You may have read about about LED (light-emitting diode) treatments that answer a variety of skin issues including acne, rosacea and life lines on social media and in beauty mags. Have you wondered whether the technology actually works? After all, the tools are not inexpensive and professional treatments require very regular appointments. Well, based on my personal experience and research about how it works, I can say yes, it does achieve results.
LED tools use various colours to treat the skin, depending on what you’re seeking to correct, and work by penetrating the skin to repair damaged cells. They also encourage collagen and elastin production while improving circulation. Previously, these results required laser treatment, however LED light offers additional benefits in that it is painless and requires no downtime.
Treatment sessions can be as short as three minutes, however the key to LED success is regular usage. To see results, treatment needs to happen multiple times a week for 6 to 8 weeks. And while homecare tools won’t be as powerful as those in a treatment room, because it requires consistent commitment, I think the innovation for home use is really exciting if you’re serious about your skincare.
I was intrigued to try out LED for myself and started with an eye mask to reduce the lines between my eyebrows (often referred to as 11s because of their appearance). They’re not terribly pronounced, but in an effort to prevent them becoming worse and all in the name of research for you, I gave it a try. Using it about 5 times per week, I noticed improvement in about a month.
I have also used a handheld device similar to this one to treat the occasional blemish and to alleviate redness from a product reaction. I was pleased with the results on both occasions. My plan for this device is to help repair sun damage on my chest, though I haven’t used it long enough to give a full endorsement for this.
One important note about using LED tools. They need to be applied to clean skin so that the light can penetrate. And daily SPF is key to ensure UV rays and free radicals don’t undo the work that’s been done.
Do you use LED at home? Or would you rather do it as part of a professional treatment?