We don't keep our beauty secrets | Choicy Beauty- a beauty training academic

LED therapy has grown in popularity in the past few years. It promises to fight acne and signs of aging with the use of light technology. Pair that claim with cool fancy contraptions that make it look like you`re in the year 2145, and you have a trendy beauty treatment that everyone is dying to try. But how exactly can a device that emits bright lights help you get a clearer and brighter complexion? We turned to dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, and Beverly Hills plastic surgeon

Sheila Nazarian, MD, and asked them to give us the scoop on everything about LED therapy. From what it is to how it works, they laid it all out in our comprehensive guide to this type of skin treatment.

What is it?

LED means light-emitting diode. [It works by emitting infrared lights (causing heat) in different wavelengths/ spectrums, which have different skincare benefits," says Engelman. [Amber light stimulates collagen and elastin. Red light is most commonly used to promote circulation. White light penetrates the deepest and works to tighten and reduce inflammation. Blue light kills bacteria."She explains that during LED therapy, devices send light waves deep into the skin to trigger natural intracellular reactions. Depending on the light, your skin is going to respond differently. [If the light is red, your skin responds by building, strengthening, and maximizing cellular structure. Red light is also believed to target oil glands to reduce cytokines, which cause inflammation and play a role in chronic acne. In the case of blue light, specific wavelengths stimulate production of oxygen radicals that kill P. acnes bacteria, all without damaging skin," Engelman says.

How Does It Work?

If you decide to go get an LED treatment along with a massage or facial at a spa, you really don`t have to do much but lie there. [After microneedling or microdermabrasion, we place LED panels a few inches away from the patient's face," says Nazarian. [Eye protection is also placed as the lights are quite bright. We treat the skin for about 15 minutes. At first, it feels warm, but patients report really liking the feeling of relaxation."The light doesn`t cause any burns or skin damage. It`s pretty much painless, and if you like lights, the colors can even be relaxing. [We typically recommend light therapy every one to two weeks if an important event is coming up," says Nazarian. [If it`s just for maintenance, we treat with our patients` monthly microdermabrasion or micro-needling treatments."

What Are the Benefits?

People turn to LED therapy to fix skin problems such as acne or reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. As mentioned above, also help the absorbption of the skin care product.each infrared light targets specific areas and skin concerns.[The red infrared lights are used for fine lines and wrinkles. The blue lights are used to improve acne and prevent breakouts by killing the acne-causing bacteria. Also, blue light penetrates deep to treat cystic acne," says Nazarian.