It’s very important to take care of your skin, as it plays a big role in everything from your body temperature, to your immunity, to hormone regulation.
In this article, we will delve into why skin health is so important, and give an overview of how red light therapy can have a positive effect on your skin, from improving wrinkles, to stretch marks, and overall cellular function.
Why is skin care so important?
People usually forget that skin is our largest organ and thus must be treated with care and respect. It’s made up of three layers of tissues:
- The epidermis – the thin outer layer of the skin. You will find dead cells that are flaking off in the outer layer of the epidermis, which are replaced by new cells manufactured in the lower portion of the epidermis. This causes cells to harden and die, and takes around 28 days for a complete cycle.
- The dermis – contains blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, sweat glands and oil glands. It is made up of collagen and elastic fibers (for strength and elasticity), and makes up around 90% of the skin’s overall thickness.
- The subcutaneous layer – is the deepest layer and mostly made up of fatty tissues. This fat is there to insulate the body from extreme temperatures and provides a handy cushion to soften the blow of any injuries we experience.
Skin is the first line of defence on our bodies, and is there to protect us. Along with our hair and nails, the skin is the main and essential protective covering of our bodies. It’s there to prevent germs from entering the body and damaging our internal organs. Not only that, but it is there to support our other body parts and plays a huge role in maintaining our immune systems.
The main functions of skin
1. Blood circulation
Our skin is central to our circulatory system, and good blood circulation is needed for healthy skin. Consistent and healthy blood flow delivers essential oxygen and nutrients to the skin, and removes any waste products that we do not need. This is evident when we get an injury – the circulating blood delivers proteins and cells that are needed to repair damaged or broken tissue.
2. Protection
Skin works everyday to protect us from threats that we can see and that are invisible (such as germs and disease). It is always fighting off risks from allergens, toxins, and carcinogens.
3. Temperature regulation
Skin is essential to regulating body temperature, protecting us from extreme temperatures in the heat or cold, and helping to prevent dehydration.
4. Hormone production
Skin produces hormones such as Vitamin D which is essential for our wellbeing, and the deeper (subcutaneous) layer is the vital place where water, fat and metabolic products are stored.
5. Beauty
Skin is central to how we perceive ourselves and others, especially how we think others may view ourselves, which in turn affects mental health and overall self-esteem.
How Red Light Therapy Supports Skin Health
Red light therapy can be used to support skin health in countless ways. When you fire RED and NIR light, from devices such as the iRed Torch, the mitochondria in those skin cells are able to produce more energy (ATP), stimulating the production of collagen, basic fibroblast growth factors, and proliferation of fibroblasts.
This in turn will lead to healthier and glowing skin that looks good and feels smoother. This is why it can be used for other skin woes such as wrinkles and stretch marks.
How Red Light can help with wrinkles
1. Promotes the growth of new capillaries
New capillaries are shown to increase circulation in the body, and stimulate the lymphatic system which is responsible for removing waste from the body.
2. Increases production of collagen/elastins in the skin
Collagen and elastin are the key to firm, elastic, and fuller looking skin. As explained above, when collagen production slows, wrinkles appear because skin becomes saggier. By increasing the production of collagen fibroblasts, wrinkles smooth out, pore sizes diminish, and the texture of the skin drastically improves.
3. Stimulates energy production in the cells
The production of ATP, also known as adenosine triphosphate, helps cells to gain energy and ultimately regenerate faster.
How Red Light can help with stretch marks
Red light treatments for stretch marks are effective because they are non-invasive and have no unwanted side effects. It’s also an easy investment to make – you simply purchase an FDA approved device that can be used within your home at any time. This negates the need to make several visits to a Doctor’s office or buy a range of products each month.
It works by firing safe wavelengths of visible red light and invisible near-infrared (NIR) light directly to the affected area using LED bulbs. There have been plenty of studies to show that human cells respond favorably to these wavelengths in a way that’s similar to how natural sunlight affects plant cells: by stimulating production of more energy in the cells and optimizing overall cell function.
Ready to try Red Light Therapy out for yourself?
At iRed, we offer a range of affordable Red Light Therapy devices that do not compromise on quality. You can see our full range here, including 20-bulb and 60-bulb panels and a portable Red Light torch for more localized treatments.
Please do get in touch if you have any questions about Red Light Therapy or our products, we’d be more than happy to assist you!
