Red light therapy is a popular beauty treatment. But what about red light for your hands?
The best red light therapy devices were aimed at the face until recently. However, now there are several gadgets that can be used to treat the hands and body. This is what we’re concerned about today. “The hands are one of the first areas of skin to show signs of aging,” says Dr Stefanie William, dermatologist and Medical Director of Eudelo Skin Wellbeing.
This is due to several factors: “Firstly, because the skin on the backs of the hands has a thinner thickness than the skin on the face and is therefore more susceptible to ageing.” The backs of hands have very little fat, so any loss in skin elasticity and collagen will be more noticeable on the hands. The skin on hands also has fewer oil glands and tends to be dryer,” she says. Our hands are exposed to more UV and infrared rays from the sun, which can age skin faster. This can lead to hyperpigmentation.
How can we help them and prevent signs of ageing from appearing? Red light therapy advocates claim that it can work wonders for the hands and body, as well as SPF and hand cream. We asked the experts to confirm this and if LED devices really are that effective.
Let’s first explain what red light therapy actually is and how you can benefit from it.
LED (which stands as Light Emitting Diode), Light Therapy was developed by NASA to treat skin conditions.
Different colours of light have different benefits. Williams says that while blue light kills acne-causing bacteria, red light is antiinflammatory and can also stimulate collagen production and tissue growth. Some devices, such as those used in clinics, emit a combination between visible red light and near infrared light, with slightly longer (and more intense) wavelengths.
“Red light stimulates collagen production and leads to a reduction in wrinkles and lines,” says Dr. Sophie Shotter of Illuminate Skin Clinic, a Kent-based aesthetic doctor who has won numerous awards. It may therefore be beneficial for skin on the hands, which is prone to premature aging. “However, aside from the Dermalux Flex I have yet to see a device that emits the power needed to achieve real results,” states Shotter. He adds that in-clinic machines are much more powerful.
Williams says that red LED light is not the most effective option for treating ageing hand. “Don’t misunderstand me, I like LED light in other ways, such as a defined course for red LED to provide anti-inflammatory benefits following in-clinic treatments or blue LED for its anti-bacterial properties for acne breakouts. “I am not a fan for LED light to be used continuously as an anti-ageing tool,” she tells.
Why? We don’t have enough information about the long-term impacts of LED light used continuously. Williams flags that we already know that UV light and infrared will prematurely age skin.
Can red light therapy help with common hand conditions such as arthritis, pain, inflammation and anti-aging? Shotter says that there is some evidence that red light therapy could be beneficial for those with joint conditions.
Dr Jinah Yoo explains that the therapy penetrates deep into the skin to reduce inflammation, improve blood circulation and stimulate cellular repairs, leading to relief of discomfort and improved mobility in joints.
Williams says yes. “There’s definitely a sweet-spot when it comes red light therapy. While less may not be effective, more could damage the skin. Consider infrared. We know that infrared heat from the sun can cause skin damage and premature aging. A small dose of infrared and red LED light, calibrated to a high degree, has been shown to biostimulate the skin and support its rejuvenation and regeneration (Barolet and al. “She says that the year 2016 is a good one.
Shotter recommends that you follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer if you have a red-LED device at home (as these can vary from device to device). “A device such as the Dermalux Flex should be used twice a week for half an hour each session to achieve effective results. Results are usually noticeable after a few weeks.
Williams says, “We must treat our hands with anti-ageing preventative products as we treat our faces.” This includes topical anti-oxidants, SPF 30-50, and collagen-stimulating retinaloids.
“In-clinic treatments can also do wonders for the appearance of our hands.” Regenerative treatments like Exokine Needling boost collagen and elastin while laser or IPL can reduce irregular pigmentation. Williams recommends hyaluronic-acid-containing skin boosters to not only hydrate skin from the inside, but also to restore its youthful plumpness.
