Can light therapy damage your skin?

People with any skin type and color can use LED light therapy. LED light therapy doesn't use ultraviolet (UV) light, so it doesn't cause damage or burns to your skin.

Can light therapy make skin worse?

The results of one study suggest blue light therapy should be avoided in severe forms of acne because it was observed to worsen patients' acne after starting treatment. As with any therapy, there are risks involved.

Is light therapy harmful?

Even though this type of treatment is generally very safe, negative effects may occur. As a consequence of light therapy, patients can complain of irritability, headaches, eye strain, sleep disturbances, and insomnia. Mild visual side effects are not unusual but remit promptly.

What happens if you overuse light therapy?

Increasing exposure too fast or using the light box for too long each time may induce manic symptoms if you have bipolar disorder. If you have past or current eye problems such as glaucoma, cataracts or eye damage from diabetes, get advice from your eye specialist before starting light therapy.

Can light therapy cause skin cancer?

Risks of Phototherapy

Phototherapy can cause some minor side effects such as tanning, freckling, redness of dry skin. The type of UV light that is used for phototherapy could also cause: Skin cancer (including BCC, SCC and melanoma)

Light Therapy | Photodynamic (PDT) [Dermatology]

Can you get too much red light therapy?

Clients are also encouraged by the fact that red light therapy is safe – because it does not harm the skin or the underlying tissue, there is virtually no risk of overdoing it.

What do doctors say about red light therapy?

RLT is generally safe and may be a very effective treatment option for people seeking smaller changes in their skin or to keep the skin healthy and reduce inflammation. Other applications of RLT have promising early evidence, but there is not enough reliable evidence in humans to call it effective in every case.

When should I stop light therapy?

Treatment is typically continued through the fall and winter period and discontinued at the time of natural remission in the spring and summer. Light therapy should not be used in patients taking photosensitizing medications or with significant retinal pathology.

How many minutes a day should you do light therapy?

Start with 30 minutes of light exposure per day. Start light therapy in the early morning, as soon as possible after awakening (between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.). Response usually starts in a few days, and by two weeks the symptoms should be definitely improving.

How long is too long for light therapy?

Depending on the individual, treatment might last 20 minutes up to three hours, and a person might have light therapy once or more per day for consecutive days until symptoms improve. Your doctor can provide guidance on how long you should use light therapy.

Do dermatologists recommend light therapy?

Harnessing the power of light enables dermatologists in the Sutter Health network to treat your skin disorder in a unique way. Regularly scheduled light therapy sessions can help heal psoriasis, eczema, actinic keratosis, acne, vitiligo, scleroderma and different types of skin cancers.

What are the side effects of bright light therapy?

The most common side effects of light therapy include headache, eye strain, and nausea. You may be tired during the first week because of changes in your sleep-wake patterns, but this will usually go away after about a week.

How many times a week should I do light therapy?

Everyone reacts differently, depending on their age and the condition of their skin. In general, best results are achieved over an 8 – 12 week period. It is recommended to start with a commitment of 15 minutes, which is the maximum time in our Red Light Therapy bed, at least 3-5 times per week for the first 1-4 weeks.

Can Lighttherapy cause hyperpigmentation?

Blue light has recently been reported to lead to hyperpigmentation because it activates the production of melanin in your skin. Darkening can occur within 20 minutes of exposure while it also may lead to long term darkening, including melasma.

Should you moisturize after light therapy?

The use of normal day cream/body lotion after a red light treatment is not necessary, but will not have any negative effect on the results.

Does light therapy make hyperpigmentation worse?

Does red light therapy make hyperpigmentation worse? As clear as day, the answer is "no." Additional evidence demonstrates that red light therapy for hyperpigmentation is a safe and potent method to treat skin-darkening acne and scars. It also stimulates blood flow to the tissues and reduces redness and swelling.

Can you do light therapy on your face everyday?

It is non-invasive and is safe for daily use. Studies have found that visible red light can boost the skin's ability to heal itself by up to 200%. The skin absorbs the red light which can power up the skin cells to heal itself.

What does light therapy do to the brain?

Research on red light therapy and brain health shows that natural light improves reaction time, attention, memory, and executive function. Some of the benefits that show the most potential are as follows: Improved cognitive function. Improved recovery from stroke.

How often should you do light therapy for skin?

To see significant benefits, you typically need to have a series of in-office treatments. You may need a treatment each week for about a month. Then you might need maintenance treatments every month or every few months. Some at-home devices may also require a substantial time commitment.

What is the success rate of light therapy?

Light therapy has been around since the 1980s and several studies have shown that it's effective in treating SAD. “As a treatment for a psychiatric problem, light therapy has a remarkably high success rate of 60–80%,” says Brainard.

How many times can you do LED light therapy?

So how often should you use our LED mask? For best results, treat skin for a minimum of 3 to 5 days a week for 10 minutes.

Is there any downside to red light therapy?

Red light therapy appears to be safe and is not associated with any side effects, at least if used short-term and as directed. This therapy is not toxic, not invasive and not as harsh as some topical skin treatments.

Is red light therapy a gimmick?

There some is evidence that red light therapy has positive effects on several health issues, including reducing inflammation and improving sleep quality. However, the research is limited, and there is not enough evidence to say for certain that red light therapy is effective for specific conditions.

What is the difference between red light therapy and light therapy?

Red light is visible and is most effective for use on the surface of the skin. Red light occupies the “long end” of the visible spectrum with wavelengths of 630nm-700nm. Infrared light is invisible and is effective for use on the surface of the skin as well as penetration of about 1.5 inches into the body.