Shine a light

While the latest at-home LED light therapy devices can help improve one's skin concerns, here's why you should not cancel your dermatologist appointment just yet.

In recent years, facial light therapy has evolved from something that was only professionally done at a beauty salon or clinic, to an easy and convenient DIY treatment you can do at home. Lightemitting diode (LED) masks might look like something out of a sci-fi film, but they have increased in popularity, thanks to celeb fans like Victoria Beckham and Chrissy Teigan.

The popularity of these devices can be attributed to the fact that they’re easy to use, and provide pain-free procedures with neither the need for invasive procedures nor downtime. Purported benefits include improving blood circulation, reducing blemishes, as well as minimising the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Dr Harvey Ho, founder of Skinscape Clinic, explains that LED light therapy works by using light in the visible spectrum and beyond. “Common colours (or wavelengths) include blue (400 to 470 nm), red (630 to 700 nm), yellow (560 to 620 nm), and infrared (700 to 1,200 nm). The different wavelengths penetrate the skin to different depths, creating different therapeutic effects on our cells and metabolic process,” he says.

Therefore, the skin benefits of LED light therapy depends on the colour or wavelength of light emitted. For example, blue light can be beneficial for acne, red light stimulates collagen production, yellow light reduces redness and inflammation, and infrared light speeds up healing.

He emphasises that when used properly, LED light therapy is a safe and relatively risk-free treatment. The risks are more likely to stem from overuse or misuse of at-home devices without professional guidance, or disregard of the manufacturer's instructions, rather than long-term use.