopolitan.in/beauty/features/a19507/everything-you-wanted-know-about-led-face-treatments