This Treatment Handles Blemishes AND Fine Lines

Here's How to Clear Your Skin Without Any Products

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Red light therapy has become a skincare and wellness must, Kim Kardashian even took to TikTok joining the ‘of course’ trend claiming, “of course I have a sun bed and a red-light bed in my office”. While dermatologists do not approve of sunbeds, Kardashian does have (a very expensive point) with her red-light bed.

Red light therapy (RLT) has significant healing properties and is particularly helpful for those with acne. And the best part is “it’s totally non-invasive” and “can be used in conjunction with other treatments,” says Dr Ros Debenham, MBChB. Unlike a sunbed, whose rays are so harmful you have to wear goggles to prevent retinal damage, “you do not need to wear goggles, it can be used anywhere on the body,” adds Debenham.

Winding up in Kim Kardashian’s office, red light as a therapy is a long way on from its humble beginnings, discovered by accident in 1967 by Endre Mester, when he noticed the red light helping heal his mice’s wounds. Then in the late 90s, astronauts and scientists used strong red LED (light emitting diodes) in space to aid photosynthesis of potatoes and promote wound healing of the astronauts.

Kardashian has spoken out about her psoriasis flare-ups since her diagnosis in 2011. She claims ‘I have psoriasis and it helps’, referring to her tanning and red-light bed use. While tanning beds cause more harm than bad, it is proven that RLT is an effective treatment for both acne and psoriasis, as well as providing anti-aging benefits.

We’re not suggesting that everyone buys a full red-light bed for the home, luckily there’s a far more affordable option for those whose name does not begin with Kim and end in Kardashian: Dermalux. We spoke to Dr Debenham, founder of Radiance Aesthetics and trained Dermalux provider to find out what LED therapy and Dermalux is really all about.

What is LED therapy?

While it sounds like a light that you put over your face, it is only the medical grade ones that give you the real results. LED therapy is a non-invasive treatment that targets specific non-thermal light to energise cells which triggers a cascade of bio stimulatory responses.

Meaning that the light itself isn’t causing physical changes to you but prompting your body to perform your body’s natural ‘bio stimulatory responses’ such as skin repair at an optimal cellular level. Similar to your morning cuppa to give you that boost to work at your best, but without the crash.

What is Dermalux?

Dermalux is an LED phototherapy device used in clinics, providing three different lights – red, blue and near infrared – all with their own benefits. Think of it as going for a facial, you can even fall asleep while Dermalux works its magic.

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Why is light therapy better in aesthetic clinics?

The quality is un-matched and proven to give you the best results for example, “Dermalux is CE marked [medically certified] and clinically tested,” says Debenham, meaning that is completely safe and “it can be used anywhere on the body”. With industry leading technology, the in-clinic light therapy options are the best bet, backed by science and optimised energy for noticeable and lasting results.

What makes light therapy different from regular red light?

“The different wave lengths of light that have different effects on the body,” says Debenham. The sweet spot to get all these benefits? “Blue 415nm, destroys bacteria on the skin associated with acne and wound infection. Red 633nm recharges the cells’ mitochondria (the ‘batteries’) so the cells function at top level allowing repair, renewal, hydration, and stimulation of collagen. The near infrared 830 causes healing of the skin, especially in wounds, calms the skin after invasive procedures and when the skin is inflamed, such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis, reducing pigmentation.” Describes Debenham.

How can LED therapy treat acne?

Simply put, Debenham says “it is the destruction of the bacteria linked to acne”, scientifically, “it’s the reduction of the inflammatory process which is akin to the free fatty acids produced by the bacteria after they ingest the sebum being treated by the skin like a foreign body”. This means that the skin is visibly less red because of a “reduction of post inflammatory hyperpigmentation and the healing of the skin,” says Debenham.

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What other benefits does LED therapy have?

The effect of RLT “’supercharge’ the cells to accelerate repair and renewal,” in other words, it is “physically anti-aging due to the collagen synthesis,” says Debenham.

She continues to explain how “it stimulates the body’s own repair mechanism,” this is essentially what you’re trying to do to your skin with a retinol or an exfoliator by forcing an increase of skin cell turnover, except you’re not using a product to get the cells to perform at their best.

Unlike a sunbed – due to the damaging UV rays – goggles are not necessary for LED therapy, Dr Debenham specifically points out that this “can really benefit the eye area.” This is because the stimulation of collagen gives the skin that elasticity and plumpness, reducing the appearance of fine lines.  

What about at-home light therapy masks?

The Dracula-esque ultimate self-care selfie light masks? “The wavelengths are often not correct, so will not have the clinical effects and usually have no studies behind them,” confirms Debenham. While some can offer a few benefits of a similar nature to CE certified light therapy treatments, the results will not be as impressive or long-lasting.

How to get LED therapy?

You can search for clinics that provide Dermalux or other medically certified LED therapy treatments such as Celluma and book for a single or group of treatments. And remember to check with a dermatologist first if you’re unsure.