Should You Use LED?
LED is not a new therapy, but it does get more popular every year. Light therapy is proven by clinical studies to work (and was even developed by NASA!), but there are many frauds on the market. You can always count on us to fend off the fads and frauds in order to give you all the facts.
What is LED?
LED is short for light emitting diode. It’s a non-invasive skin therapy that applies light at specific wavelengths which then improves skin cells’ performance. When the cells absorb the low-level light energy, the skin's texture and tone improve and it also speeds up skin’s healing time. LED can be used to treat a wide variety of skin concerns including acne, rosacea, dry and damaged skin barriers, and aging. It is a great option for every single skin type and is safe for EVERYONE – even those pregnant, breastfeeding, and with sensitive skin.
Will it clear acne?
LED alone will not clear acne, but it can help! There are some big upsides to using LED. It will not dry out your skin as topical treatments might, and it is super safe. There is absolutely no downside to using it, besides cost. So what about the upside? Blue acne light is proven to kill acne bacteria. It takes three components to make acne – dead skin, oil, and acne bacteria. If you remove any or all of these components, you will see the acne improve. That said, JUST removing the bacteria component will not be enough. You MUST make lifestyle and topical changes to clear your skin, meaning effects from LED can be marginal.
Will it take away wrinkles?
Unfortunately, once you see a wrinkle it is probably too late to get rid of it completely. Seeing the signs of aging is not always fun, but we are all in it together! When it comes to treating your aging skin, you will first need to lower your expectations. Do not look to take away every line and wrinkle, but rather to improve them. LED can absolutely decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, but you would most likely need a before and after or a keen eye for your skin to really notice. We see our skin every day, and it changes slowly over time. Short of botox, fillers, and cosmetic surgery nothing will take away deep wrinkles. Some fine lines are not permanent but are just dehydrated or built-up skin. That’s why a regimen of good skincare is the first line of defense. LED comes second, but yes, the clinical studies are there and prove that when used consistently, you see improvements.
Should I get LED professional treatments?
At Skin MPLS we use LED as one of many modalities that we cocktail together for your skin. If you wanted to give professional treatments with LED a shot you would need at least two 30-minute treatments a week. Series and packages aren’t our thing, and we don’t think our clients have that kind of time to spend at our studio. Plus, sticking you under the LED for 30 minutes is boring for us who want to dig into the skin. We’d rather see you use a device at home. That said, always let us know if you would like to commit more time to your treatments to LED. We are happy to do that in your customized facial treatments.
Should I use an LED device at home?
Yes! We retail the LightStim because it’s affordable, powerful, and proven to work. The reason for that is because it is a smaller handheld device. Larger LED devices should retail for closer to $1,000 and masks retail for around $550 or (sorry to say) they aren’t real (2023 UPDATE: Our favorite Omnilux LED Mask brand that we’ve personally used for years came down in pricing!! Check them out here)! We’ve even heard stories of cheap imposter devices that have literally painted lights red. Remember, companies can sell anything and say anything. You need to get your light from a reputable source, and have it come with some sort of guarantee! If you are looking for a bigger investment than the LightStim, just ask us and we will be happy to send you some unbiased information.