Beyond vitamin C serums and retinoid creams, we are now stepping into another realm of skincare: LED light therapies. If you are someone who keeps up with skincare trends, you’ll probably already know that LED masks have quickly become celeb faves. Among the different color light therapies, red and blue are the ones commonly used. So, how do these work? Let’s dive right into the red light vs blue light therapy battle and see which one may suit your needs.
Basics Of LED Light Therapies
LED light therapy is a new-age technology used to treat various skin conditions.
LED light therapies come in different types, with red and blue light therapy being the most common.
How Does LED Light Therapy Work?
LED Light therapy uses low-level light in different wavelengths and colors.
Each color targets skin issues at different depths.
For instance, blue light treats the uppermost layer of the skin, while red light travels deeper into the skin.
What Does LED Light Therapy Do?
LED light therapy is helpful in treating many health conditions, such as:
LED light therapy has been found to be helpful in the treatment of superficial basal cell carcinoma in some people.
Different Types Of LED Light Therapies
Depending upon the type of condition and the depth of penetration required to treat it, doctors choose an appropriate wavelength of light.
The wavelength of light corresponds to visible colors.
Based on this, there are different types of LED light therapies:
- Blue light: Used for the upper layer of the skin
- Yellow light: Penetrates deeper than the blue light
- Red light: Travels deeper into the skin than blue and yellow light
- Near-infrared light: Penetrates deepest
Red and blue LED light therapy are the most commonly used.
- Red LED light therapy reduces inflammation and stimulates collagen production.
Collagen is responsible for younger-looking skin that reduces with age.
- Blue LED light therapy is known to destroy acne-causing bacteria. So, this therapy is used to treat acne.
During treatment, most specialists use a combination of LED light therapies.
Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy is a type of phototherapy that uses the red light spectrum.
What Is It
Red light therapy promotes cell response in the body and increases cellular turnover.
It also boosts collagen production.
Red light is said to penetrate the mitochondria in the cells, increasing their function.
As a result, cell energy increases, bringing about cell rejuvenation and damage repair.
Red light therapy stimulates the body’s natural healing process, making skin cells healthier.
What Does It Treat?
Red light therapy has been used in dermatology for years to treat many skin conditions.
It is effective in treating
- Acne
- Psoriasis
- Eczema
- Rosacea
Red light therapy also promotes wound healing.
Since red light therapy promotes collagen production, it may help reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and other signs of aging (dark spots, hyperpigmentation, etc.)
Blue Light Therapy
Blue light therapy uses the purple-blue light from the spectrum to treat skin conditions.
What Is It
Blue light LED is used to treat superficial skin conditions as it does not penetrate the deeper layers.
It is usually combined with other skin treatments like microdermabrasion and chemical peels for increased effectiveness.
Blue light therapy is sought after as it can kill acne-causing bacteria P. acnes, which live on the skin's surface.
What Does It Treat?
Blue light therapy helps treat
- Acne
- Hyperpigmentation
- Excess oil production
- Reduce skin inflammation
Red Light vs. Blue Light Therapy
(tabulate the differences on what it treats, how it works, benefits, cons, costs, etc.
| Red Light Therapy | Blue Light Therapy | |
| Depth | Longer wavelength of light, therefore, reaches deeper layers of the skin Between 630 to 670 nanometers (nm) | Shortest wavelength, therefore, treats superficial skin conditions Between 400-495 nanometers (nm) |
| What does it treat? | Improves skin tone and texture Reduces skin irritation and redness Fades scars Minimizes pores | Treats and prevents acne Reduces inflammation Treats and minimizes skin discoloration Minimizes pores |
| How it works | Boosts blood flow Stimulates collagen production Increases cell energy, stimulating cell rejuvenation | Reduces inflammation in the keratinocytes (common in the outer layers of the skin) Kills acne-causing P.acnes |
| Benefits | Best to rejuvenate aging skin Has a wide range of applications | Best for treatment and prevention of acne |
| Drawbacks | Some people may develop burns, blisters, or lesions if the red light therapy device is used for longer than 30 minutes or if the device is damaged. | It is currently being studied to reduce acne breakouts. Overexposure may contribute to accelerated skin aging, uneven pigmentation, and melasma. |
| Cost | $25-$175 per session At-home device cost: $300-$3,000 | $400-$1,000 |
Which Is Better? Red Light Therapy vs. Blue Light Therapy
Ted and blue light therapies have their benefits and drawbacks.
Both these therapies have similar efficacies in treating mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Red light therapy has advantages, with fewer adverse reactions compared to blue light.
Which is better? Well, combining red and blue light therapies can produce the best results.
Can I Use Both Red And Blue Light Therapy?
Most dermatologists will use a combination of red and blue light therapy.
While blue light can take care of the conditions on the outermost layer of the skin, red light penetrates deeper into the skin to reduce oil or sebum production.
So, combining both red and blue light therapies is more effective in treating skin conditions.
Is There Any Downside To Red Or Blue Light Therapy?
Red and blue light therapies are safe and relatively risk-free. However, some people may experience a few side effects, such as
- Increased inflammation
- Redness
- Rash
- Pain
Summary: Red Light Therapy vs. Blue Light Therapy
- LED light therapy is a new-age technology used to treat various skin conditions.
- Depending upon the type of condition and the depth of penetration required to treat it, doctors choose an appropriate wavelength of light.
- Since blue light does not travel deep into the skin, blue light therapy is used to treat skin conditions in the superficial skin layers.
- Red light travels deeper into the skin than blue and yellow light, so it is used to treat deeper skin lesions.
- Red LED light therapy reduces inflammation and stimulates collagen production; therefore, it prevents and manages age-related skin conditions.
- Blue LED light therapy helps destroy acne-causing bacteria. So, this therapy is used to treat acne.
- Red light therapy has advantages, with fewer adverse reactions compared to blue light.
- Dermatologists usually combine red and blue light therapy for more effectiveness in treating skin conditions.
- Though LED light therapies are safe and risk-free, they may cause increased inflammation, redness, and even pain in some people.
