Can I Use Different LED Light Therapy Lights at the Same Time?

IN THIS ARTICLE:

• 01 What Are the Different LED Light Therapy Colors?
• 02 What Color is Best for Light Therapy?
• 03 Can You Use Different LED Lights at the Same Time?
• 04 Which Option is Better?
• 05 Can I Do Blue and Red Light Therapy Together?
• 06 What is The Benefit of Using More than One LED Light Therapy Color?
• 07 Can You Use Red and Green Light Therapy Together?
• 08 Should I Do Red or Blue Light Therapy First?
• 09 Is LED Light Therapy Safe?

7-minute read

Key Takeaways

• Different LED light colors can be used at the same time
• Using different LED colors at the same time will not cancel out treatments
• Using different colors consecutively may even enhance results
• Always stick to the overall recommended treatment time for your device

It’s uncommon to experience a single skin issue in isolation, and many of us have combined skin types. Some LED devices have more than one light wavelength and are designed to treat a broader range of skin concerns in a single treatment. This includes red light for anti-aging, blue for acne, green for hyperpigmentation, yellow for redness, and so on. How we combine these treatments is important for achieving quicker, more effective results.

What Are the Different LED Light Therapy Colors

What Color is Best for Light Therapy?

Red light is often seen as the gold standard in LED light therapy. On the visible light spectrum, red light is the longest wavelength and penetrates the skin to support new collagen production and skin restoration. Red light is versatile as it supports not only skin healing but can help manage inflammation, pain, and redness and is therefore widely used in the wellness space. Investing in a device with a combination of colors allows you to tailor your treatment to your unique skin type while still getting all the benefits of traditional red light therapy for anti-aging. Most devices will contain red light, and some offer additional modes for a more robust treatment.

Can You Combine LED Light Therapy Colors?

There are no contraindications to using more than one LED light therapy light wavelength at the same time and consecutive treatments will not cancel each other out. Each color wavelength works at different depths, helping to enhance the overall effects of the treatment. When it comes to combining LED lights there are two options

1. A mask with varied LED color bulb placement as shown below
2. A mask that features one color wavelength per mode, but multiple modes are available so different colors can be used consecutively in the one sitting (eg 3 minutes of red light followed by 3 minutes of blue light)

Which Option is Better?

An LED mask featuring one color wavelength per mode offers a far more comprehensive and versatile treatment option. If the light bulb placement is similar to the one shown in image 1 above, certain areas, like around the eyes or chin, will not receive red light treatment. Since our skin’s needs can vary daily, a mask with multiple modes offers more flexibility. In essence, it’s unlikely that the same area of your face will consistently require the same treatment. It allows you to choose 2-3 consecutive sessions based on what your skin needs at that moment, whereas a mask with only one mode, where all colors are used at once, doesn’t provide the same level of customization. Some days, you may want to focus on collagen production, in which case the red and infrared light mode will target the entire face rather than just a specific area

Can I Do Blue and Red Light Therapy Together?

Red and blue are two of the most researched LED light wavelengths and there is some strong evidence to suggest that red and blue and red and infrared light therapy may be more effective than blue light alone at targeting and preventing acne.

One study in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology reported a 76% reduction in acne lesions after just 12 weeks of red and blue light.
LumaLux Face V2 focuses its four wavelengths into two purpose-built modes. Youth Enhancing combines red, infrared and deep infrared light to support collagen and target fine lines and wrinkles, while Skin Clearing pairs red and blue light to target acne-causing bacteria. Use them in the same routine to treat the entire face for both.

What is The Benefit of Using More than One LED Light Therapy Color?

Combining LED treatment modes simply offers a more holistic and more customizable treatment. You don’t have to use each mode every day, but you can tailor the treatment to whatever your skin needs on that particular day. Check out this blog that goes indepth into which color and wavelength is used to target different concerns.

Can You Use Red and Green Light Therapy Together?

Yes! You can (and should) combine red and green light therapy treatments particularly if you deal with hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. Each wavelength penetrates a different part of the dermis. Green light has a shorter wavelength and effectively controls melanin production, the substance that gives color to the skin. Red light effectively boosts collagen production to boost skin elasticity and repair skin damaged by hyperpigmentation.

Should I Do Red or Blue Light Therapy First?

While there is no conclusive evidence on whether it is better to do red or blue light therapy first, some protocols recommend starting with the shorter light 460nm blue wavelength to target bacteria and following up with the red light therapy treatment. It also may be better to do blue light in the morning as it may be too stimulating in the evening impacting sleep quality and duration. Red light can be done in the morning to boost mood or in the evening to promote relaxation before sleep.

Is LED Light Therapy Safe?

LED light therapy has no known negative side effects. Therapy devices only use UV-free and non-heating bulbs that do not cause any type of damage to the surface of the skin. A 2018 study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology confirms that phototherapy using an LED device has an excellent safety profile. The therapy also requires little to no downtime, the same study also confirms the effectiveness of phototherapy devices when used to treat mild to moderate acne and heal wounds.

written by Charlotte Rycroft

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