Article: Is Red Light Therapy Better Than Anti-Wrinkle Injections?

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Aug 1, 2024Concern_Anti Aging

Is Red Light Therapy Better Than Anti-Wrinkle Injections?

IN THIS ARTICLE:

7-minute read

Red light therapy and anti-wrinkle injections are fast becoming cult favorites for the skin-obsessed amongst us, but how does each treatment compare?

The rise of the red light facemask has us turning to at-home treatments to achieve a much-coveted skin glow and to stave off premature aging. But how do these masks stand up to other treatments such as anti-wrinkle injections, and can we really cancel our anti-aging injection appointments opting instead for a gentler approach to anti-aging? Let’s find out.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy is a skin rejuvenation technique that involves applying red light wavelengths between 600 and 700nm to the skin’s surface. The light stimulates the functional activity of cells to produce various benefits such as generating new collagen, boosting skin elasticity, and reducing inflammation and redness. Red light has a powerful impact on cell activity and skin health. Recent years have seen a rise in the use of red light facemasks at home to achieve improved skin health and appearance.

What are the Benefits of Red Light Therapy?

- Collagen synthesis

- Smooths fine lines

- Boosts skin elasticity

- Visibly lifts and tightens the skin

- Boosts blood flow

Does Red Light Therapy Reduce Wrinkles?

Yes, red light therapy has made a name for itself in the beauty tech world as a powerful anti-aging treatment option. Even the science says so. Red light boosts mitochondrial activity to produce a chemical called Adenosine Triphosphate. ATP accelerates the production of collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin, essential skin building blocks that decline as part of the aging process. Loss of these proteins and other structural compounds leads to skin sagging, dark spots, fine lines, and dynamic wrinkles such as crow’s feet, laugh lines, and nasolabial fold.

What are Anti-Wrinkle Injections?

The botulinum toxin is a purified substance injected into the skin to induce the relaxation of muscles, temporarily preventing movement in the injected area. It is a purified protein derived from bacterium clostridium botulinum. When injected into the skin it blocks signals from the nerves that cause the muscles to contract. Its popular name actually refers to just one of several brands that produce the toxin. Others include Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau. You may simply see these referred to as 'anti-wrinkle injections'.

What Do Anti-Wrinkle Injections Do?

These injections are primarily used as an anti-aging treatment to prevent and improve the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, ie wrinkles caused by facial movement. This includes crow’s feet, forehead, and frown lines. Patients may also get anti-aging injections for migraines or ‘masseter injection’ introduced into the jaw to prevent teeth grinding. It has other medical uses such as spasms, excessive sweating, and bladder problems.

Can Red Light Therapy Replace Anti-Wrinkle Injections?

This is a difficult question to answer and typically hinges on individual preference and personal skin goals. If the question is, are red light therapy and anti-wrinkle injections an alternative for one another, the short answer is no. While red light therapy and wrinkle injections may serve a similar end goal - ie a reduction in fine lines, and to slow down skin aging, the journey to that destination is substantially different. Both treatments have individual strengths. Let’s deep dive below

Red light therapy boosts skin health, in a way that these injections do not (or at least not to the same extent). Red light therapy boosts mitochondrial activity to rebuild damaged skin cells with new collagen stores. Increased collagen production improves skin elasticity and firmness and the overall health of the skin cell is improved, it literally causes the skin cell to perform optimally - ie as a younger cell would. Red light also creates oxidative stress in the skin cells to trigger free radicals activating the body’s anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory defense systems.

Blocking nerve signals in the muscles to impede movement does not have the same impact on overall skin health. Wrinkle injections ‘physically’ prevent the formation and intensification of dynamic wrinkles. There is some limited evidence that this may boost the production of collagen with repeated treatments but it is unclear how many treatments this would be. A wrinkle injection is not primarily designed to boost collagen like other techniques such as microneedling and LED light therapy.

Do Anti-Wrinkle Injections or Red Light Therapy have Better Results?

Anti-wrinkle injections: Initial results are more dramatic than you would see with red light therapy and become fully visible after about 5 days. After this initial ‘setting’ period, the effects of anti-wrinkle injections begin to wear off, and completely disappear after about 3 months. This makes wrinkle shots a not-insignificant repeat treatment every 3-4 months.

Red light therapy: Red light therapy gradually improves skin health, and visible results can be seen within the first month of consistent treatments. The results don’t ‘wear off’ and it continues to improve skin health and slow the aging process over several months and years.

Are Anti-Wrinkle Injections or Red Light Therapy More Affordable?

An increase in at-home device options for red light therapy means we can now perform treatments at home from anywhere from 100$ to more expensive panels and body devices averaging $1000+. The average cost of a red light mask is about 400$, but there are many more affordable alternatives with similar specifications on the market. Cheaper, does not necessarily mean a better quality product. It’s important to do your research and compare what brands offer in terms of power density, wavelength, and the number of LEDs. Investing in a red light device is a once-off investment allowing you to continue at-home treatments for several years.

There is no sugar-coating it, wrinkle injections are an expense, and they require regular appointments to maintain results. A single appointment averages at about 400$ and only lasts for about 3 months. The results are immediate and it dramatically reduces the appearance of fine lines in the area injected. It does not improve skin health to the same extent as other treatments. With cosmetic injectables, it is important to research the risk involved with a trusted dermatologist before deciding whether to get the treatment.

Will Red Light Therapy Interfere with Anti-Wrinkle Injections?

No, red light will not interfere with your wrinkle injections and both can be safely combined into a robust anti-aging skin regime. Be sure to ask your injector when and how to reintroduce red light therapy after your appointment. Generally, red light therapy is a gentle and safe treatment with few contraindications for other treatments and topical skincare.

Can you do Red Light Therapy After Anti-Wrinkle Injections?

Some dermatologists combine the treatments in-clinic, using red light therapy to promote faster healing after injectables, however, every case is different and it is best to consult your injector before performing red light therapy on the same day as your appointment.

Devices

LightAura | LED Face Mask

Intense anti-aging, anti-blemish LED light therapy mask with 7 colors and 450 powerful LEDs

The Takeaway: Is Red Light Therapy an Alternative to Anti-Wrinkle Injections?

Red light therapy and anti-wrinkle injections are popular and effective anti-aging treatment options. Wrinkle shots prevent the formation and worsening of dynamic wrinkles in certain areas of the face through paralyzing muscle movement. Red light therapy rejuvenates skin health and appearance by triggering processes in the cells that enable them to act as a younger cell would. It boosts the production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid to improve elasticity, and firmness and smooth out fine lines. The results of anti-wrinkle injections are immediate and wear off throughout the subsequent 3 months until your next appointment. Red light therapy supports a gradual improvement in skin health over weeks, months, and years so it is considered more of a long-term investment in the health of your skin to slow down the aging process naturally.

written by Sophie Flair

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