Although we can’t always see it, the light around us —whether we are indoors or outdoors — can have different color qualities. When you see a rainbow and its range of colors, you are actually seeing how white light can be split into all the many colors of the light spectrum.
According to scientists, different colors of light can have different effects on our moods and even our health. That’s why in both traditional and holistic medical clinics, you’ll find new therapies that rely on specific colors of light to target specific health issues. The therapies can range from lasers, wands, masks, light chambers or boxes, or spotlights that shine on specific parts of the body.
But what’s the real story on light healing, and how does each color of the light spectrum affect our skin’s health?
A Walk Through the Light Spectrum and Skin Health
Violet Light: Light from the ultra-violet end of the spectrum is invisible to us. Unfortunately, it can damage our skin and increase our risk for skin cancer and premature aging. That’s why we use sunscreens to prevent sun damage – they actually block ultra-violet (UV) rays.
In some clinical settings, however, a narrow range of UV light can be targeted to treat certain skin conditions by slowing an overgrowth of skin or slowing down the immune response. It’s been used on conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, vitiligo, and mycosis fungoides. Because UV light can cause damage to the skin, the medical application of UV light is best done in a clinical setting and not at home (i.e. through gadgets or overexposure to sunlight.)
Purple Light: Purple light has a longer wavelength than ultraviolet. Providers who offer purple light therapy claim that it can stimulate collagen production, reducing wrinkles. More definitive research is necessary.
Blue Light: Our cellphone, computer, and television screens are a big source of blue light.
Blue light can interfere with our sleep because blue light is very abundant in natural daylight. When we take in blue light from our screens at night, however, we’re giving false signals to our body that it’s daytime and “time to be awake.” Blue light suppresses our body’s natural production of melatonin, the body’s sleep trigger.
Poor sleep can exacerbate stress, dysregulate the immune system, and rob the body of time to repair and heal itself. That’s why some people are choosing blue-light-blocking eyeglasses or screen settings to use at night, or turning off their screens in the evenings, to improve their quality of sleep. Good sleep is critical to healing skin conditions, as flare-up symptoms like burning and itching already make sleep difficult for those who suffer from conditions like eczema and TSW.
Furthermore, research suggests that excessive exposure to blue light from screens can accelerate oxidative stress and skin aging.
Green Light: The wavelength of green light has the highest luminous efficiency, meaning it appears brighter to us than other colors. Like blue light, it can interfere with the body’s sleep signals.
One study in mice showed that green light may have the potential to shrink cancerous skin tumors or melanomas. Other studies show that green light can break down excess melanin in the skin, which can help fade dark spots, freckles, or hyperpigmentation.
Yellow Light: Yellow light is softer than white light, and most of its benefits are related to improved mood. Those who suffer from severe skin conditions also struggle with depression and anxiety, especially during a flare-up. Yellow or warmer lighting indoors, especially at night, may help induce a greater sense of calm.
Orange Light: One study showed that orange light exposure can increase cognitive ability.
People tested showed more activity in their prefrontal cortex when exposed to orange light versus blue light. While there are claims, nothing is proven yet about orange lights’ benefits for skin health.
Red Light: Red light is probably the most popular and exciting form of light therapy, with studies showing it may be effective for pain relief, dementia prevention, arthritis, and tendonitis relief. The theory on how red light therapy works is that once absorbed by your skin, red light travels deeper than blue light and encourages your mitochondria to produce more energy for cellular repair. It is sometimes used to treat scarring, acne, psoriasis, and wrinkles. A combination of red and blue light therapy has shown to be effective in the treatment of acne.
Infrared Light: Infrared light is different from red light, as it is invisible to the human eye. However, infrared light waves generate heat that you can feel. Heat generation is why infrared lights are often used to heat infrared saunas, and why infrared lamps can provide soothing relief for chronic pain. The heat can also be relaxing and increase blood circulation. Health benefits attributed to infrared light are generally due to the healing benefits of heat therapy. Infrared heat will increase perspiration, and can also be drying to the skin.
Conclusion
Much more research needs to be done to further verify the many health claims attributed to each color of light on the light spectrum. Generally, though, aside from UV or infrared overexposure, most light therapies offered in a spa setting are generally harmless.
While researchers continue to study the effects of different colors of light on our health, you can benefit from the healing qualities of light by duplicating natural light cycles in your environment:
- Open curtains, get outdoors in the daytime, or use full-spectrum daylight bulbs indoors during daytime hours – especially upon waking. These are great ways to soak in natural light and keep your energy and mood elevated during the day.
- Conversely, dim the lights, turn off electronic screens, choose warmer lightbulbs in low lighting fixtures, or candles, salt lamps, or the light of a fireplace at night. These softer, warmer colors of light signal your body that it’s time to wind down and go to sleep.
Meanwhile, it’s great to know that natural forms of treatment continue to surprise us, including the many possibilities for future light therapies.
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About the Author
Olivia Hsu Friedman, LAc, Dipl.OM, DACM, Cert. TCMDerm, is the owner of Amethyst Holistic Skin Solutions and treats Acne, Eczema, Psoriasis, and TSW. Olivia treats patients via video conferencing using only herbal medicine. Olivia is Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Acupuncturists, serves on the Advisory Board of LearnSkin, and is a faculty member of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Group sponsored by the National Eczema Association.