Red Light Therapy: How It Works
Want to Improve the way your skin looks?
Red light therapy may be just the thing that can help! It uses light-emitting diodes (called ‘LEDs’) with low-intensity red and near-infrared light to go deep into skin cells for the purpose of healing.
It started as part of a study by Hungarian physician Endre Mester on how cancer cells react when exposed to radiation in 1967. Now it has blossomed into one of the most popular med-spa treatments for beautiful skin.
When did it start??
Red Light Therapy started as part of a study by Hungarian physician Endre Mester on how cancer cells react when exposed to radiation in 1967. Now it has blossomed into one of the most popular med-spa treatments for beautiful skin.
How Red Light Therapy Works for Skin
Because of this low-powered red light, it serves to activate the cell’s energy generators, known as mitochondria. Much of the energy the mitochondria produce is stored in adenosine triphosphate (ATP), a molecule which helps your body to both store and use up energy.
With your lifestyle factors, illnesses, or even the normal processes of aging through time, mitochondria begin to produce less of that ATP. However, red light therapy triggers a specific reaction that reverses this decline, resulting in improved skin.
As such, red light therapy is an excellent way to treat acne. That’s because acne is often joined with inflammation. Because red light therapy can help calm skin, reduce redness, and minimize oil production, it can help treat mild to moderate acne.
Another reason to use red light therapy is to fight those visible signs of aging. Red light therapy increases the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid in your skin. By naturally boosting these skin matrix essentials, you can tighten up sagging skin, smooth away fine lines and wrinkles, harmonize texture, and make pore size less visible.
What Does Red Light Therapy Feel Like?
If you want to improve the way your skin looks through red light therapy but are afraid of invasive treatments, there’s good news! Red light therapy will only feel a bit warm on the skin. Most people report that they find it relaxing and soothing. There are no needles and no down time is involved in this skin treatment.
It’s considered a safe treatment too, however, using eye protection is important. If you get this treatment done by a professional, they will provide you with safety glasses to protect your eyes. With at-home devices though, it’s important you choose one that provides this extra measure of coverage.
What brands are the best?
Your best results will come from a professional red light therapy treatment. At-home devices are handy, though too! Our go-tos are:
- Mito
- Joovv
- Hooga
Does Red Light Therapy Really Work?
Yes, and it works wonderfully for acne and anti-aging concerns. However, if you have cystic acne, it may not completely clear it away. You’ll also have to make sure that when you’re using red light therapy for your skin that you are having regular treatments. An aesthetician or dermatologist will assess your skin and recommend the frequency, anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes per session three to five times per week over the course of several months.