Red Light Therapy & Melasma

Red light therapy devices have been proven to help treat Melasma. Read the blog post below to learn more. 

Between 1.5 and 33 percent of the population may develop melasma at some point in their life, and it’s particularly common among pregnant women and women of reproductive age.

Are you struggling with this common skin disorder? If so, red light therapy may be an effective tool for you to add to your skincare routine.

Everything you need to know about the connection between red light therapy and melasma is explained below.

What Is Melasma?

Melasma is a disorder that causes an overproduction of melanin, which is responsible for the pigment of the skin.

People with melasma develop light brown, dark brown, or blue-gray-colored patches on their skin. These patches may be flat or freckle-like, and they often occur on the cheeks, upper lip, and forehead, as well as on the forearms.

Melasma is often referred to as the “mask of pregnancy” because it often affects pregnant women. These spots may get darker or lighter over time, and they tend to get worse during the summer and better during the winter.

 Melasma may be caused or worsened by hormonal changes, sun damage, and/or reactions to skincare products. 

What Is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy is a treatment that uses low wavelength red light to target the cells and heal the skin. It is used to address a variety of skin conditions, including acne, scarring, wrinkles, and fine lines.

Other Red Light Therapy Benefits

In addition to treating many different skin ailments, red light therapy may also be used to address chronic muscle pain and speed up wound healing. Some people use it for stress relief and immune system support, too.

Does Red Light Therapy Help Melasma?

After reading through some of the benefits of red light therapy, you might be asking questions like “Will red light therapy help melasma?” or “Does red light therapy make melasma worse?” or even “does red light therapy cause hyperpigmentation?”/ "Does red light therapy make hyperpigmentation worse?

The short answer is that yes, red light therapy can improve melasma symptoms and, no, it will not make this issue worse. The following are some specific ways that red light therapy helps melasma:

Improved Circulation and Cell Repair

One of the greatest benefits of red light therapy is that it increases blood flow to targeted areas. If you’re dealing with discoloration on your face, for example, improving blood flow to that location can help to speed up cell repair and remove excess melanin from the skin faster.

Reduced Inflammation

Some researchers have found that melasma is associated with increased levels of inflammation in affected areas. Inflammation can also worsen melasma symptoms and exacerbate the presence of dark patches.

 Red light therapy does a great job of reducing inflammation and soothing the skin after it’s been irritated, so it can be a good tool for those struggling with melasma.

Increased Collagen Production

Red light therapy can increase collagen production, too. Collagen is a protein that is abundant in the skin and plays an important role in the body’s healing processes. By increasing collagen levels, red light therapy can help to support healing and skin repair. It can also make the skin more resilient to damage in the future.

Prevent Future Damage

Speaking of being resilient to damage, red light therapy can help to strengthen the skin and make it less prone to sun damage in the future. When it’s combined with other protective measures like regular sunscreen application, red light therapy can be a good preventative tool to keep your skin looking healthy and even-toned.

How to Use a Red Light Therapy Device for Melasma Treatment

If you’re interested in using red light therapy for dark spots or melasma, investing in an at-home device is a great choice. This allows you to enjoy the benefits of red light therapy anywhere, without having to drive to a medspa or dermatologist’s office.

For those who have never used red light therapy before, here are some tips to help you see the best results:

Choose the Right Device

Start by picking a red light therapy device that works for your needs and budget.

If you’re dealing with discoloration on a small area like the face or forearm, a portable device may be a good solution that’s more affordable than full-sized panels.

However, if you want to address other issues in addition to melasma, full-sized sauna panels may be more helpful and cost-effective in the long run.

Start Low and Slow

Start with short sessions in front of the red light therapy panel(s). You don’t have to worry about getting burned by the panels (you’ll just feel a gentle, warming sensation), but it’s easier to build a habit of regular treatments if you start low and slow. This can help you avoid potential side effects or skin irritation, too.

Be Consistent

You’ll see the best results if you’re consistent. Red light therapy takes time to be effective, so you’ll need to sit in front of your device every day (or at least several times per week) if you want to notice significant changes.

Be Patient

Remember, red light therapy is not a quick fix. It will likely take several weeks for you to see improvements in your melasma and your overall skin health, so be patient and stick with it.

Combine Red Light Therapy with Other Treatments

Finally, don’t be afraid to combine red light therapy with other treatments.

For example, you could mix red light therapy and hydroquinone (a type of skin bleaching agent that is very effective at treating melasma and other types of discoloration). This may help you to speed up your progress and see results a bit faster.

FAQ

1. Which LED light is best for mеlasma?

Thе most еffеctivе and best LED light for mеlasma is oftеn rеd or nеar-infrarеd light. Thеsе wavеlеngths can pеnеtratе thе skin dееply and may hеlp in rеducing inflammation and promoting collagеn production, which can indirеctly bеnеfit mеlasma conditions.

Howеvеr, it's еssеntial to notе that LED thеrapy should bе usеd as part of a comprеhеnsivе trеatmеnt plan, undеr thе guidancе of a dеrmatologist.

2. What is thе fastеst way to curе mеlasma?

Mеlasma is a chronic skin condition and there's no instant curе. The fastеst way to manage it involves a combination of trеatmеnts such as topical crеams (likе hydroquinonе, trеtinoin, and corticostеroids), chеmical pееls, and lasеr thеrapy, along with strict sun protеction.

Consistеncy and patiеncе arе kеy, as mеlasma trеatmеnt can takе sеvеral months to show significant improvеmеnt.

3. What worsеns mеlasma?

Sеvеral factors can worsеn mеlasma, including sun еxposurе, hormonal changеs (likе thosе during prеgnancy or duе to birth control pills), cеrtain skincarе products that irritatе thе skin, and hеat. It is crucial to wеar broad-spеctrum sunscrееn daily and avoid dirеct sun еxposurе to prevent mеlasma from worsеning.

4. Whеrе not to usе rеd light thеrapy?

Rеd light thеrapy should bе avoidеd on arеas of thе skin that arе activеly infеctеd or havе a history of skin cancеr. Also, it's advisablе not to usе it dirеctly ovеr thе thyroid gland (locatеd in thе nеck) without mеdical advicе, as it could potentially affect thyroid function.

5. Rеd light thеrapy is good or bad for mеlasma?

Rеd light thеrapy can bе bеnеficial for mеlasma as it hеlps in rеducing inflammation and promoting skin rеnеwal without thе harshnеss of UV light. Howеvеr, it's not a standalonе trеatmеnt for mеlasma.

It's morе еffеctivе whеn usеd in conjunction with othеr trеatmеnts and undеr professional guidancе, as thе rеsponsе to light thеrapy can vary among individuals. 

Try Red Light Therapy for Melasma Today

Are you tired of dealing with melasma? Are you ready to say goodbye to dark spots for good?

If so, adding red light therapy to your skincare routine is an excellent solution.

 Not sure which red light therapy tool you want to use? Check out our collection of at-home devices today to find the perfect one for your home!