Can red light therapy make melasma worse?
Enhancing the skin’s tolerance to UV radiation is another benefit of red light treatment for hyperpigmentation.
This eliminates solar damage in the future, which is the primary cause of melisma.
Consumers, dermatologists, and other healthcare professionals have been debating the effectiveness and safety of at-home LED light treatments all over the world.
Many questions may come up, as with any medical or technical progress.
Such as “Is this safe to use outside of a clinic?” “Is it legit?”
We are here to dispel any common misconceptions about light therapy and go over its ins and outs, including the science behind it and why it is one of the safest skincare treatments that genuinely works (plus, no dermatologist sessions are required).
What is melasma?
Overproduction of the skin pigment melanin is the underlying cause of the condition known as melasma.
Melasma patients experience patches of light brown, dark brown, or blue-gray skin.
These patches, which can be flat or freckle-like, are frequently found on the forehead, upper lip, cheeks, and forearms.
Melasma, being a common condition in pregnant women, is sometimes referred to as the “mask of pregnancy.”
Over time, these patches may become lighter or darker, and they usually get better in the winter and worse in the summer.
Hormonal fluctuations, sun exposure, and/or allergies to skincare products can all cause or exacerbate melasma.
What is red light therapy?
Low-level red light wavelengths are applied to the skin and underlying tissues as part of a therapy called red light therapy.
Red laser treatment can be used to treat a variety of diseases, such as acne, wrinkles, scars, and fine lines. It is non-invasive and painless.
It encourages cellular activity and the body’s natural healing processes.
Because red light has a longer wavelength than normal visible light, it can reach deeper into the skin and tissues during therapy.
The increased blood flow, less inflammation, and boosted creation of collagen and other important proteins for healthy skin and tissue all result from this enhanced penetration.
Does red light therapy help melasma?
You may be wondering, “Will red light therapy help melasma?” or “Does red light therapy make melasma worse?” “Does red light therapy cause hyperpigmentation?”
The simple answer is that red light therapy will not exacerbate melasma symptoms, but it can help with symptoms.
Below are some of the specific benefits of red light therapy for melasma:
Enhanced blood flow and cell regeneration
Increasing blood flow to specific locations is one of red light therapy’s biggest advantages.
For example, increasing blood flow to the face can aid in accelerating cell repair and removing excess melanin from the skin more quickly if you’re struggling with discoloration there.
Decrease in inflammation:
According to certain research, melasma is linked to elevated inflammatory levels in the afflicted areas.
Additionally, inflammation can intensify the appearance of dark spots and aggravate melasma symptoms.
Red light treatment can be an effective technique for people with melasma since it effectively reduces inflammation and soothes sensitive skin.
Enhanced collagen synthesis:
Additionally, red light therapy can boost the production of collagen.
One protein that is found in large amounts in the skin is collagen, which is crucial to the body’s healing processes.
Red light treatment can enhance healing and skin restoration by raising collagen levels.
Additionally, it may strengthen the skin’s resistance to future harm.
Stop further damage.
Red light treatment can assist in strengthening the skin and lessening its susceptibility to sun damage in the future, which brings us full circle to the topic of robust skin.
Red light therapy can help maintain the health and tone of your skin when used in conjunction with other preventative measures, like routine sunscreen application.
How does red light therapy help melasma?
Melasma appears as brown or gray spots on the skin.
It is more common in women than in men and is frequently brought on by hormonal changes, such as those brought on by birth control tablets or pregnancy.
Although there is no known cure for melasma, melasma doctors in Pune suggest several treatments, such as chemical peels, topical lotions, and laser therapy.
Red light therapy has been proposed as a possible melasma treatment, yet there is little data to support its efficacy.
The idea behind red light therapy for melasma is that it might speed up the production of collagen, reduce inflammation, and help the skin heal, all of which might help make dark spots less noticeable.
Low-level red light wavelengths are applied to the skin during red light treatment.
By penetrating the skin and underlying tissues, low-level red light wavelengths can help improve blood flow, reduce inflammation, and boost the production of collagen and other important proteins for healthy skin.
Dispelling the myth: Does red light therapy result in severe melasma?
Melasma’s sensitivity to light:
It is well recognized that melasma is light-sensitive and that exposure to specific light wavelengths, such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation, can make the condition worse.
Red light therapy, on the other hand, uses low-level red light wavelengths that are different from UV radiation.
Lack of proof that melasma is getting worse:
There is currently no scientific proof that red light therapy exacerbates melasma.
Red light therapy has not been proven to hurt melasma, even though individual reactions to treatments may differ.
How to use a red light therapy device for melasma therapy
Investing in an at-home gadget is a terrific decision if you’re interested in employing red light therapy for melasma or dark spots.
This eliminates the need for you to travel to a medspa or dermatologist’s office to take advantage of red light therapy’s advantages.
Here are some pointers to help folks who have never used red light therapy before get the greatest results:
Select the proper device:
Selecting a red light therapy gadget that fits your demands and budget should be your first step.
A portable device might be a useful alternative that is less expensive than full-sized panels if you are dealing with discoloration on a tiny area, such as the face or forearm.
However, full-sized sauna panels can be more beneficial and economical in the long run if you wish to treat additional problems in addition to melasma.
Begin slow and steady.
Begin with brief sessions in front of the panel(s) for red light treatment.
The panels won’t burn you; instead, you’ll merely get a mild warming sensation.
However, if you start slowly and gradually, it will be simpler to develop a regular treatment schedule.
This might also assist you in avoiding any possible negative effects or skin irritation.
Maintain a routine.
Consistency will yield the best outcomes for you.
If you want to see noticeable changes, red light treatment takes time, so you’ll need to sit in front of your gadget every day (or at least multiple times per week).
Recall that red light therapy is a gradual process, so exercise patience.
Be patient and persistent, as it will probably take a few weeks for your melasma and general skin condition to improve.
Red light therapy in conjunction with other therapies
Lastly, don’t be hesitant to mix red light therapy with other medical interventions.
For instance, you may combine hydroquinone, a kind of skin-whitening medication that works wonders for treating melasma and other forms of discoloration, with red light treatment.
This might enable you to make more progress and experience results a little more quickly.
The best LED light for melisma
Melasma can be treated using a variety of lasers. In Asia, vascular lasers are mostly utilized to treat melasma by focusing on the blood supply to the skin.
Switched and non-ablative fractional lasers are the most often employed lasers for treating melasma in the United States.
Melasma is treated using Q-switched lasers, which include:
- Near-infrared light: Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd: YAG; 1064 nm)
- Red Light: Ruby laser (694 nm)
- Red Light: Alexandrite (755 nm)
- Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG; 532 nm)
Pulsed dye lasers for melasma:
Greenlight flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser (PDL) (510 nm)
Melasma is treated with non-ablative lasers such as:
- Erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet Erb:YAG)
- Nonablative fractional laser (NAFL)
Intense pulsed light for melasma
The wavelength of light employed in intense pulsed light (IPL) was between 515 and 1200 nm.
While IPL has demonstrated efficacy in treating melasma, there is a significant chance that the condition will deteriorate.
LED and IPL Light Therapy Melasma Treatments
Any type of light exacerbates melasma. The following things exacerbate melasma:
- Infrared light (heat),
- Sunshine (UV radiation),
- Red light therapy,
- Blue light therapy melisma and
- Green light therapy
Green light therapy for melisma
A popular choice for people with hyperpigmentation problems is green LED.
Reducing discoloration is more difficult for those who have melasma because the pigment is hormone-triggered and lives in the skin’s top dermis.
Green LED light therapy minimizes dark spots and uneven skin tone by increasing melanin and using its chosen wavelength.
Clinical studies confirm that this painless and non-invasive kind of treatment improves the skin’s overall appearance by stimulating cell turnover and regeneration.
Near-infrared light melasma
Unlike what is commonly believed, near-infrared light treatment wavelengths are frequently chosen to avoid or lessen hyperpigmentation responses.
Melasma laser treatment side effects
The most common side effect is the worsening of the melasma.
Inflammation causes pigmentation so any skin injury, such as a laser injury, can worsen melasma.
Possible adverse reactions to red light therapy:
The treated area may occasionally become temporarily red or sensitive as a result of red light therapy.
These adverse effects, however, are often minor and transient.
To reduce the possibility of adverse effects, it is essential to employ the right wavelength, intensity, and treatment time.
Conclusion
Red light therapy has hyperpigmentation; before and after studies have shown that the therapy has no side effects.
The idea that red light therapy exacerbates melasma is unsupported by any data.
Red light therapy is widely regarded as a safe and non-invasive treatment option, while additional research is required to confirm its safety and efficacy for this particular illness.
FAQs
Does red light therapy make hyperpigmentation worse?
The correct response is “no.”
Red light treatment for hyperpigmentation is a safe and effective way to treat acne that darkens the skin and causes scars, according to more data.
It also lessens edema and redness and increases blood flow to the tissues.
For those who wish to lessen the obvious indications of aging, red light therapy is frequently recommended.
Your skin cells will eventually be able to return to their normal pigmentation levels due to the way that red light absorbs into them.
This is because red light stimulates cell healing.
What is red light therapy melisma? Reddit
The majority of clinical research about laser and light-based treatments does not differentiate between the three types of melasma: dermal, mixed, and epidermal.
It may be helpful to determine the type of melasma before undergoing a procedure like laser therapy, as different wavelengths penetrate to different depths beneath the skin, increasing or decreasing the likelihood of success.
Is infrared light bad for melisma?
Use of infrared saunas is not advised if you suffer from melasma or other pigmentation problems on your skin, as these conditions may worsen.
Is light therapy bad for melasma?
Before laser and light-based treatment, it is important to remind patients that while these therapies may hasten the reduction of hyperpigmentation associated with melasma, they are not melasma cures.
They also carry a risk of rebound melasma flare-up or PIH.
Does infrared light cause melasma?
Heat, particularly intense infrared radiation, has been demonstrated to be harmful to the skin.
Heat can exacerbate skin pigmentation issues such as melasma because it causes the skin to produce more melanocyte pigment.
Which light therapy is best for melasma?
Melanocyte cells are the target of green LED, which prevents melanin from reaching the epidermis surface.
For the best results in treating hyperpigmentation and melasma, it is suggested to use a mix of LEDs, tyrosinase inhibitors like vitamin C and retinol, and peels.
What is the best light for melasma?
A popular choice for people with hyperpigmentation problems is green LED.
Reducing discoloration is more difficult for those who have melasma because the pigment is hormone-triggered and lives in the skin’s top dermis.
Can too much red light therapy damage the skin?
Red light therapy equipment might harm your skin or eyes if used improperly or excessively.
Red light treatment can provide results right away, but it’s more likely to take weeks or months before you start to feel better.
Do LED lights make hyperpigmentation worse?
Research indicates that blue light, among other visible light wavelengths, may exacerbate pre-existing hyperpigmentation (dark spots) in people with melanin-rich skin (dark skin tones).
It has also been demonstrated to have the ability to make people with fair skin blush.
Which light therapy is best for hyperpigmentation?
Those looking to treat hyperpigmentation may find that green LED light therapy is a promising option.
Green LED light therapy minimizes dark spots and uneven skin tone by increasing melanin and using its chosen wavelength.
What worsens melasma?
“The sun is the major exacerbating factor, whatever the underlying cause.”
Heat and visible light, in addition to the sun’s rays, can induce or exacerbate melasma.
Accordingly, Dr. Kourosh adds that even skin cancer-prevention sunscreens are unable to prevent melasma.
What not to do with melasma?
Melasma flare-ups can be prevented and their recurrence after therapy can be decreased by avoiding direct sun exposure between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., wearing high-SPF sunscreen regularly, and avoiding hormonal drugs whenever feasible.
Which lasers make melasma worse?
Due to the possibility of scarring, people with skin of color should avoid exposure to both BB (broadband) and IPL (intense pulsed light).
Additionally, those who have melasma should avoid these light sources because they can exacerbate the condition and make treatment and management nearly impossible.
Does the red light help with pigmentation?
Since each wavelength enters the skin at a different depth, each produces a different set of effects.
For those who wish to lessen the obvious indications of aging, red light therapy is frequently recommended.
Does infrared heat make melasma worse?
Hormones and radiation, including visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light, are the two main causes of melasma.
The sun’s ultraviolet and infrared radiation have a major role in exacerbating melasma.
Does melasma get darker after a laser?
Dr. Green does not advise laser treatment for melasma or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
Because of the heat and energy used in the procedure, laser treatment may make hyperpigmentation from melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation worse. This is because the pigment can become more deeply ingrained in the skin.
How can I lighten my facial melasma?
Topical medicines that brighten skin are the most widely used treatments for melasma.
Among these are drugs like tranexamic acid, hydroquinone, azelaic acid, kojic acid, niacinamide, cysteamine, and rucinol.
Which type of melasma is most difficult to treat?
Skin-like: Under black light, epidermal melasma is visible, has a distinct boundary, is dark brown, and occasionally reacts well to therapy.
Dermal: Dermal melasma appears the same in black light, has a fuzzy border, is light brown or bluish in hue, and is not very treatable.
What is the new treatment for melasma?
A new study found that retinoic acid, dexamethazone, and isobutylamido-thiazolyl-resorcinol in a cream called New Trio (NT) could help treat melasma and could be used instead of Kligman’s Trio (KT), which is the best treatment for melasma.
How do I heal my melasma naturally?
A few complementary therapies, such as aloe vera and turmeric, have at least somewhat improved melasma.
Aloe vera and turmeric aren’t as well-researched as melasma remedies, and traditional therapies are more effective and yield quicker effects.
Several natural therapies could exacerbate melasma.
What is the best and fastest treatment for melasma?
While melasma can be treated at home, dermatological procedures, including chemical peels, moderate fractionated lasers, and micro-needling, are the fastest and most efficient ways to cure the condition.