Light therapy, or phototherapy, consists of exposure to specific wavelengths of light using lasers, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), fluorescent lamps or dichroic lamps for a prescribed amount of time in order to treat a variety of health conditions, including psoriasis, acne, eczema, vitiligo and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Light therapy has also been shown to have powerful skin-rejuvenation properties, which is the main reason it has become a popular add-on service for tanning salons.
In a salon, the most common types of light therapy units utilize LEDs, which were first researched by NASA for use in the U.S. Space Program.
Scientists wanted to see if LEDs could stimulate plant growth in space, and through the course of their research, discovered that LED light therapy has a significant effect on controlling the visible signs of aging. This is because skin layers contain high blood and water content and, therefore, absorb light easily (LED photons must be absorbed to produce a biological response). The biological response that occurs is similar to photosynthesis, which takes sunlight and converts it into food energy in plants—in essence, LED therapy converts light energy within the skin cells to enhance cellular metabolism, accelerate the repair and replenishment of damaged skin cells, and stimulate the production of collagen.
How Light Therapy Works
The secret to the many ways that LED light can be used to treat skin conditions lies in the varying colors of light—each has a different wavelength, which in turn has a specific effect on human tissue. Here’s a breakdown:
Blue Light. Besides its use as an antibacterial agent—which makes it a popular choice for treating acne—blue light has a special ability to fight SAD, and studies suggest that it may help increase alertness or fight insomnia if given at the right time.
Red Light. This wavelength is associated with stimulating cell growth, seems to help wounds heal more quickly and has an anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, because of its ability to kill bacteria, it can be used with blue light to treat particularly severe cases of acne.
Near Infrared Light. The long wavelengths of near infrared light—invisible to the human eye—can penetrate deeply into human tissue and stimulate fibroblast cell activity in the skin, which increases the production of collagen and elastin (the proteins responsible for the skin's tone and elasticity). When used in conjunction with red light, it has the ability to reverse the signs of aging by smoothing wrinkles, stimulating repair mechanisms and increasing circulation to deliver more oxygen and nutrients to the skin.
Ultraviolet Light. UV light refers to all wavelengths in the 10 nm to 400 nm range, with UVA at 315 nm to 400 nm and UVB at 280 nm to 315 nm. The UVA and UVB wavelength can be used for the treatment of skin conditions, including acne, psoriasis and eczema. UVA, combined with a drug taken orally, is known as PUVA treatment.
Phototherapy is also popular in salons because treatments are non-invasive, safe for all skin types and require no downtime for recovery. In addition, because LEDs are not lasers, tissue does not get hot—which renders the treatment pain-free.
When deciding to add light therapy to your salon, there are a few things to consider:
Light Therapy Equipment
When purchasing equipment, be aware that LEDs are not all created equal—you should request the name of the manufacturer and the specific models used in the device. Also look at output—many systems do not quote output and those that do may quote a wide variety of outputs. Allure Institute recommends calculating the cost per lumen for an effective output evaluation. (A lumen is the international unit of luminous flux or quantity of light. It equals the amount of light that is spread over a square foot of surface by one candle power when all parts of the surface are exactly one foot from the light source. For example, a dinner candle provides about 12 lumens whereas a 60-watt soft white incandescent lamp provides 840 lumens.)
Marketing Light Therapy
Light therapy can be an easy sell in the salon setting, especially among your baby-boomer clients, who are the largest marketing demographic that has ever existed and will be the wealthiest group of elderly in history with a lot of disposable income. To ensure that your advertisements catch the attention of this target demographic, try using before-and-after pictures and testimonials. These will support your claim about the benefits of phototherapy treatments and assure boomers they are not being ripped off. Of course, light therapy can also be beneficial for your younger clients—think of those in their late teens and 20s that may be suffering from acne. In addition, today’s youth are more conscious than ever of the desire to age gracefully ... appeal to them with the concept of prevention. Of course, regardless of who you are targeting with your ads, be sure to keep in mind that your ad should not come across as medical advice. If you feel any of your ad falls into a gray area of providing medical advice, you should run it by your attorney and create a disclaimer.
Overall, light therapy is attracting significant, positive media attention and its benefits are scientifically supported, which is increasing public interest. There’s no need to let your clients go to their doctor or to a medical spa for treatments that you can provide—and profit from.
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