subject: Anti Aging Light Therapy -- Led Technology [print this page] Anti aging light therapy is a medical idea just beginning to be studied by scientists, which is an interesting concept considering that too much exposure to direct sunlight is one of the hardest things on the skin. I suppose the old adage holds true that moderation is everything. As time goes on, science is discovering that not only is light essential to the body for the production of vitamin D, but it's also very helpful to the human body in a variety of other ways. Different wavelengths of light affect the body positively in many different ways. LED light therapy for anti aging is just one of those ways. The spectrum of light emitted by LED's apparently promotes stimulation of damaged cells within the body, making it great for not only restoring aging skin, but also for helping restore damaged tissue. Red light, as well as the near infrared spectrum are able to penetrate through the surface of the skin and reach the deeper tissue beneath. This particular wavelength of light helps to stimulate the cell's production of ATP and new DNA.
Similar studies are also being conducting about the body's ability to actually metabolize sunlight directly into energy. It's definitely quite intriguing information. The body seems to find all different spectrums of light useful, and can process them accordingly to gain a positive effect. So lets get back to anti aging light therapy.
In my studies of the properties of light and its effects on the body, anti aging light therapy has come up again and again. It's a method that utilized LEDs to stimulate vitality and wellness inside the cell. Studies have shown that LED light therapy can be very beneficial in aiding damaged cells in their repair process. They stimulate energy production and positive growth to try and help the cell restore itself. Since aging can be described as a form of damage, some websites claim that LED light therapy can reverse the signs of age and make reduce wrinkles. From what I am able to gather, this is not the case. Anti aging light therapy does seem to keep young skin more healthy and youthful for longer. But before anyone goes out and buys an expensive anti aging light device, it should be noted that the same effects on the skin can be achieved simply by lying down in direct sunlight for a short period of time each day.
Direct sunlight encompasses every wavelength on the light spectrum, and because of that, everything that a person can gain from LED light therapy, they technically can also gain from exposure to direct sunlight. However, it should be noted that LED light therapy and anti aging light therapy don't have that other range of the spectrum that causes sun burns and can lead to skin cancer. That's why most people prefer to use LEDs in the comfort of their own home. LEDs can also concentrate the light energy they emit, reducing the application time needed. Most people don't have the time to spend 2 hours underneath direct sunlight. They do however, have the time to apply an LED light to their skin for an hour while watching TV.
The human body is mostly water. Skin isn't generally thought of as a translucent substance, but to much of the light spectrum, it really is. In a similar way that light is able to penetrate through the surface of the ocean, it's also able in many forms to penetrate the initial layers of the skin. Red and near infrared light are able to penetrate through the skin, up to 6 inches according to some reports. Once LED light penetrates the skin however, it generally scatters very quickly. Depending on what type of material it encounters (bone, muscle, fat) and what specific wavelength of light is being used, it will disperse more quickly. Fortunately for the purposes of anti aging light therapy, the wavelength doesn't need to penetrate very far in order to encounter the damaged tissue. But it's still important to get the right wavelength and intensity. Normal LEDs will do the job, but because of the inexpensive nature of medical LEDs, it's generally safer just to go with one specifically designed for use with the human body. Happy healing to all!
