Background
The use of LED lighting in the esthetics industry has gained significant popularity because of the effectiveness of treatments as well as relatively low costs. LED is an abbreviation for Light Emitting Diodes, which are small bulbs sending low-level light energy to penetrate the skin to its deepest levels. Such procedures have shown to stimulate multiple repair functions within the skin depending on the color of the LED light used (“LED Light Therapy”). Initially, LED therapy was used by NASA to facilitate the healing of wounds in space; as the results were astonishing, the beauty industry adopted this method and brought it to the masses.
How LED Therapy Works
To understand why LED procedures have become popular, it is important to mention the mechanics behind them. The skin has an interesting ability to absorb light and transform it into energy thus facilitating the regeneration of cells and the building of proteins within it. However, the absorption of sunlight is damaging, which is why LED therapy is so effective – it has the advantages of the skin’s light absorption without damaging it with UV rays (Kalajian et al. 1). If compared to other procedures such as chemical peels and laser treatments that also promote skin regeneration, LED-based therapy is non-invasive and does not require any time for recovery.
LED Therapy Benefits and Uses
Specific benefits of LED therapy for the skin include the following:
- The increase of circulation of blood in the body;
- The acceleration of skin recovery through sterilization and stimulation (Gupta et al. 422);
- The reduction of inflammation through the removal of waste substances present in the lymphatic system and the prevention of fluids build-up;
- The improvement of collagen fibers’ elasticity and the creation of new capillaries;
- The relief of pain and muscle spasms in the body;
- The reduction of stiffness in joints.
In the esthetics industry, LED light therapy is used to treat multiple conditions as well as an improvement and preventative method. For instance, when treating acne, red LED lights are used for reducing inflammation and the swelling of spots while blue lights are used for killing specific types of bacteria that cause skin breakouts (“What is Red Light Therapy?”). For weight loss, red LED lights are widely used as a tool for increasing blood circulation and mitochondria’s production of energy. Mitochondria are detrimental to weight loss because they convert more glucose when enhanced by the red light. As therapeutic and preventative methods, LED procedures for anti-aging purposes due to their ability to boost skin elasticity and facilitate the production of collagen (Ganceviciene et al. 308).
LED Mass Market Products
As LED treatments have become widely available at salons and estheticians’ clinics, companies have started producing mass-market skincare items (Salon Success Academy). Several examples of such products include Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Mask, Neutrogena Light Therapy Acne Spot Treatment, the Revive Acne Treatment Deep Penetrating Therapy, LightStim for Wrinkles, reVive Light Therapy Panel, Project E Beauty 7 Color LED Mask Photon, and multiple others. Despite the wide availability of LED skincare products, it is always recommended to seek the advice of a professional esthetician trained in using technologies to treat different skin conditions. Lastly, it should be mentioned that the industry advances, which means that future improvements in the sphere of LED treatments will inevitably take place.
Works Cited
Ganceviciene, Ruta et al. “Skin Anti-Aging Strategies.” Dermato-endocrinology, vol. 4, no. 3, 2012, pp. 308-319.
Gupta, Asheesh et al. “Ultraviolet Radiation in Wound Care: Sterilization and Stimulation.” Advances in Wound Care, vol. 2, no. 8, 2013, pp. 422-437.
Kalajian, T.A. et al. “Ultraviolet B Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) Are More Efficient and Effective in Producing Vitamin D3 in Human Skin Compared to Natural Sunlight.” Scientific Reports, vol. 7, 2017, pp. 1-8.
“LED Light Therapy.”The Organic Esthetician, 2018, Web.
Salon Success Academy. “What is an LED Light Facial?”Salon Success Academy. 2014, Web.
What is Red Light Therapy?”OGLF. 2018, Web.