So, consider these unknowns when weighing the pros and cons of LED light therapy. Marissa Heller, an assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School. "The long-term safety of these light therapies remains uncertain," says Dr. Yet there is still a lot that's not known about the effects of these devices. One brand, Neutrogena, recalled its Light Therapy Acne Mask in July in response to concerns about the device's potential to damage the eyes in people with underlying eye conditions or those who are taking medication that makes the eyes more sensitive to light. However, it is important to shield your eyes from the light while using them, says Dr.
#Red light center safe skin#
LED skin devices don't have a lot of power, so they're unlikely to burn your skin. The FDA has approved some products for home use. Short-term safetyįor the most part, these LED light therapies appear to be relatively safe, at least in the short term, says Dr.
However, more research is needed to confirm that these lights are truly effective and that they produce lasting results. acnes and the red light targeting inflammation and redness. Often blue and red light are used in combination to help fight acne - the blue light targeting the C. Blue light may also kill acne-causing bacteria known as Cutibacterium acnes. It may do this by reducing activity in the sebaceous glands, so they produce less of the oil that can plug the hair follicles, leading to acne. In addition, some studies show that red light may help to restore hair for those with androgenetic alopecia, or male- and female-pattern hair loss, she says.īlue LED light is most often used to treat acne. So, in theory, red light could help to reverse some of the signs related to photoaging in the skin, says Dr. Experts believe that red LED light acts on cells in the skin known as fibroblasts, which play a role in production of collagen, a protein that makes up a large part of connective tissue and helps the skin to recover when it's harmed. Red and blue lights are typically promoted in LED skin treatments. Depending on how deeply they penetrate, LED lights are thought to have different biological effects. Different wavelengths of the visible light spectrum correspond to different colors of LED light and penetrate the skin to different depths. LED lights have been around since the 1960s, but have only recently been used as a skin treatment. Researchers are now aiming to better understand how both visible light and LED light affect the skin. "Only recently have we started to talk about the effects of visible light on the skin - not necessarily LED light, but visible light in general," says Dr. Those are the sun's rays that age the skin, leading to wrinkles and discoloration. Then, the focus shifted to ultraviolet A rays, or UVA. First, they focused their attention on the so-called burning rays of the sun, or ultraviolet B radiation, more commonly referred to as UVB. About LED skin therapiesįor many years, scientists have studied how the sun's rays affect the skin. "I think it's a really exciting emerging area," she says. Elizabeth Buzney, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School. Some small studies have shown promise for certain conditions, says Dr.
The question is, are these claims true? Can LED light devices really do all these things for your skin? And more importantly, are they safe?Įxperts say that it's too early to know whether these devices are effective. If you've visited a spa or even a drugstore lately, you've probably seen one of the growing number of treatments and products on the market. They're touted to treat everything from wrinkles, redness, and signs of aging to acne, scarring, and dark spots. The claims about light-emitting diode (LED) skin devices certainly sound appealing. There is some evidence they work, but it's far from conclusive.