What are LED Therapy Skin Treatments and Do They Actually Work?

You may have seen the Hannibal Lecter-esque light up masks on your Instagram feeds recently, and wondered what the fuss was all about. Spotted on the likes of Bella Hadid and January Jones, LED light therapy skincare is nothing new, but these at-home devices have really blown up all over social media and beyond lately. It's seen as a handy solution to keeping skin healthy and glowing in between professional treatments, especially at a time when we all have to do our part in staying in. 

 Light-emitting diode (LED) therapy purports to be able to treat acne, reduce inflammation, boost collagen production, improve skin texture, alongside a whole host of anti-ageing benefits... a remedy for all skin concerns, really. So it’s no wonder celebrities and an increasing number of people have turned to these at-home treatments, given our usual beauty treatments at salons and spas are closed, as of writing. 

But What is LED light therapy, really? And does it actually work? Here’s what you need to know.

LED light therapy is a non invasive facial treatment that uses non-thermal light energy of varying wavelengths to trigger your body’s natural cell process and to accelerate the rejuvenation and repair of your skin, and helps in instances such as in diminishing fine lines and wrinkles, and more. 

It is widely popular because it has no side effects, and has a strong medical heritage, being initially developed by scientists such as Nasa neurologist Harry Whelan. Medical grade and results-oriented, and with a strong celebrity following to boot, it's little wonder this nifty home device is all the rage right now.

The skin uses light as a source of energy to rejuvenate damaged skin cells. There are various kinds of LED facials, but the most common ones come in red or blue light. These different colours trigger different reactions beneath the epidermis, and penetrate the skin at varying lengths to target specific skin concerns. For instance, red light stimulates collagen production, while reducing inflammation. It helps to strengthen skin, heal blemishes, repair sun damage, and improve scars. Blue light helps to clarify and balance skin, reducing acne-causing bateria, and regulates oil and sebum production. Green light targets pigmentation, while yellow helps with wound healing.

Here, your skin cells respond in a similar way as to when they are exposed to Vitamin C or retinol, which prompts your skin cells to change or work harder, rejuvenating it in the process!