TikTok and Instagram have catapulted LED light therapy into many more people’s consciousness over recent years.
And while it’s the at-home LED light therapy masks that have been getting a lot of the online attention, they’ve also made people a lot more aware of – and curious about – the professional version of this treatment.
And the short version is this…
A professional LED light therapy facial is a completely non-invasive, highly beneficial skincare treatment that is proven to address a variety of concerns and leave you with healthier, more youthful, and radiant skin.
It’s also a treatment that can be combined with just about any other type of facial in order to greatly enhance the results, as well as minimize any post-treatment discomfort.
All in all, it’s a soothing yet powerful treatment that we’re proud to offer at BodyTonic to help our clients achieve their best skin yet. So if you’re keen to find out more about this innovative facial and whether it might be right for you, keep reading.
What is LED light therapy?
LED light therapy is a safe, gentle, and entirely non-invasive skin treatment that uses LED (which stands for “light-emitting diode”) technology to rejuvenate, treat, and generally improve the skin.
Given its rejuvenating benefits, light therapy facials are the most popular type of light therapy treatment. But light therapy can in fact be used on any part of the body.
LED light therapy uses low-level lights that are completely safe for the skin. These lights come in varying wavelengths, each of which has a different visible color.
Each wavelength (or color) penetrates the skin at different depths, where it then naturally stimulates a specific cellular process – such as increasing collagen production, reducing inflammation, or killing off the bacteria that is responsible for acne.
This essentially means that, depending on the color (or wavelength) of light used, LED light therapy is effective at treating a wide variety of different skin concerns and conditions.
What does LED light therapy do?
Overall, LED light therapy results in healthier, calmer, and more radiant skin – in one of the gentlest and least invasive ways possible.
As the different colors of LED light each penetrate the skin at different depths and come with their own set of benefits, LED light therapy is a highly customizable treatment that can address a wide range of skin concerns, from wrinkles, sun damage, and other signs of aging, to rosacea, eczema, acne, and more.
Depending on your specific skin concerns and goals, either a single color will be used during your treatment, or a combination.
But overall, LED light therapy facials can achieve the following results:
- Reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Firmer, smoother skin texture
- Evened-out skin tone
- Reduced acne breakouts and acne inflammation
- Lightened hyperpigmentation spots
- Reduced redness and soothing of sensitive skin
- Brightened complexion
- Accelerated wound and scar healing
- Increased cell regeneration and renewal
LED light therapy color benefits
There are four main colors in LED light therapy treatments: red, blue, yellow, and green.
Red and blue lights are the most commonly used, as they are proven to generate the most effective results. However, green and yellow also have their specific benefits, and most treatments will apply a combination of different light colors to your face, suited to the concerns you want to address.
Red light benefits:
Known for its anti-aging properties, red light penetrates deep into the skin to stimulate collagen and elastin production. This helps reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging while also tightening the skin and making it softer and smoother.
Red light is also very beneficial for reducing redness, inflammation, swelling, and bruising, improving circulation (to leave the skin with a radiant glow), and generally speeding up the healing process. This makes it an excellent ally for treating skin conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, and eczema, as well as for boosting healing following other skin treatments.
Blue light benefits:
Ideal for those struggling with acne, blue light targets and kills the bacteria that cause breakouts, and also reduces oil production. This makes it very effective at helping to clear up acne as well as prevent future breakouts, leading to clearer, healthier skin.
Green light benefits:
If hyperpigmentation or uneven skin tone is a concern, green light can be very beneficial. It targets the excess melanin in the skin, helping to fade dark spots and even out your complexion over time.
Yellow light benefits:
For those with sensitive or reactive skin, yellow light offers a soothing and calming effect. It helps to reduce redness and irritation, while also addressing pigmentation and signs of photodamage.
What to expect from an LED light therapy facial
As a completely non-invasive procedure, an LED light therapy facial is not only a quick, pain-free, and effective treatment, but it’s a very soothing, relaxing, and enjoyable experience.
Here’s exactly what you can expect from an LED light therapy facial:
Suitability:
LED light therapy is suitable for almost all skin types, making it an excellent option for anyone looking to improve their skin’s health and appearance. Whether you're dealing with aging skin, acne, rosacea, or pigmentation issues, this treatment can be customized to address your specific needs.
Comfort:
One of the great things about LED light therapy is that it’s not only completely painless, but it’s in fact a very relaxing and soothing procedure. You simply lie under a light screen that emits a gentle warmth over your face, and let the LED lights do their work.
Results:
You’ll notice an improvement from the first treatment, but the best results are always cumulative, so we normally recommend a course of about six to ten treatments for the very best outcomes. But as with any type of skin treatment, the exact number of sessions needed will depend on your individual skin concerns and goals.
Post-treatment care:
After your session, your skin may be more susceptible to UV damage so you should avoid the sun for 48 hours and keep your skin protected with a high factor SPF. Some people may experience mild redness immediately after the treatment, but this typically subsides within a few hours.
Combining LED light therapy with other treatments
At BodyTonic, we always want to maximize the results of our patients’ treatments, which is why we often recommend combining LED light therapy with other facial treatments.
Because LED light therapy is completely non-invasive yet able to reach the deepest layers of skin and trigger collagen production, cell regeneration, and other beneficial skin rejuvenation effects, it combines brilliantly with most other facial treatments.
Not only does a combination treatment significantly enhance the effectiveness and results of both treatments, but the light therapy can minimize any post-treatment redness or discomfort that might come about from the other procedure, thanks to the soothing and calming effects of red and yellow LED lights.
Here’s a list of some of the treatments at BodyTonic that pair excellently with LED light therapy:
- Clinical facials
- Dermaplaning
- Dermaplaning facial with jelly mask and LED
- Hydrafacial
- Chemical peels
- Fire & Ice Facial
- Glo2Facial
Every treatment combination offers its own unique benefits, depending on your specific skincare needs or goals, so get in touch if you want to find out more about all of our facial treatments and the combination that might be best for you.
Does at-home LED light therapy work?
With the rise of at-home LED light therapy devices, you might be wondering if this is an option worth exploring.
Unfortunately, as is often the case with at-home versions of aesthetic treatments, at-home LED light therapy devices are not medical-grade products and therefore lack the power, precision, and sometimes even the safety of the professional versions.
Professional LED light therapy, like that offered at BodyTonic, uses top-quality medical-grade equipment that can penetrate the skin more deeply and accurately and deliver far more noticeable results. This makes professional treatments considerably more effective for addressing specific concerns and for achieving long-lasting results.
While at-home devices can be tempting, they often don’t have a way to protect your eyes, which can be a great risk. But even in the best case, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to give you the results you’re looking for, so for best results it’s always recommended to go for a professional treatment.
Enjoy radiant skin with light therapy facials at BodyTonic
LED light therapy has become a favorite treatment among our clients here at BodyTonic Med Spa, and with its versatility, effectiveness, and enjoyably soothing process, it’s no great surprise.
So if you’re based in the Cleveland area and are tempted to see first-hand what an LED light therapy facial could do to your complexion, don’t hesitate to get in touch to arrange a consultation.
At BodyTonic, we’re committed to helping our clients achieve their skin goals with the highest quality treatments available, so whether you’re looking to improve your complexion with a stand-alone light therapy facial or enhance your results by combining it with other treatments, our experienced team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Book your consultation at BodyTonic today and take the first step towards healthier, more radiant skin.
