Get younger looking skin with at-home LED light therapy

From ingestibles to rain dances, we’ll go for any anti-ageing treatment to look stunningly younger, like Julianne Moore. And with technology bringing in many more, we’re willing to try them all.

Enter LED lights, the new in-thing for anti-ageing. Celebrities like Jessica Alba, Katy Perry and Emma Stone swear by it! This method seems to work wonders when it comes to killing acne and reversing ageing. Even though it costs about USD 250, it looks like something worth splurging on.  

Before you transform your place into an LED booth, hold on. There’s a lot to know about colour light therapy, according to Coveteur. Two experts lay down everything you need to know about it. Shani Darden is an LA–based aesthetician with clients like Jessica Alba, Chrissy Teigen, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Tracie Martyn is an East Coast skin-care expert who has been associated with Rihanna, Anne Hathaway and Beyonce.

How does LED therapy work?

The technique makes use of four clinically safe UV –free LED lights. “LED therapy is actually quite simple. It works by penetrating the skin with high-energy beams,” explained Darden. “The rays tunnel into your skin and jump-start internal processes, from circulation to collagen production. These at-home versions are less potent than professional lights, so they must be applied directly to the skin to achieve the same level of effect.”

What are the benefits of colour therapy?

Colour therapy leaves you glowing with a smoother skin. Martyn said, “Depending on the colour of the light, LED therapy can target any number of skin issues. Red for fine lines and wrinkles, blue for acne, amber for collagen, and green for hyperpigmentation. Some lights blend multiple colours, but many at-home versions are single-coloured. The most important thing is to determine exactly what you’re trying to correct, and then choose a light targeted to that specific issue.”

Is light therapy effective?

It smoothens, rejuvenates and restores your skin. Darden herself uses light therapy for her skin. “I use LED therapy on all of my clients,” she said. “For a few of them, blue LED therapy was the only thing that could get their acne under control. And 100 per cent of my clients who use a combination of red and amber lights say they see a difference in fine lines. I actually use that combination on my own skin.”

How to use it?

Darden explained, “There are a variety of different brands that make at-home LEDs. I like LightStim best (USD 250), and the more expensive Deesse (USD 2,500). Both of them sit right on your face, leaving [your] hands free. Each brand has their own instructions on how to use them.”

How often should you use it?

“The benefits of LED lights are cumulative,” said Darden. “So if you’re going to spend all that money on the product, you need to be diligent. Everyone has their own routine, but I recommend five times per week. Sure, you’ll see some results when using it less often—but they won’t be nearly as effective.”

Is it safe? Even for your eyes?

“LED lights were made famous by NASA,” explained Martyn. “[They’re] used to heal astronauts up in space. They’ve been studied a lot and aren’t dangerous because they don’t contain UV rays. If you’ve been diagnosed with any serious disease, however, it’s always best to check with your doctor before use.”

Light therapy is generally a safe technique, but it’s a good idea take some advice from your dermatologist. Darden said, “The lights always come with goggles. But that’s really just to combat brightness from the lights.” You should go for goggles if you have really sensitive eyes.