Light Therapy and Skin Longevity

By Amy Gardner - Founding Director of Education

The newest skin care trend isn't really a trend - it's a philosophy.

Trends can be meaningful and long lasting, or they can be born of marketing hype that comes and goes on social media and is quickly forgotten. But when something endures, it becomes less of a trend and more of an accepted philosophy — a paradigm shift based upon new and scientifically proven knowledge that remains valid over time. Such is the case with light therapy and skin longevity.

Longevity science has become a well-known concept in the beauty, health, and wellness realms in recent years. It refers to the study of biological aging and how to extend health span, not just lifespan. (Think proactive healthcare, wellness focused lifestyle choices, and the "Blue Zones.") The idea is aimed at not only living longer — but living well with optimal health and fewer limitations in our later years.

Of course, this philosophy extends to the largest organ of the body — the skin — hence the term "skin longevity". Here too, the objective is to treat the skin in a way that promotes long term skin health and function. It prioritizes prevention over correction and cellular level support over surface level quick fixes that over promise and under deliver. It's based on the premise that if we give the skin what it needs to maintain itself it will thrive, and healthy, high-functioning skin is beautiful skin.

What does the skin need to thrive?

Healthy Lifestyle

Skin health is often a reflection of overall health. If we're out of balance internally it will likely show up on the skin as acne, redness, dryness, dullness — even premature fine lines and wrinkles. With this in mind, it should be noted that eating right, exercising, staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, and managing stress are as important to our skin's health, function, rejuvenation, and appearance as they are to our health in general.

Protection

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, up to 90% of visible skin changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun, but with adequate UV protection a great deal of this damage can be avoided.

Longevity-Focused Skin Care Treatments

This refers to treatments that have the capacity to boost cellular function and support the skin's resilience over time as we age. More specifically, what's needed are treatments that stimulate collage and elastin production, encourage cell turnover, promote optimal barrier function, increase hydration, and defend against environmental and oxidative damage.

How can light therapy help?

One skin care treatment that does all of this and more is light therapy.

• Collagen & Elastin Production - These proteins are produced by dermal skin cells called fibroblasts. Collagen gives the skin support and structure as well as a plump, firm, and taut appearance. Elastin is what gives skin its elasticity. It functions like a microscopic spring allowing the skin to stretch into a smile and instantly snap back into place.
• How Light Therapy Helps - In studies light therapy has long been shown to increase the cell's production of collagen and elastin by boosting cellular energy — something that naturally wanes as we age.
• Cell Turnover, Barrier Function & Hydration - Cells of the epidermis (the outermost layer of the skin) regularly migrate to the surface where along with skin lipids they form a barrier much like a brick wall that keeps hydration in and harmful microorganisms out. As we age, this cell turnover slows which can inhibit barrier function, hydration and protection.
• How Light Therapy Helps - The same boost in cellular energy that promotes collagen and elastin production in the dermis, also stimulates cell renewal in the epidermis. Here again, something that slows as we age. When sufficiently energized, cells migrate to the surface faster which allows dead skin cells to shed and be replaced by new cells. This increased energy also promotes lipid production which helps strengthen the skin's barrier to keep the good stuff in and the bad stuff out.
• Environmental and Oxidative Damage - Environmental damage happens as a result of exposure to things that exist outside the body like UV, air pollution, and cigarette smoke. Oxidative damage is driven by something called oxidative stress, which is an imbalance of harmful free radicals (generated both internally and externally) and the antioxidants that neutralize them. Both contribute to inflammation as well as cell damage and dysfunction.
• How Light Therapy Helps - As demonstrated in clinical studies for upwards of two decades, light therapy activities cellular cascades that control inflammation and accelerate tissue repair. It has also been shown to boost production of the body's natural antioxidants to help neutralize damaging free radicals.

The Long Game is the Wise Game

So, while the trend of the moment may sound enticing, science-based and longevity focused skincare is both essential and foundational to everything else you do. Healthy lifestyle choices along with regular and ongoing support that includes both light therapy and similarly focused topical products is a pathway to high-functioning, resilient skin that has the resources it needs to go the distance beautifully.