How LED Works for Skin Enhancement

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. In cosmetic applications there are three types of light based treatments offered by this technology.

• Blue Light Therapy
• Red Light Therapy
• Infrared Light Therapy

Each one focuses on a particular range of light waves on the broader spectrum of visible and invisible light. LED is used for:

- Acne treatments
- Treating broken capillaries
- Skin rejuvenation

- Skin tone
- Wrinkles

How LED Works

LED delivers diffuse light in the range of blue light, red light or infrared light. The application of this technology increases or decreases the rate of the body's own natural processes in the form of cell metabolism and other chemical processes. Some of the physiological effects of LED in cosmetic procedures include:

- Speeding up the healing process of damaged cells
- Regenerating tissue
- Increasing collagen production
- Removal of broken capillaries
- Diminishing the size of enlarged pores

Visible light includes wavelengths between 400nm-700nm. Within this range, violet light is around 400nm. Blue light is about 475nm and red light is roughly 700nm. Infrared light is invisible to the human eye. This type of light has wavelengths that are longer than 700nm.

LED and light based therapies in general work on the principle that different wave lengths have different effects. Longer wavelengths can reach deeper layers of the skin. In LED, red and infrared light waves are used for skin rejuvenation purposes, such as improving wrinkles and skin tone. Red and blue wavelength ranges are used to kill bacteria associated with moderate to severe cases of acne.

LED For Skin Rejuvenation

A study published by the Journal of Cosmetic Laser Therapy was performed on 31 subjects who received eight LED treatments. 52 % of these individuals showed improvement in the appearance of their skin. These results were quantified using the standards set forth by photoaging scoring techniques. 82% showed a significant reduction in the wrinkles on their face, particularly around the eyes.

Red and infrared light waves can reach 1-1.5 inches beneath the skin's surface to stimulate the physiological processes used by fibroblasts to produce collagen and elastin. These are proteins that give the skin its firmness and elasticity. By regenerating new collagen and elastin support structures, wrinkles diminish.

LED For Treating Acne

Acne is caused by several factors that often interact with one another. These include deposits of dead skin cells, dirt from the environment, the effect of hormones on follicles and even genetics. Sebaceous glands that produce high levels of sebum serve as a breeding ground for the P. acnes bacteria. Inflammation occurs as white blood cells are mobilized to fight off these invading organisms. When left untreated, the inflammation leads to acne scars.

Because LED addresses the bacteria associated with moderate to severe acne, it is considered to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Typically blue light is used to address acne. However, red light can also be used in certain cases.

The bacteria produces porphyrins which absorb the LED light, leading to the destruction of their cell bodies. In the treatment of acne, Levulan is applied on the skin to enhance the absorption of light.

LED sessions usually last 30 minutes and are administered every 7-10 days for a period of six weeks. Treatments can then be administered every one to two months for maintenance. The procedures are painless with no downtime.