Our skin is exposed to a great deal of sun damage every day. And while we’re all trying our best to protect ourselves from harmful UV rays, sometimes even the most careful preventative measures can still lead to sun spots and other discolourations over time. But luckily, red light therapy may be your ally in fighting these irritating marks on the skin! Keen to learn more? Read on for the scientific principles behind how red light therapy works and how it can help you reduce sun spots and other sun damage to your skin.
Types of Sun Damage
Sunburn
Sunburn occurs when the skin is exposed to too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Sunburn results in red, itchy and painful skin, as well as permanent skin damage if left untreated.
Photoaging
Photoaging is premature ageing of the skin caused by long-term exposure to UV radiation from the sun.
Symptoms include wrinkles, dark spots, dryness and uneven skin tone.
Actinic Keratosis
Actinic keratosis is a precancerous condition caused by long-term sun exposure and characterised by scaly patches on the face, scalp or other areas of the body that have been exposed to the sun.
Melasma
Melasma is a condition characterised by dark, discoloured patches on the skin that are caused by long-term exposure to UV rays from the sun. It is most often seen on the face, but can occur anywhere on the body that has been exposed to sunlight.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy, also commonly referred to as phototherapy or photobiomodulation, is a treatment that uses low-level lasers or LEDs in specific wavelengths to treat various skin and health conditions.
These wavelengths can help stimulate collagen production, reduce inflammation and increase blood circulation to improve several conditions. Red light therapy can be used to treat sun spots, fine lines and wrinkles, acne, rosacea and psoriasis in addition to muscle pain and mood disorders.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work To Reduce Sun Spots?
If you’re heading off to a sun-soaked destination, the balmy sun is bound to beckon you outdoors, it’s important to know that UV rays can cause long-term damage to your skin. Sun spots and wrinkles are common effects of sun damage, but with red light therapy, you can reverse some of the visible signs of ageing! Red light therapy is a non-invasive, FDA-cleared treatment that uses natural light to reduce the appearance of sunspots. Red light therapy works by penetrating the skin with specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light, which stimulate the production of new collagen and elastin fibres. This process helps to repair damaged skin cells and reduce the appearance of sunspots. In addition, red light therapy can protect your body’s existing collagen stores to prevent the skin from losing further plumpness and elasticity. The results? Firmer, more youthful-looking skin – hello, glow!
What Can Be Used In Combination With Red Light Therapy To Enhance Results?
In addition to using red light therapy to help reduce the appearance of sunspots, there are a number of other things that can be done to help improve results. For example, exfoliating the skin regularly can help to slough off dead skin cells and allow the red light to penetrate more deeply. Applying a quality sunscreen daily can also help to protect the skin from further damage and prevent new sun spots from forming. Finally, using red light therapy in combination with other anti-ageing treatments such as retinol or microdermabrasion can help to further enhance results.
Final Takeaway
The best part about red light therapy is that it can be done in the privacy of your own home. You can purchase an FDA-approved red light therapy device from LumiRed.ie to give you salon-level results at home. Use your LumiRed device 3-5 times a week consistently over a period of 4-6 weeks to begin seeing improvements.
Further Reading
Wunsch, Alexander & Matuschka, Karsten. (2013). A Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Red and Near-Infrared Light Treatment in Patient Satisfaction, Reduction of Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Skin Roughness, and Intradermal Collagen Density Increase. Photomedicine and laser surgery. 32. 10.1089/pho.2013.3616.
Avci, Pinar & Gupta, Asheesh & Sadasivam, Magesh & Vecchio, Daniela & Pam, Zeev & Pam, Nadav & Hamblin, Michael. (2013). Low-Level Laser (Light) Therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring. Seminars in cutaneous medicine and surgery. 32. 41-52.