Light Therapy Masks: What are they and how do they compare to LED panels?
Do light therapy masks work? In this article we will explain what they are and how they work. We will also compare light therapy masks to larger red light therapy systems that use panels of LEDs for full-body treatments.
What is red light therapy and how does it work?
If you're unfamiliar with red light therapy, this article gives a good overview of what it is and how it works. Red light therapy devices, such as Suprrhealth, emit concentrated wavelengths of therapeutic light onto your skin and cells. This can help reduce oxidative stress and stimulate cellular energy (adenosine triphosphate or ATP) production. This helps your body nourish itself, leading to many benefits that have been shown in hundreds of peer-reviewed clinical studies.
Red light therapy usually involves two different spectra of light: red and near-infrared.
Red Light Therapy: Delivered at wavelengths of 630-660 nanometers (nm), this light is easily absorbed by surface tissues and cells. Possible benefits include skin rejuvenation and improved healing and blood circulation. Near Infrared (NIR) Light Therapy: Delivered at wavelengths of 810-850 nm, NIR light can penetrate deeper tissues, leading to improved repair processes and support for inflammation. Near infrared light is invisible to the naked eye. Many light therapy masks also provide wavelengths of blue light.
Blue light therapy: Delivered with wavelengths of light in the range of 380-500 nm, blue light is often used for acne treatments, but it also has drawbacks. Because it's so bright, with a higher color temperature than daylight, blue light can trick your brain into thinking it's daytime and throw your circadian rhythm out of balance.
What is a red light therapy mask?
LED face masks are light therapy devices designed to be worn directly on the user's face during a treatment session. While a person wears the mask, LEDs deliver wavelengths of light to the face and skin cells. This can improve skin health and reduce wrinkles, fine lines and acne.
Light therapy masks usually deliver wavelengths of red light and/or blue light. Blue light masks are often used for acne treatments due to their antibacterial properties, while red light therapy masks can reduce inflammation and rejuvenate the skin. Many leading mask products contain wavelengths of both red and blue light.
In most cases, people use LED light therapy masks for skin treatments and beauty treatments. Light therapy masks have become popular with salons, spas, estheticians and dermatologists. There are also hundreds of brands that sell light therapy masks that you can purchase online or from retailers. These range from cheap devices to below € 50 to high-end skin care brands with masks over € 1000.
For optimal skin health results, most brands recommend using a light therapy mask several times a week, for 3-10 minutes at a time. They can be used regularly for general skin health and rejuvenation benefits, or for targeted treatments during breakouts and flare-ups.
LED light therapy masks can produce some great results for skin health, but you don't have to limit yourself to just red light therapy facial skin treatments. With a larger device that uses LED panels, you can deliver therapeutic wavelengths of red light to the skin and cells throughout your body. This is great for your skin, but it can also have far-reaching effects on energy, blood circulation, inflammation, pain relief, sleep and muscle recovery.
What are LED panels and how are they used?
LED panel devices and LED light therapy masks use the same LED technology to deliver specific wavelengths of light to the skin and cells. The main differences are in size, power, coverage area and types of benefits.
LED panel devices like Suprrhealth are much larger than LED masks and deliver wavelengths of red and NIR light over the entire body, not just the head and face. This offers more potential benefits than LED masks, which are only designed to improve the skin of your face.
Devices with LED panels typically provide much more light and power during a treatment session, which can have systemic effects throughout the body. Unlike LED light therapy masks, most LED panel devices only provide red and/or NIR light, not blue light. This means you get all the health benefits of red and near-infrared light mentioned above, without the disadvantages of blue light.
LED panel devices are used for skin health benefits all over the body. They can also be used to regulate circadian rhythms and improve sleep. Some people use LED panel light therapy devices to relieve joint pain and inflammation, while others use it for energy or better mental acuity. By providing full body treatment, LED panel devices can offer a wider range of potential wellness benefits compared to red light therapy masks.
Devices with LED panels such as Suprrhealth are also widely used in the fitness and training communities and are very popular among professional athletes.
Benefits of LED panel devices for red light therapy
Red light treatments using full panels of LEDs can have a wide range of health and wellness benefits. These are some of the most common:
Skin Health and Beauty: Most people who use light therapy masks do so for the benefits of skin health and tissue healing. Getting healthy light is crucial for skin cells and overall skin health. Red and NIR light promote balance throughout the body and skin by improving cellular respiration, making energy production more efficient, with less oxidative stress. When your cells are in greater balance, your skin will look and feel softer and more vibrant. Read more about skin health and therapy lights here. Full panels can deliver the same skin benefits of light therapy masks to your entire body!
Managing Inflammation: Light therapy devices can help improve the efficiency of your body's natural inflammatory processes as you recover from illness or injury.
Improved blood circulation and healing: One of the possible benefits of light therapy is a significant increase in blood circulation after treatment sessions. This indicates that tissues are receiving more oxygen and other nutrients important for healing. At the same time, concentrated light wavelengths can help the body and circulatory system get rid of toxic byproducts.
Better sleep and circadian rhythm: Healthy light intake is crucial for sleep and maintaining natural circadian rhythms. Our brains interpret light as a sign of when to be awake and when to sleep, and when to produce important sleep hormones like melatonin. Bright blue light at night can disrupt your sleep cycle, but red light is a lower-intensity alternative that can help you get longer, more restful sleep. Suprrhealth has specially designed Ambient Mode to support sleep and circadian rhythms.
Advantages and disadvantages of light therapy masks
+ Light therapy masks are inexpensive and can be found for less than €100.
+ Light therapy masks are small and portable, for convenient outdoor use.
+ Light therapy masks with LEDs that provide red light can reduce inflammation and rejuvenate the skin on your face.
+ Light therapy masks can target acne breakouts and limit symptoms.
- Light therapy masks have relatively low power.
- Light therapy masks are not wireless and require an electrical outlet.
- Light therapy masks are limited to facial skin benefits, while LED panel devices can treat the entire body and provide more systemic health benefits.
Advantages and disadvantages of LED panel devices for red light therapy
+ LED panels such as Suprrhealth can deliver red and NIR light to the entire body, not just the skin on your face.
+ Light therapy with LED panels provides better coverage, meaning much more total energy transfer than masks in much less time.
+ LED panel systems can produce many more health and wellness benefits all over the body, while masks only affect the face.
- Larger home LED panel systems are less portable than LED masks.
- Light therapy devices with LED panels are generally more expensive than LED skin masks.
Conclusion
LED panel devices such as Suprrhealth offer more benefits than masks. LED light therapy masks are a popular choice for facial skin treatments and can provide great results for wrinkles and acne. When you apply the same therapeutic wavelengths of light to parts of the body other than the face, red light therapy can have a much greater effect, with few side effects or risks. Full-body LED panels take the benefits of light therapy masks and deliver these results to your entire body, along with additional wellness benefits such as better sleep, improved circulation and faster recovery. These products allow users to take full advantage of the power of red light therapy, with results that go beyond facial skin care. For an optimal red light therapy experience in your own home, a full-body LED panel product from Suprrhealth is the best choice.
