This is the Role of LED Masks in Combating Skin Aging

  LED Masks Fight Skin Aging

This is the Role of LED Masks in Combating Skin Aging

LED masks promise flawless skin and slow the signs of aging, but do they really live up to these promises?

The use of LED masks with infrared light is on the rise in beauty salons and homes alike. This has made the technology a part of the beauty routine for many beauty enthusiasts, who showcase its features and benefits in videos they share on their social media pages.

Unique Features

Some call this technology the new "fountain of youth," even though it has been used in the medical field for a long time. Its anti-aging properties are currently being promoted, supposedly eliminating the need for cosmetic surgery. But what is the secret behind the immense popularity of these masks? 

The answer lies in scientific tests that have proven red light is particularly beneficial for the skin when its wavelengths are 633 nanometers for red light and 830 nanometers for infrared light. Unlike ultraviolet radiation, red light does not harm the skin; instead, it acts as a biological signal.

Our cells possess structures capable of reacting to light, particular mitochondria, often described as the cell's powerhouses. Their role is to produce the energy essential for the skin's repair, regeneration, and balance mechanisms. This means that when red light reaches the skin, it activates the mitochondria and helps cells function more efficiently. This stimulation contributes to a noticeable improvement in skin quality without causing burns or damage: this is the principle of photobiomodulation.

Anti-wrinkle efficacy

Red light penetrates the surface layers more easily than blue light, whose wavelengths are absorbed more quickly at the surface. This explains why red light reaches the layers where cells involved in the skin's structure and quality reside. For this reason, LED light is particularly beneficial in combating signs of aging. Its effect reaches deep into the skin, where mechanisms related to its texture, elasticity, and radiance interact. The results of using a red LED light mask appear gradually because this light does not directly affect the skin but rather enhances its natural processes.

Broad-Range Effect

Scientific studies indicate other effects of photobiological stimulation using red and infrared light, such as reducing inflammation, providing a feeling of comfort to the skin, and regenerating tissue. This explains its use in treating muscles and relieving pain. However, this data does not mean that LED light is a comprehensive solution for all cosmetic problems.

Experts in this field recommend caution when using masks with multi-colored lighting, as they are not considered more effective than red light. Blue light, with its limited wavelengths, can be beneficial in certain cases, but its use requires caution and protection of the eyes from direct exposure. It can also exacerbate hyperpigmentation on some sensitive or blemish-prone skin types.

Caution is also necessary when using very deep infrared radiation, which reaches a power of approximately 900 nanometers. While effective in the medical field, it can be responsible for the appearance of dark spots on some skin types.

Home or Salon Use?

There's no difference between at-home LED masks and the LED equipment found in clinics or beauty salons; the two approaches complement each other. In beauty salons, LED lights are typically mounted on panels that aren't very close to the skin. We know that every centimeter of air between the light source and the skin dissipates energy, so the skin receives less energy than the device emits. This explains why these devices need to be high-powered.

At home, however, the situation is completely different. When the mask is in direct contact with the skin or in close proximity, it minimizes this dissipation, allowing for efficient energy delivery without the need to emit excess power.

A home light therapy device offers what science considers essential in photobiotherapy: consistency. Home use provides the necessary continuity for noticeable anti-aging results. Each at-home session lasts only 10 minutes and can be used while watching TV, working on the computer, or even doing housework.