LED stands for light emitting diode, and yes, that’s the same as the lights in your ceiling. The difference between your everyday LED light and medical grade LED lights is the fact they use stronger forms of this light at specific wavelengths to treat ageing, damaged tissue and also various skin conditions (including acne).
LED lights were first used to expedite the healing of wounds and scars post surgery but, like many medical advancements, the beauty industry has also found a use for such great technology.
It really has such solid scientific data behind it.
This light therapy treatment is suitable for everyone and can be used on all skin types. I personally like it because it not only helps healing post injectables, needling and peels but it stimulates repair of damaged cells to improve skin quality. It is safe, pain free and delivers concentrated light without the risk of trauma or thermal damage to the skin. The best part of all is the fact that there is no down-time at all!
The LED light is pure without any harmful UVA or UVB rays. The 415 wave length is blue and can destroy propionibacterium acnes (the bacteria involved in acne) and the 613/615nm red light wavelength stimulates ATP within a cell, which then stimulates fibroblasts (fibroblasts make collagen and elastin).
In doing this, LED helps skin to look plumper and have more bounce overall. The near infrared wavelength of 830mm is good for deeper skin healing and it also stimulates the parasympathetic rest and relax response, which means it will help you feel less stressed.
I particularly like this aspect as nearly everyone who comes to Halcyon for some TLC is stressed.
For the best outcome, LED is best used with other treatments and realistically, the more treatments the better. I suggest using it every one to two weeks with peels over a series of 6-8 treatments to achieve a noticeable result when treating acne or ageing skin. To maintain these effects a maintenance treatment course is then recommended. If the light is being used is to treat sports injuries or to heal wounds, at least 2-3 treatments would be required.
The main questions I have received regarding LED light treatments are clients wanting to know what is involved and how it feels. Firstly, you’ll be given a pair of lovely weighted goggles to wear, (these feel lovely and calming by themselves!) and I will have you lay comfortably under red and infrared light, which is super bright. Your skin will feel slightly warm much like lying in the sun for a few minutes. In total, a peel and LED treatment takes 30mins.
Lastly, how does a medical grade LED compare to home treatments?
Not all LED lights are the same. Some home treatments may be effective but they will rarely be as strong or deliver results like industry standard devices.
In summary the medical grade low-level-light LEDs are a safe, non-invasive technology, working well with multiple modalities to help improve fine lines, lax skin, pigmentation, wide pores and acne. With effective healing properties the LED therapy is also useful to reduce down-time post surgical and anti-ageing procedures.
All hail the humble LED!
For any further information or to book in, contact Dr Lizzy via our contact page or drlizzy@halcyonskin.com.au.