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LED technology has been used by dermatologists for decades to treat A series of skin problems From acne To sun damage,
seller of beauty at home The devices, which can cost up to £400, boast LED mask Can stimulate skin cells, improve skin texture, reduce wrinkles and also helping acne,
Although it may seem tempting to have a device that can supercharge you skin care routineDermatologists emphasize that irregular mask These are not miracle cures for all skin problems and provide only a “modest” reduction in wrinkles.
Ads that claimed masks could improve acne and rosacea were banned by advertising watchdogs for making unauthorized medical claims last week, with the company stressing the importance of “not blurring the line between cosmetic benefits and medicinal claims”.
Not only is there little clinical evidence to support these health claims, but any device must be registered with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
“There have been all kinds of claims made for treating acne, rosacea, improving skin aging, fighting inflammation, tackling redness, and improving pigmentation. All of these things have somehow melded together and whatever your skin concern, these masks provide some type of solution,” says Harley Street. dermatologist Dr. Justin Kluke told Independent,
LED face masks work by causing the skin to absorb light energy, typically in the infrared range, which triggers cellular changes in a process called photobiomodulation (PBM), thereby boosting the production of light. collagen and elastin, according to Dr. Jonathan Kentley, consultant dermatologist and spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation.
“It’s been used in dermatology for a really long time — particularly red light, which is often a component of how we treat certain types of sun damage, pre-cancerous skin changes and even some superficial skin cancers,” Dr. Kluke said.
But dermatologists are divided on whether home masks can deliver the same results as the medical-grade devices used in clinics.
Dr. Kentley explained that LED therapy in clinics is “more powerful” and “delivered more evenly to the skin,” suggesting it is more effective than at-home devices.
“We’re assuming it works the same way as the robust devices in a hospital or clinic, but people haven’t actually tested them face-to-face,” Dr. Kluk said.
He explained that although LED is used in dermatology clinics to treat conditions such as acne, it is not used as much in topical and oral treatments, meaning there is less published data about LED.
“There is even less data available for at-home LED masks to treat these skin conditions and few studies have been published by the companies selling them, so there is bias in interpreting the results – they probably wouldn’t publish data that shows they don’t work,” Dr Kluke said.
Although she appreciates that buying a mask may be a quicker solution than taking a dermatology referral, she emphasizes that the longer a person waits to get help for their acne, the more likely it is that they will get blemishes.
Dr. Kluke said: “It frustrates me that people would believe these devices, which would mean they would delay seeking treatment. We know that the risk of acne scarring depends on the severity of the acne, but also on the duration of the acne. So the longer someone spends trying things that don’t work, the greater the risk of scarring.”
But it’s not just skin conditions, dermatologists have warned that there isn’t enough evidence to claim that masks can reduce wrinkles.
“There is evidence that if these home devices are used consistently every day for months and months, there may be modest improvements in skin quality,” Dr. Kluke said.
Dr. Kentley explained that when red light is applied to the skin on a regular basis it can help increase collagen and elastin and in some cases has been shown to improve the appearance of the skin. But he warned that there is “insufficient evidence to claim that they reduce wrinkles” and that the masks would need to be used regularly for 10 to 15 minutes a day to get any benefit.
“Masks are quite expensive and it’s not really clear how much benefit you’ll actually get from them,” Dr. Kentley said.
“They are also quite unregulated and not all masks are created equal: some companies have put a lot of effort into the research and development of their masks, while others have mass-produced them without thinking,” he said.