What is the Best Color LED Mask for My Skin Type?

• 01 What is LED Light Therapy?
• 02 What Color LED is Best for Anti-Aging?
• 03 What Color LED is Best for Acne?
• 04 What Color LED for Rosacea and Redness?
• 05 What Color LED for Hyperpigmentation?
• 06 So, What Is the Best Color for an LED Mask?
• 07 Summary: What Do the 7 Colors on an LED mask do?
• 08 The Takeaway

5-minute read

Choosing the right LED light color for your skin type can be a minefield. Maybe we know red light therapy has powerful anti-aging benefits, while blue light therapy treats and prevents acne, but beyond this we’re a little in the dark. This blog sheds light on the phenomena that are 7 color LED light devices + infrared light therapy to help you choose the best LED face mask for your specific skin concern.

What is LED Light Therapy?

LED light therapy is a science-backed therapeutic beauty technique that uses different wavelengths to deliver powerful skin benefits. LED light therapy has the power to supercharge your skincare routine and enhance the effectiveness of other skincare treatments. LED light therapy devices can contain up to 7 colors plus infrared light. So what do the 7 colors on an LED mask do? And where do they come from?

The sun emits three categories of light  

• Visible light 
• Infrared Light
• Ultraviolet Light

LED light therapy bulbs can produce red, blue, yellow, green, purple, cyan, white or infrared light. The first seven colors exist on the visible light spectrum, meaning they are visible to the human eye. Infrared light exists on the invisible spectrum and therefore we cannot see it. It does however penetrate the deepest of all the lights (more on this later). The visible light spectrum spans 400-700nm while the infrared light spectrum ranges from 700-1100nm deep. 

What Color LED is Best for Anti-Aging?

Red light therapy (600-700m) is a powerful anti-ager, it penetrates the skin deeper than any other visible light. It activates the production of collagen and other key building blocks such as elastin and hyaluronic acid. Red light therapy also repairs DNA and boosts mitochondrial function. The red light is bioactive in humans meaning it changes cell function. This change in cell functions supports its anti-aging benefits: smoothing fine lines and boosting skin elasticity overtime.

Infrared light therapy (700-1100) penetrates deeper than all light on the visible spectrum. Similarly to red light therapy, infrared light has deep healing benefits. Studies have demonstrated its ability to reach beyond skin to deliver healing benefits in tissue, muscle, and even bone. Infrared light boosts cellular function and triggers collagen synthesis for increased skin elasticity, tightening and the prevention of fine lines and wrinkles.

If aging is your primary skin concern, a mask combining red and infrared light is the ultimate option.

What Color LED is Best for Acne?

Blue LED light is a miracle therapy for acne prone skin. It is antibacterial and antimicrobial. This basically means it removes acne causing bacteria from the skin’s surface. When applied to the skin, the blue light forms a reactive oxygen species that destroys acne causing bacteria Propionibacterium. Blue light also soothes inflamed skin often associated with acne and reduces acne scarring.

What Color LED for Rosacea and Redness?

What is Rosacea? Rosacea is an inflammatory skin condition that usually presents as a red rash or bumps on the face, particularly the cheeks, nose and chin. It can often persist for months or even years. While there is little evidence to suggest LED can ‘treat’ rosacea per se, it may alleviate symptoms and improve its appearance. A combination of red and infrared light with blue, green or yellow light is the recommended treatment approach. Red and infrared penetrate deep into the skin to promote deep healing. Blue tackles inflammation, a key marker of rosacea, it can also help prevent any infections developing on the skin.

Cyan light is a combination of blue and green light (460+520nm) and is known to soothe and heal the skin and reduce the appearance of broken or burst capillaries.

What Color LED for Hyperpigmentation?

Firstly, what causes hyperpigmentation? Hyperpigmentation is categorized by the appearance of dark spots on the skin. Examples include melasma, age spots or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Uneven skin tone is more common in people with darker skin (typically III or darker on the Fitzpatrick scale) but can present in anyone. Causes include prolonged sun exposure causing the body to produce more melanin, inflammation, genetic causes or medical conditions. Green light therapy (520nm) breaks down melanin in the skin and obstructs the body’s ability to produce more melanin - this reduces the appearance of hyperpigmentation promoting a brighter and more even complexion. If you are at a higher risk for hyperpigmentation or have had hyperpigmentation in the past you should limit blue light therapy treatments.

So, What Is the Best Color for an LED Mask?

There is no singular ‘best LED mask’ but the colors can serve different purposes depending on skin type and concern. Infrared and red light therapy devices are popular choices as they penetrate deepest into the skin and have an immense impact on cellular activity. Many devices will contain red light, with a combination of other colors such as blue, green and yellow. Blue light therapy is also a very popular choice due to its strength in fighting acne on the epidermal, or surface layer of the skin. Red, blue and infrared light are also FDA-cleared which may be another consideration for consumers. For more on the impact of FDA-clearance in practice check out our full post on this. 

The Takeaway

Deciding on the perfect LED face mask can be a challenge and the abundance of choice can be overwhelming. Most skin types will benefit from a combination approach to LED light therapy treatments, particularly those looking to treat a variety of skin concerns. Infrared and red light therapy combined are powerful anti-aging treatments, while blue light therapy treats mild to moderate acne. Green light inhibits the production of melanin to target signs of hyperpigmentation and a combination treatment of red and infrared together with green, blue or cyan light treat the symptoms of rosacea and redness.

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  written by Sophie Flair