Let There Be Light

LEDs are treating all kinds of woes, from wrinkles to sore muscles and maybe even memory loss. April Long shines a light

- April Long

The potential of light therapy – exposing the body to specific segments of the electromagnetic spectrum to address certain health conditions – was first recognised in the early 1900s, when Niels Ryberg Finsen picked up a Nobel Prize for his treatment of lupus vulgaris (nasty tuberculosis skin lesions) with ultraviolet radiation. The practice got a boost in the ’90s when NASA sent LEDs into orbit, having discovered that the wavelengths emitted by the tiny electronic light sources could enhance cellular energy in plants, enabling them to sprout aboard space shuttles. When researchers found LED exposure also benefitted human cells, it resulted in the development of LED therapies for pain management and wound healing. Now, the uses are prolific: different wavelengths have been shown to act on everything from acne to arthritis, affecting the body (and even the brain) in ways that may revolutionise wellness.

LED 101

LEDs (light-emitting diodes) can beam light, in the form of photons, across the spectrum – from ultraviolet through the rainbow of colours we see to invisible infrared. Their wavelength (measured in nanometres) determines their colour and visibility.

BLUE (475NM)

Works on the epidermis to destroy the bacteria associated with acne.

RED (650NM)

Anti-inflammatory, minimises the pore clogging that contributes to acne, stimulates collagen and promotes hair growth.

INFRARED (780NM)

Invisible to the eye, infrared light can help increase circulation. Near infrared – with wavelengths closest to visible red – is used for skin tightening and neurological rejuvenation.

Body Work