Jennifer’s seeing red: I’ve got a gizmo called the “Red Light Therapy Wand With Infrared and Magnetic Massage Function” or something like that. It’s supposed to stimulate the skin to grow new collagen by zapping the dermis with a combination of red visible light and infrared waves. This is the first I’ve heard of using red light bulbs to rejuvenate skin. Is there anything to this? If so, couldn’t someone just make their own “red light therapy wand” by strapping some red cello over a flash light and basking in its glow? The Red Brain, uh, I mean Right Brain responds:
Believe it or not, shining a light on your skin can reduce wrinkles. Provided, of course, that it’s the right kind of light!
Intense Pulse Light Technology Fights Wrinkles
Intense Pulse
Light (IPL) technology involves using a special type of laser light on skin to stimulate collagen production. This process has been proven to make your skin tighter and less wrinkley but it’s expensive and it takes a while to work. (For more details, you can read our previous post on photofacials.) “Regular” red light (visible or infrared wavelengths) does not have the same effect on the underlying layers of skin as IPL does, so your “Red Light Therapy Wand” is not the real deal.
Because of the specialized laser equipment required for a photo facial, this kind of treatment has been available only through derms or professional spas. That is, until now: Cosmeticdesign.com reports that P&G is looking at a home IPL device that can “simultaneously harness bi-polar and optical energies to overcome the safety and operating limitations that, until recently, has meant other IPL therapies have had to be carried out by professionals.” Sounds better than another worthless wrinkle cream, doesn’t it? And definitely better than putting red cellophane over a light bulb!
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
It sounds a bit like beauty bogus to me but I’ll reserve judgment until I can actually see a demonstration (or scientific study) that shows this thing in action. I guess that’s why I’m the Left Brain.
You’ve got to be kidding me. Just buy a red plus near-infrared
light bulb and put it in a regular flexible desk lamp. Don’t go spending all kinds of money at the dermatologist or at some beauty spa. I got one for about $60 at heelspurs.com, but there
are others like acnelamp.com or that sell more expensive units for
$250 to $300. Sheesh. I have to use this for my vascular disorder
(rosacea) but it is true it helps with wrinkles.
Does it help with your rosacea?
How does it help with that?
Interesting to see they are now using it for anti-agining, and even more so the ludicrous price tags they place on anything “new”
Nothing beats healthy diet and exercise with a good nutritional supplementation program.
could you please recommend a photofacial device for home use that actually works? A consumer report woudl be great – lots of women want to know.
It’s not that simple. Putting a red plus near-infrared
light bulb and put it in a regular flexible desk lamp. The reason SOME of them work is because of the wavelenght and the dose, Joules per cm2. And the type of LED. And yes it does help Rosacea how: It effectively targets the obvious blood vessels, absorbing them through the light-attracting molecules that works to destroy them. It is also very effective for wrinkles and acne. And there are hundreds of study out there that prove this. And yes right healty diet and supplements will onlu compliment this treatment.
can you recommend some brands to review and evaluate for potential home use? when I google this, there are hundreds of different brands. any recommendation on one that would be appropriate for home use from a reputatable company? (not one that tapes red plastic onto regular light bulbs)?
Can you help me with an at home laser. I’m looking for the best working product that will get deepest down to the dermis. I’m looking the make the texture of my skin better and wrinkles disappear. love ur site…thanks