Light therapy is a treatment traditionally used for seasonal affective disorder, depression and other mental illnesses. However, light therapy can also be beneficial for the skin. Certain types of light can improve the quality and clarity of your skin with regular exposure. You can receive these treatments in a skin care center or purchase a light box for use at home.
Blue Light and Green Light
Spas and skin care treatment centers have used light therapy in recent years to treat skin conditions such as acne and wrinkles. Blue light therapy uses LED light to stimulate the production of collagen and reduce bacteria that cause acne. Since these bacteria reproduce quickly, patients who receive blue light therapy treatments will need to continue use indefinitely. Possible side effects include dry skin or redness in the area that has been treated.
Green light is also useful in treating acne; this type of therapy combines pulsed light and heat energy into one treatment. According to the Mayo Clinic's website on acne treatments, "The Food and Drug Administration approved an acne therapy that combines pulses of green-yellow light and heat to treat mild to moderate acne, including inflammatory acne." This type of therapy targets bacteria as well, but also shrinks sebaceous glands in order to reduce oil production in the skin. Some temporary redness may occur in the areas of skin where treatments were focused.
Diode Laser Treatments
Another type of light therapy for acne uses diode lasers to destroy the oil-producing sebaceous glands in the dermis (the middle layer of the skin). These treatments do not harm the skin's outer layers, but they can be painful. Doctors can apply a topical analgesic to the skin for pain management before treatments begin. Temporary redness and swelling of the skin may occur.
The Role of Collagen
According to the colose.us skin care website, "collagen provides structure and firmness to body tissues." For the skin, this means that the more collagen you have, the firmer and smoother your skin will appear. As your skin ages, it loses collagen and develops wrinkles. Using light therapy to stimulate your body's collagen production can revive the collagen in your body and reduce the appearance of wrinkles on your skin.
Tags: your skin, light therapy, light therapy, skin care, light heat, sebaceous glands