LED Light Therapy: Everything you need to know

LED light therapy colors, their skin benefits, and mood effects:

1. Red Light (620–660nm)

Skin Benefits:

  • Boosts collagen production and cell turnover, improving fine lines, wrinkles, and elasticity.

  • Enhances circulation, speeds up healing, and reduces inflammation.

Mood Effects:

  • Not used for mood. Red light is great for skin, but exposure to red or bright light at night can disrupt melatonin and impact sleep.

2. Blue Light (405–470nm)

Skin Benefits:

  • Targets and kills acne-causing bacteria (Cutibacterium acnes).

  • Helps manage breakouts and reduce oil production.

  • Can calm active inflammation in acne.

Mood Effects:

  • Blue light boosts alertness and mood during the day.

  • Clinical research shows it can reset circadian rhythms — which is why it’s used in light therapy boxes for seasonal affective disorder (SAD).

  • But beware: too much blue light at night = poor sleep.

3. Green Light (520–550nm)

Skin Benefits:

  • Reduces hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and melasma.

  • Calms the skin and can help with redness and irritation.

Mood Effects:

  • Early studies suggest green light may help with migraine relief, but its mood effects are still being explored.

4. Yellow/Amber Light (570–590nm)

Skin Benefits:

  • Soothes sensitive skin, reduces redness, and supports lymphatic drainage.

  • Great post-treatment light (e.g., after needling or peels).

Mood Effects:

  • Not directly tied to mood, but calming effects on the skin may have indirect wellness benefits.

Jules O’DriscollSole Revival Comment