Whether stress-induced (hey, 2020) or situational (hellooo maskne), breakouts continue to be the bane of many people’s existence. Among the many treatments touted for clearing the skin, LED (light emitting diode) light therapy has been establishing a foothold in the skin-care world as a go-to treatment for acne—but it can help improve many other skin issues, too.
Due to its ability to stimulate elastin, boost circulation and repair tissue, the energy from LED light therapy can be used to treat a variety of concerns related to aging, skin disorders and trauma. It does this via an array of light colours, which are used to treat different issues. Blue, for instance, helps kill acne bacteria, calms irritation and balances sebum production. Red reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles; calms rosacea and inflammation; and stimulates collagen.
Here’s how it works: through a mask or handheld device, light penetrates the skin, generally for 10 to 30 minutes at a time. Wavelengths (strength of the light) are used to stimulate cells, which result in collagen production, lymphatic drainage and faster healing or, when it comes to treating acne, killing bacteria. Light therapy is not only great for addressing active acne, but also for preventing future breakouts when used as part of a holistic skin-care routine.
You can even light it up at home. Results depend on how often and how strong your treatment is. Treatments in clinics typically use a higher wavelength than at-home devices but the benefit of at-home treatments is that you can give yourself an LED light therapy treatment every day. It’s the perfect thing to do while binging Netflix or reading a book. It’s recommended that you use the device daily until the active acne is under control, and then weekly as a prevention method.
Many at-home devices make it easy for you to treat yourself to some LED light therapy. Check out some of our favourite options below. —Alice Chen
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