Phototherapy (light therapy, light therapy) of the face. What is it, before and after photos, reviews, price

Phototherapy (phototherapy) is one of the oldest but most effective procedures with many good reviews. It is actively used in dermatology and cosmetology for facial skin treatment, neck, décolleté and other areas of the body.

General idea

Phototherapy is a cosmetic procedure, the essence of which is to expose the skin to light rays devoid of ultraviolet radiation. Phototherapy does not damage the skin of the face (unlike some other procedures - for example, chemical peels), but helps to fight its imperfections.

The procedure is shown for:

• some dermatological diseases;
• acne and post-acne;
• pigmentation;
• spider veins, rosacea;
• natural and premature aging of the skin, accompanied by a decrease in elasticity and tone;
• wrinkles;
• dull and uneven complexion.

There are several types of phototherapy:

Facial phototherapy is one of the most popular and effective salon services, which is confirmed by numerous reviews. The prices for the service depend on the region, a particular beauty salon or clinic, and the type of phototherapy. The average cost of one procedure is 5,000 rubles.

The main benefits of phototherapy are:

• Deep impact without injury to the skin - light rays penetrate into the deep layers of the skin without damaging them and leaving no traces in the form of scars and scars.
• Minimum recovery period - right after the session you can go about your business; discomfort after phototherapy disappears within a few hours.
• Safety - when irradiated, a safe part of the spectrum is used without UV rays that do not harm the skin.

Most often, women resort to phototherapy after 30-35 years old, who have already shown the first signs of aging. However, the technique is also indicated for young girls to treat some skin imperfections and prevent early aging.

Effects on the skin

The effect of phototherapy is due to various processes occurring during the procedure. When light rays come into contact with the skin, they are absorbed by special light-sensitive cells, chromophores, and each type of cells is able to absorb only the energy of a certain spectrum. After absorbing energy, chromophore cells pass into an excited state, begin to transfer energy to other cells and heat up. As a result, under the influence of light and heat, various processes take place in the skin: coagulation of blood vessels, destruction of some cells, increased tissue nutrition.

Indications

Face phototherapy, reviews of which are most often positive, is used in different cases: to combat aging, acne, remove skin imperfections and treat some dermatological diseases.

For diseases of the skin

Face phototherapy (reviews about it help to make sure that the procedure is necessary) is the main type of treatment for many dermatological diseases affecting the skin of the face:

• psoriasis;
• dermatitis;
• eczema;
• scleroderma;
• some types of lichen;
• vitiligo;
• acne disease.

In addition to diseases, light therapy is used for wounds and ulcers. Phototherapy also helps fight premature skin aging. Light rays have anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and immunomodulatory effects. They stop the accelerated division of skin cells and help eliminate flaking. As a result of the course of treatment, redness, itching and other allergic manifestations also disappear. Phototherapy for the treatment of skin diseases is most often prescribed by a dermatologist. In no case should you self-medicate without consulting a specialist.

Fight freckles and pigmentation

When the skin absorbs light rays and heats it, the melanin pigment is destroyed, as a result of which freckles and age spots gradually brighten (while the nearest skin areas are not damaged). Some time after the phototherapy procedure, the treated skin area begins to peel off and new, healthy and clean skin is found underneath. Depending on the size, location and degree of distribution of freckles and age spots, from 3 to 10 sessions are performed. However, with a tendency to pigmentation, the spots on the face may reappear after a while.

Acne

Acne is caused by bacteria and accumulation of sebum in the pores due to overworking of the sebaceous glands. The heating of the skin, carried out during phototherapy, helps to kill bacteria, has an anti-inflammatory effect and regulates the sebaceous glands, as a result of which the progression of acne stops. In addition, phototherapy stimulates the synthesis of collagen and elastin, enhances the rate of regeneration of skin tissues, prevents scarring or smooths them out if they have already appeared.

Removal of spider veins

Spider veins are the result of vascular damage, due to which they become clearly visible on the surface of the skin. As a result of light irradiation and subsequent heating of the skin, the walls of the damaged vessels are glued together and the “stars” disappear from the skin.

Complete removal of the lesions requires 3 to 8 procedures, and after a course of treatment, it is recommended to do phototherapy 1-2 times a year to prevent the appearance of vascular lesions.

Rejuvenation procedure

Face phototherapy (reviews of the technique help to make sure of its effectiveness) is most often used for rejuvenation purposes.

It helps:

• tighten the oval of the face;
• smooth out wrinkles;
• improve skin color;
• improve skin tone and elasticity.

The rejuvenating effect of phototherapy is due to the stimulation of the production of collagen and elastin, which are responsible for skin turgor. However, this technique is not able to cope with significant age-related changes: sagging skin folds, pronounced and too deep nasolabial folds, deformation of the face oval due to the fat layer. Also, phototherapy will not help in case of low muscle tone, which causes wrinkles to appear.

Contraindications and side effects

Phototherapy has a number of contraindications:

• acute infectious-inflammatory and viral diseases;
• skin infections;
• open wounds and any other skin damage in the area of ​​light exposure;
• exacerbation of herpes;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• the presence of keloid scars;
  
• oncological diseases;
• diabetes;
• blood diseases and severe pathologies of the cardiovascular system;
• renal failure;
• disorders of the thyroid gland;
• severe mental disorders;
• epilepsy;
• fresh tan;
• burns on the face;
• high dark skin (dark skin can lighten and become stained with photoirradiation);
• pregnancy and lactation;
• increased photosensitivity;
• age less than 14 years.

Also, do not come to the procedure in a state of severe stress or excitement - in this case, the result of the procedure may be ineffective, or strong side effects may occur. After the light therapy procedure, the skin may turn red and slightly swell - this is a normal reaction to light. The side effects will disappear within a few hours after the session. Peeling of the skin is also possible - when they peel off, there will be renewed and healthy skin under them. If phototherapy is carried out in the presence of contraindications, then deterioration and progression of diseases are possible.

If the required requirements are not met during the phototherapy session, severe burns (followed by pigmentation) and damage to the retina are possible. When choosing a beautician, it is recommended to ask for a work license, ask about all the details of the procedure.

Efficiency

The results of phototherapy most often become noticeable after the first procedure - the complexion improves (it becomes fresher and more uniform), in some cases the pores are slightly narrowed.

More visible results appear after a course of several procedures:

• freckles and age spots disappear;
• the face becomes taut and looks younger, the depth of wrinkles decreases;
• inflammation on the skin and mild forms of post-acne disappear, as well as vascular formations;
• the oily skin is reduced;
• pores are narrowed.

Pronounced changes during photorejuvenation appear only 1-1.5 months after the course of therapy - the process of enhancing metabolic processes under the influence of rays is rather slow, so the results can only be noticed after a while. With the help of phototherapy, you can achieve not only healing and improving the appearance of the skin, but also enhance metabolic processes and nutrition in its tissues. This helps to prevent early aging and slow down the natural aging process. Phototherapy can be combined with lifting massage to enhance the effect.

Stages of the

A few days before the procedure, it is advisable to give up alcohol, smoking and taking certain medications (in agreement with the attending physician), and you cannot do any kind of peeling.

The phototherapy procedure is carried out as follows:

1. First, a medical examination must be followed to determine the type of skin, the problem that needs to be eliminated and the selection of treatment.
2. Then, it is imperative to cleanse the skin from makeup and impurities.
3. The patient and the doctor wear special glasses to protect the eyes from light exposure.
4. A cosmetic gel is applied to the skin, which has an analgesic and cooling effect, protects against burns and improves the penetration of impulses through the skin.
5. Then the cosmetologist proceeds to phototherapy - he acts on the damaged areas of the face with an apparatus (the intensity of light radiation, the duration of the procedure are selected by the doctor individually for each patient, depending on the type and severity of skin damage). By moving the handpiece, the doctor treats every millimeter of the skin with light pulses. The average duration of the procedure is 10-15 minutes. During it, a slight tingling or burning sensation will be felt (they should be tolerated, if you feel severe discomfort or pain, you need to tell the doctor about it).
   
6. After the end of the session, a soothing cream is applied to the skin, which helps to eliminate possible discomfort. After the session, it is recommended to lie down quietly for 10-15 minutes.

How do I care for my skin after the procedure?

Competent skin care and adherence to some rules after phototherapy will help to consolidate and prolong the effect of the procedures.For the duration of the course of treatment (and 2 weeks after it), you need to give up sunbathing and be sure to apply sunscreen on your skin or use a day cream with an SPF factor of at least 20 before going outside (regardless of the season). an agent that helps to speed up the regeneration of the skin (Panthenol or Bepanten works well with this). If there is itching and burning, you can use thermal water.

It is recommended to limit the use of decorative cosmetics if possible until the end of the course of procedures.

There are also some limitations:

• During the week after the procedure, you cannot visit the bathhouse and sauna, the pool, take a hot bath (only a warm shower is shown).
• Do not visit the solarium for 2 weeks after phototherapy (it is recommended to completely abandon it, as it has a negative effect on the skin and can nullify the results of phototherapy).
• It is recommended to limit smoking and alcohol consumption during the course of treatment.

So that the effect of phototherapy does not disappear, you need to cleanse the skin every day, nourish and moisturize it (especially since the phototherapy method enhances the effect of using various means). It is also recommended to undergo a course of treatment of 1-3 procedures once a year to maintain the effect.

Portable devices for home

Phototherapy can be carried out at home using portable devices:

Before using this or that device, you must carefully read the instructions and consult a doctor to avoid complications and side effects. It is recommended to use the phototherapy apparatus no more than once every 2 weeks in order to harm the body. One of the safest and most affordable procedures, face phototherapy, can be performed both in the salon and at home. Many reviews say that a home session is just as effective.

Facial phototherapy video

What is face phototherapy: