Light Therapy

[missaa8]

Does light therapy really help stimulate a healthier complexion?

[WinglessOne]

@missaa8  If you mean LED light therapy: yes, it really does. Red light has been shown to boost collagen production. Blue light can help treat acne. There are other colors of LED light that do (or may do) various things, but blue and red are the main 2 colors you’ll find in LED masks and at-home devices on the market. Some masks/devices also have a purple light mode that uses blue and red lights at the same time. And a good LED mask/device shouldn’t emit UV light. 

If you’re in the US and have a healthcare FSA or HSA account: some light therapy devices are FSA/HSA eligible, particularly the ones that use blue light. (Blue light targets acne; acne is considered a medical condition, not just cosmetic. If I recall correctly, blue light can also help treat psoriasis.) 

EDIT: corrected autocorrect’s “omit UV light” to “emit UV light.” 

[missaa8]

That's pretty awesome, @WinglessOne  😎

[WinglessOne]

@missaa8  It’s an interesting topic to read about. There are also several YouTube videos (including some by dermatologists) about LED masks and light therapy, if you want to learn more about how it works and what types of devices are on the market. 

[missaa8]

@WinglessOne, bookmarked and noted!

[JoSometimes]

@missaa8 I’ve only ever heard of light therapy for people with head-to-toe eczema and topical ointments just aren’t cutting it. It uses UVB rays to help reduce the flare up but the side effects include premature skin aging. I’ve never heard of light therapy for cosmetic purposes before. 

[missaa8]

Agreed, @JoSometimes.