
While the protocol for office treatments vary based on skin concerns, Dr. Shah says in general, LED light therapy lasts approximately 15 to 30 minutes per session and is performed one to three times per week for 12 to 16 weeks, "after which maintenance treatments are usually recommended."
What is LED light therapy and how does it work?
What you can expect
- Starting light therapy. Generally, most people with seasonal affective disorder begin treatment with light therapy in the early fall, when it typically becomes cloudy in many regions of the country.
- During light therapy. During light therapy sessions, you sit or work near a light box. ...
- Three key elements for effectiveness. ...
What are the best lights for light therapy?
“SAD lamps are intended to mimic natural outdoor light, which could encourage your body to promote wakefulness and balance out those serotonin and melatonin levels to an appropriate place,” O’Neill says. Even if you don’t have depression, a light therapy lamp can still be good for you.
Does led red light therapy really work?
The research behind LED masks is centered on the lights used, and if you’re going by those findings, LED masks can be beneficial to your skin. For instance, in a study with 52 women participants published in the March 2017 issue of Dermatologic Surgery, researchers found that red LED light treatment improved measures of eye-area wrinkles.
Does LED light therapy really improve skin?
When used as directed, LED light therapy can improve your skin over time. You’ll need maintenance treatments to maintain your results. Home devices use lower frequencies and haven’t been proven as effective. What is LED light therapy? Light emitting diode (LED) light therapy is growing in popularity in both aesthetician offices and at home.

Can you do LED light therapy every day?
LED light therapy is noninvasive, so no recovery time is required. You should be able to continue with your everyday activities once your treatment is over. In-office LED light therapy requires up to 10 sessions or more, each spaced out about a week apart. You may start to see minor results after your first session.
Can you overdo LED light therapy?
What Are the Risks? Red light therapy is generally considered safe, even though researchers aren't exactly sure how and why it works. And there are no set rules on how much light to use. Too much light may damage skin tissue, but too little might not work as well.
What is the best serum to use with LED light therapy?
Using an anti-aging cream or serum after your light therapy session may speed up the results. For the best results, look for products containing peptides, retinol, vitamin C, or argan oil.
How often should you do red light therapy?
To see results, make sure you're using your device the minimum recommended 3-5 times per week. Sessions should generally be between 10-20 minutes long. While the more frequent the sessions the better (every day is ideal), increasing the length of individual sessions has not been shown to increase efficacy.
How often should you do LED light therapy?
You may need a treatment each week for about a month. Then you might need maintenance treatments every month or every few months. Some at-home devices may also require a substantial time commitment. You might need to use your device twice a day for 30 to 60 minutes for four to five weeks.
Can you use light therapy twice a day?
Treatment sessions can last from 15 minutes to three hours, once or twice a day, depending on individual needs and equipment used.
Can I use vitamin C serum with LED light?
For this reason, it's best to use any LED tool on a bare, freshly-cleansed face. After you've cleansed your skin, complete your light therapy session, then apply your Vitamin C serum of choice followed by a moisturizer.
What do you put on skin before light therapy?
Immediately before a light therapy session, you should cleanse your skin with a gentle product free of perfumes and dyes (or other drying agents). Gently pat your skin dry and do not apply any topical treatments.
Can I use retinol with LED light therapy?
Although LED lights don't produce harmful UV rays like the sun, light therapy can still produce reactions from retinol. That doesn't mean you can't use retinol and your LED light therapy device, but it does mean you should only use them at separate times.
How many times a day can you do red light therapy?
The biggest advantage of using red light therapy at home is the ability to use it daily without incurring the extra costs that professional treatment would entail. However, if you're not using your device the recommended 3-5 times a week, you're essentially squandering your investment - and the potential benefits.
Can red light therapy reduce belly fat?
It's a type of body sculpting that may help you get rid of stubborn fat. Most research shows that red light therapy removes some fat from your waist and arms, but results are modest at best.
Does red light therapy tighten loose skin?
You can do just that with red light therapy. Often described as the fountain of youth, red light therapy has been clinically shown to reduce wrinkles, promote the healing of scars and blemishes, and tighten sagging skin, resulting in a more youthful appearance - you know, one that matches the 'you' on the inside.
How many sessions of LED light therapy?
You should be able to continue with your everyday activities once your treatment is over. In-office LED light therapy requires up to 10 sessions or more, each spaced out about a week apart. You may start to see minor results after your first session.
How long does LED therapy take?
Each in-office LED light therapy session takes about 20 minutes at a time . You’ll need to wear protective goggles so that the light doesn’t cause any damage to your eyes. Whether you’re using LED lights at home or seeing a provider for treatment, you should not wear any makeup during your session.
Why do we use LED light therapy?
LED light therapy is now used by some aestheticians to help regenerate the skin from aging. It’s also used for acne. Your healthcare provider uses red or blue light frequencies based on the skincare concern.
How much does LED therapy cost?
A single LED light therapy session ranges from about $25 to $85, depending on your area of the country and whether you’re combining it with other treatments. Home LED kits can cost from $25 to $250 or more.
What is red light?
Red light. Red, or infrared, light is used for treating the epidermis, which is the outer layer of skin. When the light is applied to your skin, the epidermis absorbs it and then stimulates collagen proteins.
What are the different wavelengths of LED light?
acne. wrinkles. There are different frequencies, or wavelengths, used with LED light treatment. These include red and blue light frequencies, which don’t contain ultraviolet rays and are readily absorbed into the skin.
When did LED light therapy start?
LED light therapy has an established history of skin uses. The U.S. Navy SEALs began using it in the 1990s to help heal wounds quickly and to help regenerate damaged muscle tissues. Since then, the treatment has been researched for different situations in aesthetics.
What is LED therapy?
LED (light emitting diode) therapy is a non-invasive and painless skincare treatment that uses infrared lights in different wavelengths to penetrate deep into the skin. It can trigger natural intracellular processes and interactions to rejuvenate damaged skin. The treatment was originally developed for medical purposes.
What are the benefits of LED light therapy?
Each frequency of light targets particular areas, thus, solving specific skin concerns. The LED light therapy is mainly noted for the following benefits: 1 Stimulates collagen and elastin production 2 Restores damaged cells and tissues 3 Smoothens the skin 4 Treats acne 5 Minimises the appearance of wrinkles and age spots 6 Regulates the skin’s natural oil production
What is the purpose of blue LED light?
Used to target the sebaceous glands, the Blue LED light can control the oil production, purify the skin, and help prevent breakouts and acne lesions. It possesses an antibacterial property that can kill the acne-causing bacteria that sits below your skin.
What are the symptoms of facial light therapy?
Furthermore, don’t neglect to look out for post-procedure symptoms such as pain, rash, hives, redness, or intensified inflammation. It always pays to consult with professionals if you feel unsure about undergoing facial light therapy.
What is red LED light?
Also known as infrared light, the red LED light works on the outer layer of skin called epidermis. Generally, it can help soothe inflammation and reverse the signs of ageing.
How long does it take to get LED light therapy?
It will usually take 20 minutes for an in-office LED light therapy to finish. Since the results of light therapy for skin are cumulative, the salons will likely require you to go through 10 sessions or more.
Why do Navy SEALs use LED light therapy?
In the 1990s, the U.S. Navy SEALs started utilising the LED light therapy to fuel the healing process of wounds and injured muscle tissues. NASA also got a hold of it since going into space means the astronauts’ cuts and bruises wouldn’t restore due to the lack of gravity, oxygen, and sunlight.
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy is also called photobiomodulation, or low level light therapy (LLLT). Red light devices are fitted with LED bulbs that expose the skin to specific wavelengths of light. These wavelengths, which vary in length based on their color, are measured in nanometers (nm). Different wavelengths of light penetrate ...
How does red light therapy help with muscle recovery?
Muscle Healing. Red light therapy has proved to be effective at stimulating, healing, and regenerating damaged muscle tissue. Many athletes improve their sports performance by using red light for pre-conditioning before exercise, and also after exercise.
What is the wavelength of red light?
The term “red light therapy” includes red light, whose wavelengths range in size from 630nm to 660nm; and near-infrared light (NIR), which ranges from 800nm to 850nm. Research has shown that the most health benefits occur within the red and NIR wavelengths (known as the therapeutic window).
How long does it take for red light to grow hair?
To stimulate hair regrowth, use red light for 10 to 20 minutes three to five times per week at a distance of 6” to 12”. Once hair starts to grow, a maintenance program will continue stimulating normal hair growth.
How long can you use RLT?
According to Michael Hamblin—associate professor at Harvard Medical School and a noted expert on red light therapy—“You could use RLT for 24 hours a day and wouldn’t damage the skin. It’s almost impossible to cause any harm.”.
Can you use red light therapy for chronic pain?
If you’re experiencing the frustration of accelerated aging, suffer from chronic pain, or have a condition that has been stubbornly resistant to conventional treatment, consider red light therapy. And remember, frequency of using red light therapy depends totally on you and your unique needs.
Does red light therapy help with hair loss?
Hair Loss. Although it may sound too good to be true, red light therapy really has been proven to regrow hair. One of many studies was conducted during 2017 and involved 90 patients aged 18 to 70. All participants suffered from androgenic alopecia, which is the scientific term for baldness.
What Is Light Therapy?
Light therapy (also known as LED therapy or phototherapy) is a simple, noninvasive treatment for acne and other skin conditions. Check out this What Is Light Therapy article for a full breakdown.
LED Acne Treatments: Blue or Red Light Therapy?
Blue light and red light are the most common wavelengths used to treat acne, and they both have positive effects on acne and skin. Research is showing that light therapy may be most effective for acne when red and blue light therapy are used together.
How Does Light Therapy Work for Acne?
This post goes into detail about how light therapy works for skin and skin healing. Blue light therapy works by killing the harmful bacteria that gathers on the skin and causes acne. Red light therapy works by reducing inflammation, rejuvenating skin, and diminishing scarring on the skin. [1,2,6,9]
Where To Do Light Therapy Treatments for Acne
Light therapy acne treatments are widely available in both professional and at-home settings. Phototherapy has become a very common and popular acne treatment among dermatologists [15].
Light Therapy vs. Other Acne Treatments
Over 50 million people have acne concerns in the United States alone. Thousands of different products exist to treat acne, including prescription drugs, topical medications, and beauty products like washes and peels.
Chemical Peels vs. Light Therapy for Teenagers with Acne
Research has shown that LED light therapy is more effective against acne than certain chemical peels. [8] A 2017 trial with teenagers compared light therapy acne spot treatments with salicylic acid peels.
Risks and Side Effects of Light Therapy Treatments
In clinical settings, light therapy acne treatments have proven to be generally safe and well-tolerated. [1,3,10] The simple, noninvasive nature of light therapy is one of the reasons it has become such a popular acne treatment, especially when compared with some acne medications and chemical peels that can cause major side effects.
What is LED light therapy?
“LED (light emitting diode) therapy is a form of low-level light energy that penetrates the skin to cause different reactions and target different issues ,” explains Dr. Robin Evans, board-certified dermatologist at Southern Connecticut Dermatology.
What is the best light for acne?
You can also try a hands-free light that goes over your entire face, like Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare’s SpectraLite™ FaceWare Pro, which combines red and blue light to address aging skin and acne, and SpectraLite EyeCare Pro, which uses red light to target fine lines and wrinkles around the eye, to cut down on time.
Does LED light therapy help with wrinkles?
It also stimulates collagen, which acts as an anti-aging treatment against fine lines and wrinkles” she adds. Another benefit, unlike other skin treatments (extractions, we’re looking at you!), is that LED light therapy is for the most part pain-free.
Can you use LED lights on your skin?
Tips and Precautions for Best Results. Almost all skin types can use an LED light at home, Evans says. However, avoid them if your skin is inflamed or irritated, or if you have any rashes on the areas being treated, she recommends.
Does LED light hurt skin?
An LED light doesn’t heat the skin like a tanning bed would, so there won’t be any thermal damage (the exception is an infrared light.) “Generally, you’ll have minimal to no downtime with very little discomfort,” Evans adds.
Can LED lights be used on face?
It seems too good to be true : You shine an LED light over your face and the problem areas go away. While that really is how it works, there’s a lot more going on under the surface that only science can explain. It turns out, there’s a powerful source of energy in that tiny light.
Is LED light therapy effective?
LED light therapy for at-home use might not be as powerful as the ones your dermatologist uses, but they can still be highly effective. Here’s what else you should consider before making a purchase:
What is the best light therapy for wrinkles?
The LightStim For Wrinkles is an award-winning, FDA-cleared red light therapy device which will improve your skin by encouraging your skin’s natural collagen and elastin production. It can be used on the entire face and is suitable for all skin types.
How many results does red light therapy have?
Unsurprisingly there is a huge number of products available. In fact, if you type “red light therapy” into Amazon, you will get over 3000 results! All these products are intended for slightly different purposes, so it’s not surprising if you feel a little overwhelmed at choosing which one is right for you.
Why do people use red LED lights?
This discovery has led to red LED light usage in treatment for skin damage and conditions such as acne, irritated rosacea-plagued skin, psoriasis, age spots and wrinkles.
Why did NASA use red lights in the 1990s?
In the 1990’s red lights were used by NASA as grow lights for plants in space. The LED light used in these devices were ten times brighter than the sun. Therefore, they sped up plant cell production and the photosynthesis process.
Can red light therapy help with acne?
Skin cells regenerate faster with red light therapy, and it can be used to treat many skin problems – from psoriasis to acne, wrinkles and more. It’s a simple, safe treatment with long-lasting results.
Does LED light have a wavelength?
Since the discovery by NASA in 1990 that it affects living tissue, numerous researchers have shown that LED lights that have different wavelengths have slightly different beneficial effects on the skin, which aid in the healing and rejuvenating processes.
Is LED light good for wrinkles?
However, the good news is that this technology is now available to all, in the comfort of your own home.
What is red light therapy?
Summary. Red light therapy, also known as low-level light therapy, is a non-invasive procedure that may help remove fat from targeted areas of your body.
How long does it take for a laser to remove fat cells?
When you attend a laser session, a trained professional, such as a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon, will place the laser on each treatment area for 10–40 minutes.
Is red light therapy good for fat removal?
Bottom line. Red light therapy — also known as low-level laser therapy or infrared light — is an emerging non-invasive fat removal treatment. While it may sound too good to be true, proponents of red light therapy claim it has helped remove “stubborn” fat that diet and exercise have failed to get rid of.
Can you lose weight with red light?
Nevertheless, you do not need red light therapy to lose weight.
Do you need red light therapy to lose weight?
Nevertheless, you do not need red light therapy to lose weight. Following a diet comprised of minimally processed foods and adopting a regular exercise regimen can help you achieve the calorie deficit that’s needed for weight loss. Summary.
Does red light help with weight loss?
Red light therapy — or low-level laser therapy (LLLT) — may cause modest weight and fat loss. That said, adopting a healthy diet and exercise regimen may be a more sustainable way of achieving long-term weight loss.
