LED phototherapy is a non-invasive treatment option for skin rejuvenation.
LED light therapy uses an array of bright light emitting diodes that send low level light energy into the deeper layers of the skin to eliminate acne causing bacteria, improve metabolic processes within skin cells and activate fibroblasts to promote new collagen formation.
The LED device delivers energy of light composed of blue, red and infrared wavelengths from its high intensity super luminous diodes. These lights stimulate skin cell renewal, rejuvenate the tired skin, improve skin tone, eliminate acne causing bacteria, thus helping in healing of wounds, relieve the pain, and improve various dermatological conditions.
It is useful as an adjunct after laser treatment and surgical treatments, as it reduces pain, bruising, oedema and erythema, improves the scar and reduces the risk of PIH.
Unlike IPL and lasers which rely on the heat to improve the skin, LED uses light energy to do the same. LEDs stimulate the naturally occurring regeneration and repair processes of the skin.
This process called ‘Photobiostimulation’ is an excellent way to increase collagen production in the skin, keeping it younger and healthier looking longer. There is no downtime. The results are very gradual, and so 10-12 treatments are required to see the results. The light used in LEDs is similar to daylight and does not cause any allergic reaction.
Numerous studies have proven the effectiveness of LED light therapy in treating fine lines and wrinkles, redness or rosacea, acne, sun-damage, skin inflammation and general skin ageing.
The light penetrates the subcutaneous tissues and energizes the mitochondria located in the cells. The stimulated mitochondria produces more energy and stimulates cells to reproduce faster and function better. The light also stimulates increase in microcirculation of tissues. The increase in microcirculation and better reproduction of cells helps in building collagen and elastin, and helps in faster healing from various skin conditions. The improvement in skin is gradual and it usually takes 6-8 weeks for the skin to improve.
Treatments are ideally performed three times per week, so a course runs for three or four or more weeks. Collagen formation is a multi-stepped process with many stimulating factors involved. The more steps we augment and the more factors we initiate the better the response will be. LED treatments will augment the effect of other treatments such as microneedling, fractional laser and IPL treatments.
The different colours of LED light therapy
LED light therapy uses different types of wavelengths to target different tissues and to create a therapeutic response.
Infrared light (830 nm) – This light penetrates to the deeper dermal layer of the skin and targets keratinocytes, mast cells, neutrophils, macrophages and mast cells. This helps with wound healing, collagen stimulation, skin rejuvenation and general skin improvement.