Red Light Therapy vs Blue Light Skincare, What's The Difference?

Skincare today is not just limited to serum, toner, and moisturizer, but technology too is coming in, rapidly! We are today talking about light-based therapy, or therapy that protects you against certain lights. While many of you must have heard about the Red-Light Therapy or RLP, or the Blue Light Therapy. There is one light that can cause you more harm, it is the blue light (not the blue light therapy) from increases screentime.

Red Light Therapy vs Blue light Therapy

While both use light wavelengths to target specific conditions, their mechanism, benefits, and application can differ.

Red light therapy, often called photobiomodulation, uses low-level red and near-infrared light to penetrate the skin and stimulate cellular repair. The light penetrates between 1 and 2 millimeters into the skin, energizing mitochondria and promoting ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production. This increased energy helps cells rejuvenate and repair themselves, improving overall skin health and function.

RLT is also non-thermal and painless, as it uses LED devices as a safe alternative to traditional lasers. The benefits of RLT includes:

• Reduction in wrinkles, stretch marks and scars
• Alleviating conditions like psoriasis and acne
• Speeding up muscle recovering and wound healing
• Increasing collagen production, fibroblast activity and blood circulation for healthy aging

Blue Light Therapy targets skin conditions on or just below the skin's surface with emitting a specific blue light wavelength.

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READ MORE: What Is Blue Light? How Does It Impact Sleep?

How it works? It works combining with photosensitizing drugs in a process called photodynamic therapy.

Benefits include:

• It can treat precancerous and cancerous skin lesions and repair sun damage
• It can reduce oil production, improves skin texture and diminishes acne scars
• Apart from skin, it is also used to treat seasonal depression by mimicking sunlight during darker months

Unlike RLT, blue light therapy works primarily at the skin's surface. It is considered safe and non-invasive, making it suitable for various dermatological applications.

The Different Between Blue Light Therapy vs Blue Light Skincare

Blue light, in general, comes from devices like phones, tablets, and laptops can negatively impact the skin. Studies reveal that prolonged exposure can lead to:

• Premature aging by breaking down the collagen and elastin
• Hyperpigmentation, that triggers dark spots and uneven skin tone
• Inflammation by exacerbating conditions like redness and acne

While blue light therapy involves targeted medical treatments, blue light skincare focuses on protecting the skin from harmful blue light emitted by screens and sunlight.

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• Blue light skincare includes products like sprays, creams, and serums designed to shield skin from blue light damage.
• It targets premature aging, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines caused by screen exposure.
• It is also preventive and rejuvenating in nature rather than therapeutic.

The skincare routine includes:

• Broad spectrum sunscreen
• Antioxidant-rich products like vitamin C and E serums
• Night creams
• Digital defense sprays, which are used in place of sunscreen cream

Read more about blue light and how it effects on human health here.