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Red Light Vs Blue Light Therapy, What Are The Differences?

Red Light Vs Blue Light Therapy

No matter how well you think you take care of your skin, there are going to be times in your life where your skin begins to look dull, inflamed or aged. Who hasn’t looked in the mirror at one point or another and just felt yucky? But the good news is that with at-home LED light therapy devices, it’s easier than ever to get back that youthful, glowing appearance you’re used to. And it only takes a small time and financial commitment to do so. But once you’re ready to get started, you may be asking yourself what is best for you in red light vs blue light therapy. So we’ve put together this handy guide.

LED therapy is a safe, effective and non-invasive at-home treatment that you can use as a part of your normal skin care routine. LED stands for light emitting diode and this type of therapy uses different wavelengths of light to rejuvenate your skin and treat various conditions.

From boosting collagen production to diminishing scars and improving fine lines, wrinkles, and stretch marks, LED therapy helps your skin look younger and healthier. Plus, it treats skin conditions such as:

  • Rosacea
  • Demodex folliculitis
  • Eczema
  • Psoriasis
  • Sun damage
  • Acne

You can see results in as little as one LED therapy treatment.

Red Light Therapy

Red Light Therapy

Red Light Therapy is a type of low-level light therapy that can be used for medical and cosmetic purposes. Originally used by scientists for plant growth experiments, it was discovered that red light specific wavelengths are able to penetrate the skin’s surface without damaging the top layer, making it a safe way to rejuvenate skin and treat skin conditions. By strengthening the mitochondria in your cells, a red light therapy device can help your skin cells produce more energy which in turn repairs any skin damage within the treatment area.

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Benefits

There are many benefits to using red light therapy as a routine skincare treatment. Red light can be used for:

  • Improving skin tone
  • Wound treatment
  • Repairing tissue
  • Stimulating hair growth
  • Treating sun spots
  • Preventing cold sores
  • Diminishing scars
  • Alleviating inflammation
  • Reducing stretch marks, fine lines and wrinkles
  • Killing acne causing bacteria

Studies have shown that it is an effective means of preventing aging before it happens. Red wavelengths actually increase production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid making it a safe treatment for photoaging and photodamaged skin.

Unlike ultraviolet rays from the sun, red light therapy devices do not increase your chances of getting skin cancer.

Blue Light Therapy

Blue Light Therapy

Blue light therapy is a type of photodynamic therapy that can be used for medical and cosmetic purposes. Blue light specific wavelengths penetrate deeper into your skin’s pores to heal sun damage. Plus, blue light eliminates bacteria that promote oil production which in turn can form acne and other blemish causing conditions. Red and blue lights have different wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum, and while blue light has a shorter wavelength than red light, it actually contains more energy than red light. In fact, blue light therapy treatments are so powerful they are often used to treat pre-cancerous growths and non-melanoma skin cancer.

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Benefits

Blue light therapy has many noticeable benefits that you can enjoy, and can be used:

  • As an acne treatment
  • For treating other blemish causing conditions
  • To diminish age spots
  • As a seasonal affective disorder treatment
  • To reduce inflammation
  • For increasing blood flow
  • To treat psoriasis
  • As a way to reduce rosacea

In fact, blue light technology is pain-free and gentle enough to be used with at home devices during regular light therapy treatments.

Blue wavelengths do contribute to strain of the human eye so you want to be sure to use protective eyewear during any blue light therapies.

Frequently Asked Questions

The difference between blue light and red light therapy is that they each have different wavelengths on the electromagnetic spectrum. This means that their frequencies and energy levels also differ. Blue light has a shorter wavelength and higher frequency with greater energy than red light does which means it can penetrate deeper into your skin’s pores. Therefore, blue light therapy is often used for treating conditions in deeper layers of your skin like cancer while red light is often used for treating surface-layer conditions like scars.

Both red and blue light therapy treatments give you a more youthful appearance while also treating unsightly conditions. Red LED light treats wounds, repairs tissue and sun damage, and diminishes scars, stretch marks, lines and wrinkles. With a red light therapy device, you can also prevent cold sores, stimulate hair growth and alleviate inflammation. Blue light therapies are used to treat age spots, precancerous growths and non-melanoma skin cancers. Plus, blue light eliminates bacteria that promote oil production by destroying the outer walls of their cells so that the bacteria can no longer form acne.

Both red and blue light therapy can be used on wrinkles; however, red light is thought to be the better option when it comes to reducing wrinkles. Red LED light therapy has been proven to boost collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid, so with regular treatment, your skin will stay stretchier, more resilient and better hydrated. So while red and blue light therapy both target lines and wrinkles on your face, red light is considered your best option. For maximum results, consider using red and blue light therapy together as part of your normal skin care routine.

While UV rays are known to cause damage to the human eye, it’s not required that you wear google during red light therapy. However, there is always a potential risk involved so goggles are recommended during any treatment. Red light is also very bright so many people with light sensitivities may feel uncomfortable during treatment if they neglect to wear eye protection. To be safe, make sure you have goggles available and use them regularly.

Since all users respond differently to light therapy devices, it is possible to overdo light therapy. The general recommendation is to start out using both blue and red light therapy anywhere from 3-5 times per week. Some users may find that daily treatments work best for them, so be sure to start slowly and gradually increase treatments so you don’t feel like you’re overdoing light therapy from the start.

Conclusion

When it comes to the red light vs blue light therapy debate, the general consensus is that using both blue and red light as part of your normal skin care routine will produce benefits that you’re sure to notice. So whether you’re looking to reduce the appearance of scars, stretch marks, lines or wrinkles, or for an effective acne treatment that will destroy the outer walls of the bacteria cells invading your pores, both blue and red light are great options.