In over 40 years of independent research worldwide (especially Russia and Europe), intense red and infrared light therapy (photo-therapy) has shown powerful therapeutic benefits to living tissues. The cosmetic use of light therapy has grown dramatically over the past decade as physicians and aestheticians discovered the healing affect of light on the skin.
Presently, many physicians use laser based light therapy in conjunction with their other treatment modalities to improve client appearance. The more recent development of non-laser, LED light therapy, devices has brought photo-therapy out of the physician’s office and placed it in the hands of aestheticians and skin care specialists. Current estimates suggest that over 3,000 skin care locations nationwide are using photo-therapy with many satisfied clients. LED light therapy is FDA approved although specific devices may or may not have FDA approval.
The machines currently in use for cosmetic purposes typically utilize a pulsed combination of visible yellow, amber, red, and infrared light. Both visible red (620nm - 700nm) and invisible infrared light (700nm - 1200nm) clearly show at least 24 different positive changes at a cellular level.
Visible red light, at a wavelength of 620 to 700nm (nanometers), penetrates human tissue to a depth of about 8-10 mm. Skin layers, because of their high blood and water content, easily absorb red light. It is extremely beneficial in treating problems close to the surface such as wrinkles, age spots, broken capillaries, wounds, cuts, and scars, trigger points, and have shown particular effectiveness in treating infections.
Infrared light at 950nm penetrates to a depth of about 30-40 mm which makes it more effective for bones, joints, deep muscles, etc. Although both red and infrared wavelengths penetrate to different depths and affect tissues differently, their therapeutic effects are similar.
Wavelength dependent photobiochemical reactions occur throughout nature and are involved in such things as vision, photosynthesis, tanning and Vitamin D metabolism. In this view, red and infrared intense light is really a form of phototherapy. Red and infrared light emitting diodes (LED's) and lasers are important in that they are convenient sources of intense light at wavelengths that stimulate specific physiological functions (Lasers in Surgery and Medicine 9:1-5, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, 1989). All studies to this date show that LED pulsed light treatment is as effective as or more effective than laser treatment.
Cosmetic use of this therapy has produced no reported discomfort or side effects.
Several studies establish that it is the light itself at specific wavelengths that are therapeutic in nature and not the machine that produced it. As such, there is no therapeutic difference between Lasers and LED therapy. All biological systems have a unique absorption spectrum that determines what wavelengths of radiation will be absorbed to produce a given therapeutic effect. The visible red and invisible infrared portions of the spectrum have been shown to have highly absorbent and unique therapeutic effects in living tissues, particularly the skin, connective, and muscle tissue. What then does a photo-therapy treatment do?

• Increases circulation by increasing the formation of new capillaries, which are additional blood vessels that replace damaged ones. New capillaries speed up the healing process in damaged skin by carrying more oxygen as well as more nutrients needed for healing and they can also carry more waste products away.
• Stimulates the production of collagen. Collagen is a major component of the connective tissue in the skin that creates strength and flexibility. Over time, the collagen levels in our skin decrease, causing wrinkles to form. External factors such as sun damage and smoking can also accelerate this process. Collagen is the essential protein used to repair damaged tissue and to replace old tissue. It is the substance that holds cells together and has a high degree of elasticity. By increasing collagen production less scar tissue is formed in damaged tissue.
• Diminishes hyper pigmentation or age spots. The photons of light energy enter areas of hyper pigmentation and destroy the melanin, which is gradually absorbed by the body.
• Stimulates fibroblastic activity, which aids in the tissue repair process. Fibroblasts are present in connective tissue and are capable of forming collagen fibers.
• Stimulates tissue granulation and connective tissue projections, which are part of the healing process of wounds, ulcers or inflamed tissue.
• Stimulates the release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the major carrier of energy to all cells. Increases in ATP allow cells to accept nutrients faster and get rid of waste products faster by increasing the energy level in the cell. All food turns into ATP before the cells utilize it. ATP provides the chemical energy that drives the chemical reaction of the cell. Intense light therapy acts as a “photon supplement” to the cells. It allows cells to bypass the normal digestive and respiratory process to acquire energy for repair and the production of life enhancing enzymes.
• Increases lymphatic system activity. A large number of lymphatic channels lie directly beneath the skin, and play a significant role in maintaining health and beauty of the complexion. Edema, which is the swelling or natural splinting process of the body, has two basic components. The first is a liquid, which can be evacuated by the blood system, and the second is comprised of proteins, which have to be evacuated by the lymphatic system. Research has shown that the lymph vessel diameter and the flow of the lymph system can be doubled with the use of intense light therapy. The venous diameter and the arterial diameters are also increased. This means that both parts of edema (liquid and protein) can be evacuated at a much faster rate. Lymphatic drainage helps the lymphatic system function more efficiently by facilitating toxin removal and improving skin circulation. The result: healthier, glowing skin and a more beautiful complexion.
• Stimulates acetylcholine release, which regulates parasympathetic effects such as resting respiration rate, heart beat, digestive processes and vascular tissue dilation.
• Increases phagocytosis, which is the process of scavenging for and ingesting dead or degenerated cells by phagocyte cells for the purpose of clean up. This is an important part of the infection fighting process. Destruction of the infection and clean up must occur before the healing process can take place.
• Induces a thermal like effect in the tissue even though there is little heat produced by the Leds themselves. The light raises the temperature of the tissue, which can kill or disable temperature sensitive bacteria and viruses.

As you can readily see, photo-therapy (light therapy) actually heals the skin and supporting tissues. No other treatment you can provide to your clients can have such a beneficial effect.

Photo-therapy essentially works at the cellular level. Each cell contains a number of power plants, called mitochondria. The function of these power plants is to produce ATP, the form of energy that can be used by the cell to function properly.
The inner mitochondrial membrane is a large collector surface folded onto a small total volume. All nutritive molecules (fats, proteins and glucose) are oxidized within the cell to the last molecular nutritive component, that is, pyruvate. The pyruvate is then imported into the cellular power plant, where it disintegrates into carbon dioxide and water in the immediate proximity of the collector surface of the mitochondrion. The molecular bond energy thus released, which corresponds with visible, ultraviolet and infrared light as far as its wavelength and frequency is concerned, is utilized by the mitochondrion to produce the cellular fuel ATP.
The collector surface of our cellular power plant is enlarged by the mushroom-shaped protrusions of the inner mitochondrial membrane. The molecular bond energy of the pyruvate is released in the form of light energy. The antennae pigments are capable of absorbing this light energy and transmit it to our cellular power plant, which can now produce the cellular fuel ATP. The natural solar radiation also stimulates the antennae pigments of the mitochondrion to produce ATP.
LED light is compressed light from the red and infrared spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation. It reaches the cellular power plants of low-lying cells as well and is absorbed by their collector surfaces as an additional source of energy. The cellular power plants can thus produce more ATP. The cellular energy is the fuel the skin cells strive after and need.
A sufficiently high supply of cellular energy enables our skin cell to work under optimum conditions and is the essential prerequisite to ensure a successful self-healing process.
No other skin care treatment can stimulate the healing process with the efficiency and effectiveness of photo-therapy.

Benefits

Photo-therapy has numerous client benefits. Some of these benefits are unattainable through any alternative treatment regimens. The benefits of red/infrared therapy to the skin include:

• Increased radiance (the "Photo-therapy Glow")
• Firms aged and tired skin but let’s be honest, this is not a face lift
• More consistent skin coloration and complexion
• Increases moisture retention
• Increases circulation (due to the increased formation of new capillaries)
• Promotes collagen production for plumper, more youthful looking skin
• Increases oxygenation and restoration of skin's natural cellular activity, which keeps skin renewed and fresh
• Increases lymphatic system drainage which detoxifies the skin tissue for the healthy look and feel of young skin
• Reduces inflammation in skin conditions such as acne
• Reduces sebum by normalizing the skin thereby helping control acne breakouts

The healing power of red/infrared light therapy also decreases skin flaws:

• Acne
• Psoriasis and eczema
• Herpes sores
• Blemishes
• Age spots and photo hyper pigmentation
• Skin redness, including Rosacea
• Fine lines due to sun damage
• Perinocular wrinkles
• Enlarged pores
• Coarse skin
• Mottled complexion
• Skin laxity

Blue/violet photo-therapy provides different benefits. Unlike the red/infrared therapy, the blue works as a vasoconstrictor. This may have certain benefits in treating conditions such as Rosacea. Additionally, the blue photo-therapy is approved by the FDA for treatment of acne. The blue works by helping to control the p. acne bacteria living on and in the skin. In many cases, the blue light actually kills the bacteria. There are also green light devices providing a similar benefit. Please keep in mind that you would normally not need both a green and blue device. One or the other should suffice.
In addition to these benefits, there are other benefits from photo-therapy that are not mentioned above and are important to many clients.

The anti-aging photo-therapy effects last for 30 to 90 days. A 30-minute maintenance treatment is all that is needed following the initial series of treatments. The exact amount of time between maintenance treatments depends on the quality of skin.
Photo-therapy has no reported side effects. This does not mean, however, that it can be used indiscriminately with other products that may themselves cause side effects. This means that you must make certain that products you are using on your clients are safe and non-allergic. Many skin care specialists with experience in Photo-therapy believe that the application of light actually makes other products more effective. Studies show that photo-therapy increases the uptake and penetration of products.
Photo-therapy is pain free. This is an attractive bonus in attracting clients who fear microdermabrasion, collagen injections, Botox, or laser resurfacing due to pain. Some clients may experience brief warmth or “glow” following treatment.
Photo-therapy has no downtime. You clients can put their make-up on immediately after treatments. They can go in the sun and in water.
Photo-therapy has the broadest range of application. You can treat Acneic clients on Accutane or Retin-A, as well as treat other skin conditions not manageable with microdermabrasion or chemical peels.
Combination of treatments. You may combine photo-therapy with microdermabrasion, peels, products, etc. It will only enhance the benefits of these other treatments.
The cost of treatments. The spa photo-therapy treatment can equal the benefits of similar treatments using laser IPL but at less than ½ the cost.