How Does an LED Light Therapy Mask Work?

How Does an LED Light Therapy Mask Work?

The skincare aisle is flooded with LED light therapy devices that promise to banish acne, reduce wrinkles, brighten dark spots and more.led light therapy mask But does the technology really work? And if so, how exactly does it do it? Cosmopolitan deputy beauty director Lauren Balsamo turned to a few board-certified dermatologists to get the lowdown on LED masks and what they actually do.

The first thing to know about LED light therapy is that there are a lot of different devices on the market, at varying price points. Some are clinical-strength and used for in-office treatments, while others are designed to be used at home. Masks are more common because they allow the face to be fully exposed to a specific wavelength of light and are usually more comfortable than wand-shaped devices.

There are also multiple color options, with blue light being the most popular because it can kill bacteria on the skin's surface and help improve inflammatory acne. Yellow and green light aren't as common but can boost radiance, while red light stimulates collagen production deep in the skin and helps with fine lines. While most studies on the effectiveness of LED masks revolve around blue and red light, it's important to keep in mind that there isn't a whole lot of long-term data on all LED devices, says Levin. So if you want to invest in an at-home device, she suggests opting for one that has been FDA-approved and is recommended by a dermatologist.

As far as safety goes, most at-home LED masks are generally safe to use as long as you're not photosensitive or taking medication that could make you sensitive to light. "LED skin-care devices don't have a lot of power, so they are unlikely to burn your face," says Dermatologist Michele Farber. However, she recommends wearing eye protection while using any LED device. A popular brand of LED masks, Neutrogena's Light Therapy Acne Mask, was recalled last year over concerns that it could damage the eyes of people with certain eye conditions or medications that affect the retina.

For those looking to give the technology a try, we tried out LookLit's LED Light Therapy Mask ($69). The flexible silicone mask fits snuggly against your face and presses the light diodes against it, so there's no chance of them accidentally touching your eyes or going in your ears. It has a simple interface and allows you to choose from a blue, yellow and red treatment that each lasts for about ten minutes. A button on the side of the visor lets you switch between treatments and once it's done, it shuts off automatically.

While the results we saw were subtle, there was no denying that my skin looked healthier after just a few uses. The mask was incredibly relaxing and felt gentle on the skin (which is important, because it's meant to be used three times per week for a minimum of 15 minutes). And while we're sure this won't solve every single skincare concern, it definitely brightened up my complexion.

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