At-Home LED Light Therapy – The Science To Back It

By Emma Coleman, Magnitone Senior Brand Ambassador and Dermatology Nurse Practitioner

Many of us will have read about the movement towards LED Light in at-home skin routines and clinic treatments, and Magnitone’s GetLit LED Mask is one of their bestselling home devices. But have you ever wondered whether this technology actually works? I’ve made it nice and easy and done the research for you. 
The good news is that Light Emitting Diode (LED is not in any way a new fad; it was actually invented in 1962 and in the 70’s NASA compared the effects of LED and fluorescent lights on plant growth in space. LED won hands down, and this led to a plethora of trials looking at its effects on skin at a cellular level.

So what does it feel like? Unlike traditional light, LED does not emit heat, and is made of reflective surfaces upon which specialised circuits are placed, each emitting a narrow spectrum of light. Although not hot, it is extremely bright, and some devices come with eye protection built in, otherwise goggles should be worn. The composition of the circuits in each bulb determine the colour and wavelength of light produced..

What do the colours mean? The spectrum of light in advanced LED devices ranges from purple through to red, with each colour representing a different wavelength and most importantly, depth when applied to the skin.
Selecting the correct wavelength for individual need is important in getting the best result, whether you are visiting a professional in-clinic or using an at-home device. Skin penetration and absorption increases proportionately to wavelength; the purple to orange spectrum of light possesses wavelengths capable of reaching to the deep dermis, whilst red LED light will be absorbed as far as the hypodermis, (the layer beneath the dermis).

What do the studies say? I have read a number of recent studies and found that the most widely researched wavelength in the fields of aesthetics and dermatology are Red LED, with Blue LED the second most studied.
Due to its ability to penetrate the deeper skin layers, Red LED is proven to increase the rate of cell turnover which can assist in improving everything from scarring to lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, skin firmness and healing.
There is evidence that regular Blue LED light exposure reduces acne-forming bacteria on the skin’s surface, helps to heal and prevent acne breakouts. It can also reduce skin redness and inflammation. Orange light which is close to infrared, can help to heal eczema and psoriasis, and whilst green and yellow lights have less research to back them up, there is some evidence to suggest that they can help skin to heal and reduce scarring.

Are there any side effects? Apart from possibly being a tiny bit flushed afterwards, LED is a low risk treatment. If you are visiting a clinic though, do your homework to make sure they understand the treatment and what your skin needs.

How should I use my Magnitone GetLit LED Mask at home? When you open your GetLit mask for the first time you’ll see a little booklet inside containing everything you need to know on how to use the device, including a 28-day plan to follow which ensures you’ll see fast results in your skin. Expect more even toned, glowier skin. I always recommend that LED should to be applied to ‘naked’ skin for optimum penetration, so don’t be tempted to apply serum and moisturiser until afterwards, and wear your sunscreen moisturiser daily.

Ig: @Emmcolemanskin / TikTok: @The DermatologyNurse