Darth Vader has nothing to do with it.
Whether you want to reduce fine lines, redness or pigment spots or get firmer skin: LED face masks are the way to go. But how does LED light actually work?
High-tech gadget
You’ve probably seen them before: those futuristic LED face masks that envelop your entire face and emit a red, blue or yellow light. Darth Vader has nothing to do with it. Despite their bizarre appearance, LED masks are becoming increasingly popular. LED light therapy has been used in skin care salons and clinics for years. Understandable, because with serums and creams you mainly treat the first layer of the skin: the upper layer. LED light also penetrates the deeper layers of the skin, improving skin structure and moisture balance and stimulating collagen production.
Research
Scientific research, including from the American Academy of Dermatology, shows that LED light therapy has numerous positive benefits for your skin. Pigmentation, acne, fine laugh lines near your eyes and mouth, frown lines in your forehead, a gray tint or sagging skin? LED light therapy to the rescue.
It almost sounds like a miracle cure and you don’t have to cut or prick. It is not surprising that we see more and more attractive masks appearing on the beauty market that you can use safely at home. Although it is a hefty investment. Most face masks have a hefty price tag. But especially if you suffer from specific skin complaints such as scars, rosacea, acne and hyperpigmentation, an LED light mask can be worthwhile.
How does LED light therapy work?
Good, but how does it work? With LED light therapy, you expose the skin via a mask to different wavelengths of light that penetrate deep into the skin. These rays are – unlike UV light – good for your skin. LED light stimulates the production of new skin cells and can repair damaged tissue. What exactly the light rays do for your skin depends on the color of the LED light, more about that later. Remarkable fact: LED light therapy was invented by NASA scientists in the 1990s. They discovered that plants could grow in space thanks to LED light. Soon after, it turned out that LED light can also renew skin cells, stimulate muscle recovery, reduce inflammation and accelerate wound healing.
All colors in a row
There are different colors of LED light, all of which do something different for your skin. Each color penetrates to different depths, creating a different effect. So take a good look at your personal skin wishes and then look for a mask that has the right LED color, so that the treatment really benefits you. There are also LED face masks with multiple colors of LED light.
- Red: red LED light stimulates collagen and elastin production in the skin and stimulates blood circulation. Do you have wrinkles and fine lines, and do you want tighter skin? Then you go for red. Infrared (white light): has the same effect as red LED light, but can penetrate even deeper into the skin layers, stimulating the production of fibroblasts (cells in your connective tissue) and allowing more collagen to be produced. Infrared also has a restorative and healing effect.
- Blue: this color has an antibacterial effect and is recommended if you suffer from acne or troubled skin. Blue also works well against excess sebum. When blue is combined with red light, it also has an anti-inflammatory effect on the skin.
- Green: if you suffer from hyperpigmentation or age spots, then green is the way to go. This color soothes and evens out your skin.
- Yellow: for scars, redness or rosacea, a mask with this LED color is a good option. Yellow LED light has a healing, calming and rejuvenating effect. Also ideal for sensitive skin.
- Purple: a combination of red and blue LED light that has a calming effect, prevents inflammation, but also rejuvenates and makes your skin glow.
Keep it up
Got excited? We understand, but don’t expect miracles after one use. You need to use LED light masks (like most creams and serums) for at least one to two months before you really see an improvement in your skin. In practice, this means that you have to put on the mask two to three times a week. However, this does not have to take long, ten minutes is often enough.
Text: Babette Dessing | Image: Adobe Stock
