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Why to Try Light Therapy for Your Skin

THE RUNDOWN ON LIGHT THERAPY FOR SKINCARE + WHICH ONES TO TRY

Article by Hayley Hyer

Photography by Stock Images

I know it sounds gimmicky to say you can fix your skin woes by simply holding a light up to your face for three minutes per day. I know. If it wasn't backed by so much science, I wouldn't trust it either! Light therapy has been researched and proven by NASA to be legit. And it does not use UV-rays, so there is no risk of skin cancer. These non-invasive treatments target the issues beneath the top layer of your skin to truly solve the problem instead of continuously reacting to whatever appears on the surface.

Ready to learn more? Here's the rundown on light therapy for acne, anti-aging, discoloration and more.

Zap Your Acne Away with Light Therapy

I know we're not in junior high anymore, but we haven't completely escaped the woes of acne. Changes in hormones, stress, environment and diet are all factors that contribute to our skin, and everyone still gets the occasional breakout. Plus, adult acne is real and affects more people than you may think. You're not alone!

If you have sensitive skin and feel like most acne treatments either just make it worse or cause other issues like dry skin, it may be time to try a new approach. Light therapy is still a newer technology that started out as an expensive treatment you could only get at a spa. The different colored lights actually go deep into your pores and kill the bacteria causing your acne. And now, there are tons of safe options that you can buy and use on yourself at home.

Light Therapy for Signs of Aging

If the thought of a needle going into your face gives you shivers, it's OK. There are non-invasive anti-aging methods that work. No, I'm not going to suggest another cream. While there are incredible creams and serums out there that do help, we all know they can't prevent everything.

If you're looking for a solid, spa-approved method of getting rid of wrinkles and firming your skin, try red light therapy. With an at-home device, you can give yourself treatments and see the results you want faster.

Light Therapy for Discoloration + More

There are so many different colors of light therapy, and it's likely that you'll want to use a variety to target different problems. If your specific skin woe is discoloration, hyper-pigmentation or dark spots, green light therapy is a great place to start.

According to Dr. Müller, green light targets "melanocytes, melanin-producing cells located in the bottom layer of the skin’s epidermis. It inhibits the production of excess melanin, prevents it from traveling to the skin’s surface, and breaks up melanin clusters to lessen existing discoloration."

Follow Hayley Hyer @hayhyer