What is LED light therapy and what are the benefits?

If you’ve heard of LED light therapy before, you may have an idea that it has the potential to banish blemishes and breakouts as well as reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. 

Sounds like a miracle, right? Although these benefits sound amazing, many people are unsure as to exactly what is involved in the LED light therapy procedure, which is why we, at Leah’s Essential Beauty want to share with you a breakdown of everything involved as well as the many benefits that you can expect from LED light therapy. 

Lets start with the basics…

LED sounds highly technical and complex, but really, it's quite simple. Going into the basics, LED is simply a light source that emits wavelengths of light energy  that targets deep into the skin cells for many skin and anti-ageing benefits. It is pain free, non-invasive and is a completely safe and effective treatment for all skin types.

The light does not emit any harmful UVA or UVB rays and is not a laser, which means it requires zero downtime or recovery time after a treatment.

Light therapy is medically recognised and is clinically proven, with independent studies from over 40 years of scientific research and support.

The most common options of LED light therapy are blue and red due to the popularity of the benefits they provide. Each colour light has a different purpose and outcome;

• Blue: Best for treating acne, this LED light destroys bacteria that causes acne (pacne bacteria) while also minimising redness and irritation leaving you with a clearer, brighter, smoother complexion. 

• Red: Best for anti-aging, this LED light increases the production of collagen responsible for skin firmness and elasticity. Increased collagen reduces fine lines and wrinkles, shrinks pores and improves overall skin texture. Red light is also used to speed up healing, reducing scarring, redness and inflammation by increasing blood flow to the skin.

So how does it work?

Although some people may find the procedure of light therapy different to other skin treatments, it’s actually very straightforward. Just as you would with laser therapy or similar treatments, you lay down on the spa bed while the LED light machine is rolled over above your face.

From here, the LED lights do all the hard work while you sit back and relax. The therapist will provide you with goggles to ensure your eyes are protected throughout the procedure and you’ll find yourself lying there for about 20 minutes until the lights have done their job!

Depending on your skin type and concerns you may be suited for an Advanced LED treatment with an AHA peel. LED can also be added on to any other facial to maximise treatment benefits. 

If you are all for keeping your skin healthy and glowing, LED light treatments are definitely worth a try. Especially in conjunction with a good skin care regime, you will really see results.

Just remember, as most treatments, light therapy works best if done continuously over time. Do these treatments once a week for up to 10 weeks and that’s when you’ll get the results you are waiting for. However you will notice immediate results from the very first treatment.