LED light therapy is part of almost every skin professional’s armamentarium for effective acne and anti-aging skin care routines. However, many professionals are now discovering that non-invasive LED light therapy is not just a great addition to skin health, but a valuable tool to help achieve whole body health as well.
Since LED light therapy combats inflammation and induces collagen production, it is a great option for those who suffer from general pain conditions. Let’s take a look at the head-to-toe benefits of LED light therapy.
How Light Therapy Works
One of the easiest ways to explain red and near-infrared light therapy is to think of it as photosynthesis for mammals. Just like plants, scientific research has shown that human bodies can absorb light particles called photons and transform that light energy into adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is what powers the metabolic processes in our cells, thus improving overall cellular performance and encouraging tissue repair and regeneration. Quality medical-grade light therapy devices utilize three scientifically proven wavelengths: blue, red and near-infrared.
Just like plants derive energy from the sun through photosynthesis, light therapy uses specific wavelengths to stimulate a natural response in human tissue that can increase circulation, accelerate tissue repair, ease muscle pain, relieve joint stiffness, improve skin conditions and enhance overall cell performance at the cellular level. Light therapy boosts cellular performance to encourage and enhance the body’s ability to heal itself from the inside out.
Keeping Acne Breakouts Under Control
It is well known that LED therapy using light energy in the blue light range of the electromagnetic spectrum (400nm – 470nm) is effective in treating mild to moderate Acne vulgaris. When C. acnes bacteria is exposed to blue light energy, a phototoxic event is created, resulting in the death of the bacteria. Specifically, LED light therapy systems utilize the mechanism of endogenous photodynamic therapy, where bacterial porphyrins, which are produced as part of the normal metabolism of C. acnes, act as natural photosensitizers. When they absorb light, preferably wavelengths in the blue light and red light range, the resultant photodynamic reaction produces singlet oxygen species and reactive free radicals, which destroy the bacteria themselves. Essentially, the C. acnes bacteria commit suicide.
Blue light is the wavelength of choice for treating acne, as it is a short wavelength of light energy at the peak of the light energy absorption curve. The penetration of light energy is a function of the wavelength. As wavelengths get shorter, the light energy penetrates more shallow. As C. acnes bacteria resides close to the surface of the skin and blue light is shallow penetrating, blue light is ideal for killing C. acnes bacteria. And in the absence of C. acnes bacteria, you eliminate one of the fundamental sources of Acne vulgaris. This being the case, having a light therapy device that emits light energy in the blue range is essential for every skin care professional, as well as home users looking to eliminate their acne issues.
Managing Aches, Pains and Aging-Skin
Who wouldn’t like a little more collagen to help eliminate those fine lines and under eye wrinkles? But did you know that collagen plays a much larger role in how your body functions?
Collagen is defined as a protein that your body naturally makes. It actually makes up almost a third of all the protein in our bodies and is an essential component for healthy joints. Although most of us tend to think of collagen as the cure for under eye wrinkles and laugh lines, it is also accurate to think of collagen as the glue that holds together our muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, organs and skin.
There are 16 different types of collagen in our bodies, but most are type I, II or III. Also, each collagen type has a different job to do.1 Type I builds skin, bones, tendon and ligaments. Type II helps make cartilage, the flexible tissues between bones and in our ears and nose. And Type III helps create muscles and blood vessels. Our bodies make less collagen as we age, which is why we have those stiff joints or weak muscles.
The use of red light therapy for increasing collagen production is highly effective, as it stimulates fibroblast growth factors and increases the production of ATP. This increase in ATP, pro-collagen and collagen synthesis, and increased blood flow can dramatically reduce fine lines and wrinkles. Proven red and near-infrared wavelengths of light energy are clinically verified to enhance your body’s natural ability to generate collagen and elastin by stimulating fibroblast cells.
When it comes to effective treatment of pain conditions with LED light therapy, wavelength is the key to success. Compared to blue light therapy, near-infrared wavelengths can penetrate deep into the muscle and joint tissue to alleviate pain, increase circulation and decrease inflammation. LED light therapy provides compromised cells with extra energy to accelerate the natural repair of compromised tissue cells, foster cell production and restore homeostasis within the body. Those suffering from arthritic pain can benefit from using an LED red light therapy that is FDA-cleared to treat the pain associated with arthritis.
Near infrared wavelengths are clinically proven to penetrate deep below the surface layer of the skin to better target muscle and joint pain right where it starts. This provides much needed pain relief from inflammation, injury and aging issues. For example, if you have ever suffered from the effects of arthritis, then you know the pain and discomfort this disease can cause. LED light therapy is a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical alternative that can effectively treat arthritic pain.
