Why Your Skin Has a Favourite Colour
Do you know that your skin has a favourite colour, perhaps red, yellow, blue, or green? It’s your skin’s favourite colour because it helps it become healthier and look plumper. And this favourite colour comes from a specific wavelength of light emitted by an LED therapy device.
LED (light-emitting diode) therapy is used to treat various skin conditions, such as acne, wrinkles, fine lines, and rosacea.
LED therapy exposes the skin to different colours of light, which can trigger specific biological responses. These biological responses support certain mechanisms that can correct skin imperfections and improve skin health.
The benefits tend to multiply when a combination of different wavelengths is used during LED therapy. This makes LED therapy not a single treatment, but a versatile toolkit where each colour offers a unique benefit.
In this article, we will decode the benefits of different colours of LED therapy. This will help you get clarity on which colour would be the right match for your skincare concerns.
Understanding Wavelengths and Skin Penetration
LED light therapy uses different wavelengths corresponding to different colours. The wavelength, measured in nanometers (nm), determines how deeply it penetrates the skin. This means colours with longer wavelengths can reach deeper layers of the skin and vice versa.
For example, blue light has a shorter wavelength and can reach only the uppermost layer of the skin. Yellow light penetrates deeper than blue light, while red light penetrates further into your skin. The deepest penetration is achieved by near-infrared light.
Hence, blue LED light therapy is recommended for treating superficial imperfections, such as acne. Similarly, red LED light therapy is often suitable for reducing inflammation and stimulating the production of collagen in the deep layers.
Some benefits of LED therapy include:
- Boosts collagen production
- Balances oil production
- Reduces acne
- Supports lymphatic drainage
- Improves blood circulation and oxygenation
- Calms inflammation and redness
- Fades pigmentation and dark spots
- Accelerates wound healing
- Restores youthful appearance
During treatment, skin specialists often use one or a combination of colours, depending on your specific issue.
Red Light: The Ultimate Anti-Ageing and Calming Wavelength
Red light therapy is the most recognised and widely used form of LED therapy, known for its anti-ageing and skin-boosting benefits.
Red LED light has a longer wavelength of 633 nm, which means it can penetrate deeper into the skin than other colours. It can stimulate the mitochondria and enhance collagen production. This can help improve skin elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Regular sessions of red light therapy can improve the firmness of the skin, reducing the signs of ageing and restoring a youthful appearance. It may also help relieve the skin affected by sun damage. Learn more about the benefits of red light.[1]
In addition, red light encourages the production of elastin, which plays a role in maintaining the elasticity of the skin. It may also increase the levels of hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally produced by your body to help the skin retain moisture and its natural glow.
Some other benefits of red light include improved blood circulation, reduced inflammation, and faster wound healing, making it an excellent solution for managing sensitive skin conditions like rosacea.
It is also suitable for enhanced tissue regeneration and advanced firming, plumping, and smoothing.
Blue Light: Your Secret Weapon Against Acne Bacteria
Blue light has a shorter wavelength of 415 nm. It works on the surface of the skin.
Some of the most notable benefits of blue light therapy include its ability to destroy the bacteria responsible for causing breakouts, especially P. acnes, making it a powerful tool for improving acne-prone skin and restoring a clear complexion. Learn more about the benefits of blue light.[2]
Blue light for skin also helps target blemishes at every stage while preventing new ones from forming. The superficial yet powerful antibacterial effect of blue light reduces inflammation, helping to soothe redness and irritation.
In addition, blue light therapy also controls the oiliness of the skin. Blue light reaches the sebaceous glands in the superficial layers. These glands are responsible for the production of oil. Blue light regulates the oil secretion in these glands, preventing blocked pores.
This can reduce the chances of potential breakouts in the future and enhance clear and balanced skin.
The Soothing Glow of Amber Light for Sensitive Skin
The amber (or yellow) light can be your specialist for soothing compromised skin. It has the ability to reduce redness, calm swelling, and flush waste from the skin by boosting lymphatic flow.
Amber light has a wavelength of 590 nm, allowing it to penetrate the skin at a greater depth than blue or green light, yet shallower than red light. It targets the dermal layer of skin, where it is absorbed by cells and converted to energy. This helps kickstart cellular functions, boosting healing. Get a better idea of how this light works.[3]
In addition, amber or yellow light supports lymphatic drainage by energising cells and facilitating the flow of waste fluid and toxins away from the face. This can reduce puffiness and ensure your face looks refreshed and revitalised.
How Green Light Helps Erase Sunspots and Hyperpigmentation
Green light is known for its ability to reduce pigmentation and achieve an even, flawless skin tone.
The green light, with a wavelength of 532 nm, plays a role in addressing skin discolouration by targeting the cells called melanocytes, which produce melanin pigments. Green light helps break up clusters of melanin, thus fading the appearance of age spots, sunspots, and hyperpigmentation. This can help promote a more even skin tone. Learn more about the benefits of green light. [4]
Surprisingly, green light may also improve sleep and mood. Research suggests that it can help regulate the serotonin and dopamine levels in the body, thereby improving mood and promoting restful sleep. Learn how green light therapy works to improve mood.[5]
Exploring the Deep Healing Power of Near-Infrared Light
Near-infrared light, with wavelengths between 800 and 900 nm, has the deepest-penetrating wavelength, although it's invisible to the naked eye. It has the ability to reach far beneath the skin's surface, helping reduce deep inflammation, accelerate wound healing, and aid in muscle recovery.
Near-infrared is often confused with red light therapy. However, it has a higher wavelength than red light and is outside the visible light spectrum.
Near-infrared light can improve skin complexion and texture and stimulate collagen production. It may also promote skin regeneration and speed up the healing process by facilitating the production of growth factor proteins involved in cellular processes.
Additionally, it can increase the amount of oxygen blood vessels can carry to deeper tissues, supporting their function at the cellular level. Get deeper insights into how near-infrared therapy works. [6]
Can You Combine Light Colours for Better Results
Yes, combining light colours can offer better results. While each light, with its unique wavelength, can help you derive specific benefits, the combination of them can take the results several notches higher.
Some modern LED devices let you enjoy the synergistic effects of different light colours by combining wavelengths in a single session. This method can address multiple issues at once.
For example, you can combine red light for wrinkles and blue light for acne in a single session for a comprehensive anti-ageing and clarifying treatment. You can also combine the anti-ageing benefits of red light therapy with the calming and balancing benefits of green and yellow light.
How to Choose the Right Light for Your Skincare Goals
LED light therapy offers several benefits, with each colour representing a precise wavelength designed to work harmoniously with your skin’s biology. Understanding how light interacts with your skin can help you make informed, personalised decisions about your skincare. It can empower you to turn a simple beam of light into a powerful tool for a healthy, flawless, and youthful look.
You can visit this page to learn the basics of LED light therapy. You can reach out to us to learn more about how LED therapy works, the benefits you can expect, and how to find a device suitable for your specific complaints.
References:
- Couturaud, V., Le Fur, M., Pelletier, M., & Granotier, F. (2023). Reverse skin ageing signs by red light photobiomodulation. Skin research and technology: official journal of International Society for Bioengineering and the Skin (ISBS) [and] International Society for Digital Imaging of Skin (ISDIS) [and] International Society for Skin Imaging (ISSI), 29(7), e13391.
- Diogo, M. L. G., Campos, T. M., Fonseca, E. S. R., Pavani, C., Horliana, A. C. R. T., Fernandes, K. P. S., Bussadori, S. K., Fantin, F. G. M. M., Leite, D. P. V., Yamamoto, Â. T. A., Navarro, R. S., & Motta, L. J. (2021). Effect of Blue Light on Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review. Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 21(20), 6943.
- Hong, J. Y., Han, H. S., Youn, J. H., Kim, H. W., Ryu, H. S., & Park, K. Y. (2022). Irradiation with 590-nm yellow light-emitting diode light attenuates oxidative stress and modulates UVB-induced changes of dermal fibroblasts. Experimental dermatology, 31(6), 931–935.
- Mima, Y., Yamada, T., Omatsu, J., Yamashita, T., Suzuki, S., Takechi, T., Ichikawa, M., Yamazaki, K., Sato, S., & Yoshizaki, A. (2025). Inhibitory Effect of 505 nm Green Light Emitting Diode on Melanin Synthesis in Cellular Experiments and a Human Intervention Study. Acta dermato-venereologica, 105, adv43441.
- Loving, R. T., Kripke, D. F., Knickerbocker, N. C., & Grandner, M. A. (2005). Bright green light treatment of depression for older adults [ISRCTN69400161]. BMC Psychiatry, 5, 42.
- Yadav, A., & Gupta, A. (2017). Noninvasive red and near-infrared wavelength-induced photobiomodulation: promoting impaired cutaneous wound healing. Photodermatology, photoimmunology & photomedicine, 33(1), 4–13.
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