How times have changed. While the days of skin-damaging tanning beds are long behind us, wellness-lovers are climbing into a new kind of light bed with skin and health advantages galore.

Think those LED light therapy masks are odd? Just wait until you try a full body light therapy bed. We talked to the founder of NEO | Science and Cryo Merchant, Robin Kuehne about his technology and the bed he recently installed in the home of Paris Hilton.

Visit Pause Studio or Sculptology and use code RECOVERY for 20% off your light bed session!

Most of us know that tanning beds use ultraviolet rays (UVA, UVB) to accelerate melanin production, damaging the skin and accelerating visible signs of aging.

In complete contrast, an LED light therapy bed, often considered a “cold laser treatment” or low level laser therapy (LLLT), uses a combination of red and infrared light, often recognized to treat injuries, reduce pain, improve circulation, improve joint mobility, and relax muscles. No UVA or UVB involved. 

Why LED Light Therapy?

In a nutshell, Red and NIR light improves mitochondrial function, in turn, improving cellular function and reducing oxidative stress.

In just 8-10 minutes, this type of light therapy bed promises a slew of wellness benefits. The use of light for health benefits has been known since ancient times, but research and applications have rapidly expanded in the last two decades. Photobiomodulation (PBM) is one of the safest methods to improve healing, pain, skin health, performance, and sleep.

Improve Pain | LED light therapy can increase the catalase activity of cell mitochondria, promote the solidification of diseased tissue proteins and the production of new squamous epithelial cells, accelerate the absorption of exudates, weaken muscle tension, and improve various mechanisms of pain.

Reduce Inflammation | It can promote local blood circulation, increase the phagocytic function of cells and macrophages, control infections, and promote the dissipation of inflammation. (Examples: chronic inflammation such as neurodermatitis, eczema, chronic lymphadenitis, arthritis, etc.)

Promote Wound Healing | PBM can improve blood circulation, and thereby promote wound regeneration and repair, achieve pain relief, reduce swelling, promote tissue growth, shorten recovery time.

Enhance Physical Fitness | PBM can increase the catalase activity of mitochondria, thereby may increase glycogen content, protein synthesis, adenosine triphosphate decomposition, enhance cell viability, and enhance the body’s self-repair function and cell regeneration ability.

Improve Skin | PBM can promote skin blood circulation, enhance the vitality of human cells, enhance metabolism, speed up the elimination of sick or dead cells, and improve skin elasticity and overall appearance.

Reduce Hyperpigmentation | PBM may reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation by down-regulating hyperactive melanocytes and by slowing down production of excess melanin, which results in less pigmentation and thereby in a brighter and more even skin tone.

Skin Rejuvenation | PBM may stimulate the production of collagen and thereby increase skin elasticity, smoothen wrinkles, shrink pores, all of which make the skin appear more firm, smooth and delicate.

Improve Sleep | PBM, and in particular red light may stimulate the production of melatonin. Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that regulates sleep, which gets released in the evening when darkness sets in. Light exposure and in particular blue light (abundant in our computers and handheld devices) counteracts the release of melatonin and is rather activating. Red and Green Lights are calming.

The 3 Modes of The NEO Light Bed

Different colors of light reach corresponding depths inside the human body, where they create biological responses. Using the light bed, there are three modes:

The Calm Mode | Green and infrared light.

Designed to help reduce dark spots by inhibiting melanin over-production. This is particularly popular with women suffering from postpartum melasma. There is also a Harvard study that suggests a calming effect on people with light sensitivity and migraines. One of our clients, Dr. Alejandro Arnez, noticed incredible results when using green light accelerate the results of cryolipolysis. His observations were so significant that he is now doing a study he plans to publish — which is very exciting for us.

The Cleanse Mode | Red and blue light.

Designed to help with oily skin and impurities to improve the overall appearance of the skin. Younger clients and athletes benefit from this immensely.

The Restore Mode | Red (633) and infrared light.

Designed to target a wide range of conditions and provide a variety of benefits such as managing inflammation, pain, and recovery, plus collagen building and anti-aging. Users may also choose this configuration in PULSE mode which is favored by athletes whose goal is athletic recovery.

Each Type Of Light Offers Unique Benefits

RED (633) | Rejuvenation and anti-aging; diminish fine lines and wrinkles Pain relief. Improvement of cellular function (more ATP production). Detoxification and inflammation reducing. Mostly active in upper layers of the skin. Studies suggest positive effect on hair growth.

Green | Shown to decrease melanin in the skin and reduce pigmentation, such as age spots and freckles. The diffuse light targets the outer layers of the skin and breaks up clumps of melanocytes where pigmentation resides, resulting in a more even skin tone. As with the other types of LLLT, green light also shows indications of improved wound healing.

Blue | Known for cleansing properties, it has been shown to reduce bacteria and inhibit oil production in the skin. Often used in the treatment of acne, studies reveal that it’s even more effective in combination with red light with a 76% improvement in inflammatory legions after 12 weeks of treatment.

Infrared | Known to deeply penetrate tissue and bones in order to support improvements in muscular performance, recovery, and wound healing. Studies have shown remarkable improvements in wound healing using infrared light therapy, particularly with impaired wound healing conditions such as diabetes.

Want to try the Neo Light Bed yourself? Visit Pause Studio or Sculptology locations and use code RECOVERY for 20% off your light bed session!