What Can LED and Near-Infrared Light Therapies Do for Your Skin?

You've probably heard about LED and Near-Infrared Light Therapies, but do you know what LED and NIR stand for? More importantly, do you know what they can do for your skin and what is the difference between the two?

We All Heard About LED, but What Is It Really?

Once upon a time, the beauty-tech industry revealed a game-changer in skincare called LED therapy. If you want to learn more about LED’s path to the beauty-tech industry, check out this place. LED stands for Light-Emitting Diode and LED therapy harnesses various colors of light, each with its specific wavelength, to target different skin concerns. This therapy is a gentle, non-invasive and effective way to rejuvenate and transform the skin making it look radiant and revitalized. 

Benefits of Using Different LED Lights

LED light therapy can help treat a range of concerns including laxity, acne, pigmentation, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and aging skin. The mechanism of action is essentially at a cellular level. LED light therapy appears to affect cellular metabolism by triggering cellular reactions. These result in skin benefits such as increased collagen production, wound healing and increased blood flow amongst others. Different colors of LED light help with different skin concerns: 

Red LED combats signs of skin aging for a more youthful look. 

Yellow LED reduces the appearance of redness and soothes skin. 

Green LED brightens a dull complexion, and evens skin tone.  

Cyan LED calms and relieves stressed skin.  

Purple LED reduces the appearance of age spots and hyperpigmentation. 

Orange LED revitalizes skin and helps improve skin texture. 

White LED offers the combined benefits of all other colors in the spectrum.  

Blue LED reduces the appearance of blemishes.

The Most Popular LED Therapy

The most popular is red light therapy (range of approx. 700nm) which penetrates the skin at a deeper level and therefore triggers cellular changes. Red light therapy can help to stimulate production of elastin and collagen as well as to increase blood flow. This leads to tighter and smoother skin. Red light therapy is also great for wound healing. 

The Easiest Way for LED to Become a Part of Your Skincare Routine

Usually in life you can’t have it all. But sometimes you can. If you are interested in super fast at home treatments that are safe for you, we might have a recommendation that will bring LED therapy to your life, without any complications. FOREO UFO™ 3 is a deep hydration device that increases skin moisture levels by an astonishing 126% in under two minutes, and in just one week of use, it has been clinically proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. With UFO™ 3, you have access to a full spectrum of LED lights. If you are up to being a champion in using LED you might try FAQ™ 202 Anti-Aging Silicone LED Mask.

What Do LED and NIR Have in Common and What Is the Difference?

Near-Infrared Light (NIR) and LED therapy are two distinct yet complementary skincare treatments. LED therapy and NIR therapy are both forms of phototherapy. They both use specific wavelengths of light to provide therapeutic benefits to the body. However, they differ in the range of wavelengths they use and the intended therapeutic effects. LED therapy is primarily used for cosmetic and dermatological purposes, including skin rejuvenation, acne treatment, and wound healing. Some devices use both of these technologies, such as FOREO UFO™ LED or the FAQ™ 200 collection that includes FAQ™ 202 Anti-Aging Silicone LED Face Mask, FAQ™ 221 Anti-Aging LED Hand Mask and FAQ™ 211 Anti-Aging LED Neck & Décolleté Mask.

The open-palm FAQ™ 221 Anti-Aging LED Hand Mask is designed to rejuvenate and restore the youthful appearance of hands that are frequently exposed to the sun and environmental damage.

FAQ™ 211 Anti-Aging LED Neck & Décolleté Mask is a dual-wear LED mask - that can be worn the opposite way to target wrinkles or bacne on the back of the neck, neck, and upper back.

NIR therapy has a wider scope of use: physical therapy, sports medicine, and general pain management, especially in cases of chronic pain or musculoskeletal injuries. While NIR utilizes a spectrum of light with wavelengths ranging from 700 to 1,100 nanometers, which is beyond the visible spectrum of light, LED therapy harnesses various colors of light, each with its specific wavelength, to target different skin concerns.

5 Things to Remember Before Using NIR or LED

1. Talk to your dermatologist/GP or licensed skincare professional They will assess your skin type and specific concerns to tailor a personalized NIR/LED treatment plan. 

2. Consider scheduling professional NIR treatments  If you are looking for a more intensive and customized approach or you need help treating a certain skincare condition such as acne or rosacea, think about professional treatment. 

3. Combining NIR and LED with skincare products Pairing NIR/LED treatments with skincare products rich in antioxidants and ingredients that promote collagen production can enhance the overall results.  

4. Safety precautions Both LED and NIR therapies are generally safe and non-invasive. However, it's essential to follow the recommended guidelines and safety instructions provided by the manufacturer or healthcare professional. 

5. Treatment Duration and Frequency Different LED and NIR devices may have varying treatment times and recommended frequencies. Some treatments may require several sessions to achieve the desired results. Understand the time commitment involved and be consistent with the treatment schedule to maximize the benefits.