LED light therapy for the face: how Dermalux works and what it can do for your skin

Light without heat, needles or acids

LED light therapy sounds futuristic, but the principle is simple: the skin receives certain colours of light – specific wavelengths – that skin cells can absorb. The light doesn't burn or heat the skin significantly, contains no UV and doesn't break the skin. That's why LED also suits skin that is sensitive, red or recovering from another treatment.

Skinique uses a professional Dermalux Tri-Wave device. Home LED masks have become common, but a professional device is in a different league in power and evenness of light.

Three lights, three jobs

Dermalux Tri-Wave uses three wavelengths, together or separately:

• Red light (633 nm) works in the upper layers. It is used to support hydration, radiance and elasticity.
• Near-infrared light (830 nm) reaches deepest. It is used to calm redness and support recovery, for example after a treatment.
• Blue light (415 nm) works right at the surface. The manufacturer links it to the bacteria behind breakouts, so it is used for blemish-prone skin.

See the illustration below of how deep each light reaches.

Who is LED for?

Almost everyone. LED is a particularly good choice when:

• skin is tired, grey and dry – typical of the dark Finnish months
• skin is sensitive or red and doesn't tolerate strong treatments
• there are breakouts – read LED and breakouts
• skin is recovering from microneedling, a peel or a cleanse
• you want to support elasticity with no downtime

LED isn't used during pregnancy, or if you take medication that increases light sensitivity, or have a light-sensitivity condition or light-triggered epilepsy.

How many sessions?

Many people notice fresher skin from the very first visit. The effect of light on cells adds up over time, though, so a clearer and longer-lasting result comes from a series of visits. Your cosmetologist looks at your skin and suggests how many visits you need and how often.

For a series there is the Dermalux course of 6 visits, which works out cheaper than booking each visit separately. The first visit is described in your first Dermalux session.

LED alone or as part of another treatment?

Dermalux LED light therapy is a treatment of its own, about an hour long, with cleansing and finishing included. Light can also be combined with another facial: the booking page lists which add-ons are available. After a Hydrapeel or a manual cleanse, for example, the light helps settle the skin and can ease redness.

Find out more about combining LED with other treatments.

What LED doesn't do

It's good to know the limits too. LED doesn't clear pores mechanically, doesn't erase wrinkles instantly and doesn't replace sunscreen or medical treatment for acne. It's a supporting treatment that works best as part of the whole: the right cleansing, good home care and regularity.

The honest expectation is fresher, calmer, more balanced skin – not a new face overnight.