Red Light Therapy vs. Chemical Peels: Which Is Better?
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Did you know the global skincare market will reach $273.3 billion by 2031? With so many options, it’s no wonder we’re all a bit confused! I’m here to shed some light (pun intended) on two of the most popular treatments for your skin: red light therapy vs. chemical peels.
Whether you’re battling aging, acne, or scars or want to refresh your skin, this guide to red light therapy vs. chemical peels will help you decide which is better. You will learn how red light therapy helps with symptoms of wrinkles, acne, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, age spots, and skin tone.
Key Takeaways:
- Chemical peels are chemically-induced exfoliation (chemexfoliation).
- They can be shallow, medium, or deep.
- Deep exfoliation can take weeks to heal.
- Red light therapy is painless and has no side effects.
- Chemexfoliation and red light therapy are equally effective in battling acne and wrinkles.
- Red light therapy’s single side effect is the small possibility of increasing pigmentation.
- Chemical exfoliation makes skin sensitive (painful) and looks bad until it heals.
Red Light Therapy vs. Chemical Peels: Which is Better?
Red light therapy and chemical peels are equally effective skincare treatments. That means their choice has more to do with their pros and cons than their effectiveness.
LED Light Therapy Pros and Cons
Red light therapy is noninvasive and painless. It is excellent for reducing wrinkles, sagging, and acne. Red light therapy at home saves time commuting to the salon and money spent on treatments. The facial red light therapy schedule is usually 3-5 times weekly. Visiting the salon three to five times a week would cost thousands.
While it’s rare (and not reported in the literature), some people have a pigment response to the light. Except for this rare response, red light therapy has no side effects.
While a chemical peel creates a controlled injury to expose fresh skin, red light therapy is gentle. It does not cause peeling or skin sensitivity. It does not create an injury that has to heal before you see results.
Chemical Peels Pros and Cons
A chemical peel is an intentional skin injury that helps reduce wrinkles and acne. Chemical peels and red light therapy are equally effective in reducing signs of aging and acne.
You can tell when someone has had a medium or deep chemical peel. Their skin looks like it is running away from their face, worse than the aftermath of a bad sunburn.
But at the end of that journey, you get fresh, plump skin, new cells, and fresh collagen. Wrinkles fill in with new skin, and acne starts to fade.
The deeper the chemexfoliation, the more severe the skin sensitivity and peeling, but the more collagen you produce upon healing.
Chemexfoliation’s worst side effect is the possibility of acquiring contact dermatitis. This happened in a case study mentioned in a 2017 article by Kim and Calderhead[1]. The patient received a chemical exfoliation treatment that caused “irritant contact dermatitis.”
The treatment was too aggressive for her skin, and no standard treatment reduced the irritation and inflammation. They finally found a treatment that worked: LED light therapy. Because red light therapy is calming and non-invasive, they were able to use infrared three times to resolve the irritation and dermatitis.
References
Understanding Red Light Therapy
I’ve seen firsthand how transformative red light therapy can be for skin health. After four years of studying photobiomodulation, I’m still amazed by the growing body of research supporting its efficacy. Let me break down what I’ve learned and observed.
Definition And Basic Principles Of Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy (also known as low-level light therapy (LLLT), cold laser, blue light therapy, infrared light therapy, and photobiomodulation) involves exposing the skin to specific wavelengths of light in the visible and infrared ranges. Most devices come equipped with red and infrared light, but bioactive wavelengths are also in blue, green, and yellow bands.
How Red Light Therapy Works On a Cellular Level
What’s fascinating is how such a simple concept can profoundly affect our cellular function. Light is absorbed in the mitochondria and organelles inside the cells. Mitochondria make “biological batteries” (adenosine triphosphate (ATP)) that the cells use for repair. So, using red light therapy is an energy boost for repair and renewal.
That’s not the only biological mechanism it has. The interaction of light and cells also signals the cell nucleus to quit asking for inflammation to heal an imaginary villain. This interaction promotes a cascade of events that reduces chronic inflammation, lowers redness, and boosts collagen and elastin production.
This is how red light therapy helps on a biological level:
- Increased collagen production
- More elastin production
- More skin cell turnover
- Cellular repair
- Mitochondria repair
- More energy production
- Improved blood flow
- Better oxygenation
Collagen rebuilds skin, and elastin gives it firmness. They are universal repair mechanisms for wrinkles, acne, dermatitis, eczema, psoriasis, age spots, and skin tone.
- A 2014 study[1] showed that red light therapy could increase collagen density by 31% after 12 weeks of treatment while significantly reducing wrinkle volume.
- A 2017 study[2] also showed a reduction in forehead wrinkles and a significant increase in skin hydration.
- A 2009[3] study on skin cells showed a 31% increase in collagen production. 100% of the subjects had a decrease in rhytides (wrinkles).
- In a 2007[4] study, 76% of red light therapy recipients experienced improvement in their complexion.
Types Of Skin Concerns Addressed By Red Light Therapy
The list of skin benefits from LED light therapy is longer than my arm. It never ceases to amaze me that using a non-invasive therapy that supports the cells can do so much. These are normal results from using the light:
- Smoother skin surfaces
- More controlled elasticity
- Less sagging
- Fewer wrinkles
- More complete wound and sore healing
- More even skin tone
- Less redness
- More glow and less dullness
- Reduced hyperpigmentation
- Fewer pigment differences
- Reduced cellulite
- Less inflammation
- Reduced scar volume and pigment
- Reduced acne bumps and oil
- Smaller pores
- Improved skin density
- Stronger skin barrier
Diving into Chemical Peels
Chemical peels (chemexfoliations) are a dermatology staple. They are transformative, but not without their downsides.
What Are Chemical Peels and How Do They Work?
Chemical peels are controlled exfoliation treatments that use mild, medium, or strong chemical solutions to remove the outer layers of the skin. The process might sound intimidating, but it’s quite fascinating how it works on a cellular level.
A chemexfoliation creates a controlled injury to the skin. This might sound counterintuitive, but this controlled damage stimulates the skin’s natural healing processes. As the damaged skin cells peel away, they make room for new, healthier cells to take their place.
Different Types Of Chemical Peels (Superficial, Medium, Deep)
You’re usually offered three chemical exfoliation options: superficial, medium, and deep. Each has its place, and selecting the right one depends on the patient’s skin type, concerns, and desired outcomes.
- Superficial exfoliations are for a quick refresh with minimal downtime. These peels only penetrate the outermost layer of the skin (the epidermis) and typically use alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) or beta-hydroxy acids (BHAs). They’re great for addressing minor skin texture issues and providing a healthy glow.
- Medium peels go a bit deeper, reaching the upper part of the dermis. Dermatologists use trichloroacetic acid (TCA), which treats fine lines, wrinkles, and mild hyperpigmentation more effectively. They also improve acne scarring, texture issues, and skin tone.
- Deep exfoliations are the heavy hitters. They penetrate the lower dermal layer and can produce dramatic results for deep wrinkles and severe sun damage. However, they also come with more significant downtime and potential risks.
Skin Issues Commonly Treated With Chemical Peels
The most common issues treated with exfoliations include:
- Dullness
- Uneven texture
- Lines
- Wrinkles
- Hyperpigmentation
- Acne Scars
- Sun damage
- Acne
- Dryness
Active Ingredients Used In Chemical Peels And Their Benefits
The efficacy of chemical peels largely depends on their active ingredients. Here are some of the most common chemicals used:
- Glycolic acid is excellent for superficial peels. It’s highly effective at improving skin texture and tone, but it can also increase sun sensitivity.
- Salicylic acid is great for treating acne. It is oil-soluble, penetrates pores, and helps clear out excess sebum.
- Trichloroacetic acid (TCA) can address wrinkles, sun spots, and hyperpigmentation. It is used in medium and deep exfoliations.
- Phenol is for deep peels. It can produce dramatic results for severe skin damage.
- Mandelic acid is used for sensitive skin. It is used with acne because it is antibacterial.
Comparing Results: Red Light Therapy vs Chemical Peels
Red light therapy and chemexfoliations work in fundamentally different ways. They’re both effective but have different side effect profiles.
How Effective is Red Light Therapy vs. Chemical Peels?
Red light therapy and exfoliations are linked to acne and wrinkles. Use chemical peels based on your pigment concerns (see below) for pigment issues.
Effectiveness for Acne (Tie)
Both treatments can be effective for acne but in different ways. Salicylic acid exfoliates the skin and unclogs pores. Red light therapy, on the other hand, reduces inflammation and kills acne-causing bacteria. The best acne treatment is blue light therapy combined with red and infrared light.
Effectiveness for Aging (Tie)
Both treatments are effective for wrinkles, lines, and sagging. Medium and deep peels can significantly reduce fine lines and wrinkles by promoting collagen production and removing damaged skin cells. Red light therapy stimulates collagen production more gently and over time.
Effectiveness for Hyperpigmentation (Peels Win)
Chemexfoliations are particularly effective for hyperpigmentation. Peels containing ingredients like hydroquinone or kojic acid can dramatically reduce dark spots. Red light therapy can also help with hyperpigmentation, but the results are typically more subtle and take longer to achieve.
Although this is not in the literature, I’ve talked with several people who gained pigment with red light therapy. It happens with infrared, red, and blue light. Unfortunately, there’s no way to know if you’ll respond this way.
The pigment problem is rare, but few people I talk to know about it. Because you can work around it by isolating the colors on your device, red light therapy might still be the better treatment for you.
Immediate vs. Long-Term Results
Chemical peels create downtime while your skin peels. The healing period is a few days for superficial peels and a few weeks for deep peels.
Once it heels, you should notice improvements in skin texture and tone. The full results, especially for concerns like fine lines or hyperpigmentation, typically develop over several weeks as the skin renews.
In contrast, red light therapy results tend to be more gradual. Successful wrinkle and acne studies often show significant results in 4-8 weeks.
You might notice immediate effects like reduced inflammation or an improved, subtle glow. Still, the most significant improvements – like increased collagen production or reduced fine lines – typically become noticeable after several weeks of consistent treatment.
Consistency And Maintenance Required For Each Treatment
The frequency of chemexfoliations depends on the depth. The norm for superficial treatments is one every 2-4 weeks initially, then monthly for maintenance. Medium peels might be done every 3-6 months, while deep peels are often a one-time treatment or performed very infrequently. Maintaining results with a good skincare routine, including daily sunscreen use, is crucial.
Red light therapy typically requires more frequent treatments. Most home devices recommend 3-5 weekly treatments, and results last for months.
Skin Sensitivity Issues
You should expect your skin to be more sensitive and reactive immediately after a peel. You’ll probably discontinue products like retinoids a few days before your treatment. Immediately after, the skin may be red and sensitive and eventually peel or flake.
This process can last anywhere from 3 to 14 days, depending on the depth of the controlled injury. Once healed, you can expect smoother, brighter skin with improvements in texture and tone.
Besides the occasional pigment issue, red light therapy has no side effects. It does not make the skin sensitive, and there is no downtime while you wait for your skin to heal.
Conclusion
Red light therapy is pain-free and non-invasive. You should not experience any pain or even heat from the device. There is no downtime or skin loss. Over time, with consistent treatments, patients can expect to see improvements in skin texture, fine lines, and overall skin health.
A chemical peel is a controlled injury. It creates skin sensitivity and downtime. One treatment creates dramatic results after the healing is over.
We’ve shed light on red light therapy and peeled back the layers on chemical peels (sorry, I had to do it). Your perfect glow-up might come from the gentle caress of red light, the transformative power of a chemexfoliation, or even a dynamic duo of both!
References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27762647/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325884
https://www.skinspirit.com/blog/top-8-benefits-of-a-chemical-peel
https://ledesthetics.com/blogs/science/led-light-therapy-vs-chemical-peels-which-one-is-better-for-your-skin-1
https://www.inspiredbeautymedspa.com/risks-and-side-effects-of-chemical-peels/
