LED YOURSELF

What is an LED and why should you care?

LED stands for Light Emitting Diode. An LED is basically a semiconductor light source. LEDs come in many different colors as depicted in the above photo. The first practical visible-spectrum LED was red and  was developed in 1962 by Nick Holonyak Jr., while working at General Electric Company. LEDs are currently used for televisions, radios, watches, telephones, calculators, traffic lights, large display screens as well as for skin care treatments!

LED skin care treatments or LED facials have been available in medical spas for a long time. They include treatment with either a red LED or a blue LED. Red LEDs are used to treat photo-aging while blue LEDs are used to treat acne. Having these treatments in a medical spa usually involves sitting in front of a bank of these light emitting diodes that are either blue or red. These lights are targeted toward whatever area of the body the patient is looking to treat. Most commonly this is the face, but the back or chest can also be treated, specifically for teens with acne. 

LED treatments are completely safe for either facial rejuvenation or acne reduction. It is not painful and does not require any downtime. LED light is not the same thing as a laser and therefore does not carry the same risk as lasers. It is not necessary to wear protective glasses while being treated with LED light and the light may be used on the skin surrounding the eyes.

The latest breakthrough in LED treatments has come with the creation of an at home treatment device! Now these medical treatments are available to be used in the comfort of your own home, making them much more convenient. While it is still beneficial to come in to a medical spa to get large areas such as your back or your chest treated for acne (we do still offer this at Spa on the Green), it is so much easier to treat your own face and neck at home and not have to worry about finding the time to come into the office/spa for a treatment!

The TANDA luxe is an at home hand held device that uses red LEDs to help fight the signs of aging. This red light is coupled with sonic vibration and gentle warming in a unique massaging treatment head to deliver a professional photo-facial experience at home in order to obtain luxurious, soft, smooth, glowing skin. Red light penetrates into the skin to boost cellular energy increasing the production of collagen and elastin in the skin as well as increasing micro-circulation in the treated area. This helps to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and make skin look younger, firmer, plumper with a overall enhancement in tone and texture. 

The TANDA clear+ uses the exact same technology as the TANDA luxe except for the fact that instead of using red light, it uses blue light. Blue LED light has been clinically proven to kill acne-causing P. acnes bacteria, clearing existing blemishes and preventing future outbreaks. The clear+ also uses sonic vibration and gentle warming to increase the efficacy of the treatment. Blue light works by producing oxygen singlets which attach to the P.acnes bacteria. These singlets have a photo-toxic effect on key porphorins, causing the P.acnes bacteria to self-destruct. The vibration increases micro-circulation in treated areas, which helps to reduce swelling and inflammation in the skin. The gentle warming opens pores allowing more light to reach the bacteria. 

TANDA luxe and TANDA clear+ should be used as part of your at home skin care routine. To get the most out of either of these treatment systems, they should be used 3 times per week over the entire face and neck. The TANDA luxe may also be used on the hands to treat the signs of aging. 

The head of the TANDA must make full contact with the skin in order to turn on. When it turns on it will emit the light and you will feel a slight vibration. Each area should be treated for 30 seconds. When 30 seconds has completed the device will beep. The triangle shape of the head makes it easy to maneuver the device over your entire face. We find it easiest to use this device with a facial serum to help it glide easily across your skin. We recommend our BrookskinMD C-serum. The vibration of the device will help to push the product into the skin. The Vitamin C in the C-Serum works as a nutrient for the Fibroblasts in our skin which make collagen and elastin, enhancing the overall treatment!

If you would like to learn more about LED treatments or the TANDA products please leave a comment or visit us at the office or the spa! TANDA luxe, TANDA clear+ and TANDA zap are all sold at our office and at our spa!