Does LED for skincare work? – 16/11/2023 – Balance and Health

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Is there really a benefit to the skin in using masks that sell for up to R$3,500? In today’s edition, see what to know before investing in LED therapy to improve your skin.

Miracle helmet?

The other day, while watching a video about beauty trends, the vlogger presented the benefits of an LED mask for skin treatment.

The device, looking like a Daft Punk costume, caught my attention first because of its bizarreness and, secondly, because it left a big question: can LED light really bring benefits to the skin? So I went to try to understand more.

What I discovered really surprised me – perhaps it’s no surprise to someone who follows skincare trends, but I confess I didn’t imagine it. Looks like Yes, there are several uses for light therapies in dermatological treatment.

But… It is necessary to make a distinction, as dermatologist Thiago Cunha, who works at the Arquetipo therapeutic space, explained to me:

There is three types of light uses for dermatological treatments.

1. Intense pulsed light: emission of polychromatic light beams (various colors) in various directions;

two. laser light: the application with the most proven benefits, for removing blemishes, melasmas, vases, acne scars, rejuvenation, hair removal, among others;

3. Led light: whose principle is the use of colors for different properties. It is also the lowest intensity among the three types of lights used.

LED light is the main one used in skincare masks (which are called home devices —there is a type of tiara also for baldness), but it can also be applied in dermatology offices.

After all, what are LED lights for?

Cunha explains that the action will depend on the color used, the main ones being:

• Redfor rejuvenation through collagen regeneration in the skin;

• Bluewhose action is bactericidal (kills bacteria), used to treat acne;

• Purplecombination of blue (bactericide) and red (rejuvenation);

• Yellowto treat redness and rosacea.

Okay, but is there proof? “I would say that the evidence that exists is weak, in statistical terms, because the studies have few participants, around 50, 100”, explains Cunha.

Although… Although the studies are not very consistent from a scientific point of view, in dermatological practice some results.

According to the dermatologist, the laser is much more studied than light LED for skin care and has several proven uses. “I would say that what has the most evidence is also the use of blue light to treat acne, because its bactericidal properties are also well known,” he said.

Is using LED safe? In general, yes.

The security profile of the devices is well known, according to Cunha. As the energy used is low, there is no risk of burns when using the mask and, in the office, the doctor helps control the treatment.

How to use?

The recommendation is, if you are going to include the LED mask or in-office treatment in your routine, the recommended frequency is once a month. “It has to be something that you can insert into your routine, as a complement,” he says.

Cunha also reinforced that LED treatment is additionalthat is, it does not replace clinical treatment with medication.

• Any decision about including a treatment or not in your skincare routine, especially if you use luminous devices, should first be consulted with your dermatologistThe.

A skin care routine should be the one that is best suited to your lifestyle habits, reminds the dermatologist. One tip, in addition to getting a good night’s sleep and hydrating yourself well, is to invest in good skin cleansing, both in the morning and at night, before going to sleep.

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