Is it Important to Use Red Light Therapy on Your Neck?

• 01 What is Red Light Therapy?
• 02 Why is Extending Skincare to The Neck Important?
• 03 Can I Use Red Light Therapy for Neck and Chest Areas?
• 04 What Is the Best Red Light Therapy Device for the Neck?
• 05 What Are the Benefits of Red Light Therapy for the Neck?
• 06 Can Red Light Therapy Help With Neck Pain?
• 07 The Takeaway: 

  Red Light Therapy for Neck and Décolletage

  
  

3-minute read

Many brands now offer specific red light therapy devices for the neck and decolletage. But what is the importance of extending our skincare rituals beyond the neck area, and is red light therapy really a necessary addition?

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy is the application of specific red light wavelengths to boost collagen production and improve skin elasticity and function. Red light triggers cellular responses increasing energy to the cell and boosting protein synthesis and enzyme activity. Red light strengthens the skin, which becomes increasingly important as we age and collagen levels decrease, leading to wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging.

Why is Extending Skincare to The Neck Important?

Treating the neck, with the same or similar principles we use for our face is equally (if not more) important. The skin on our neck and decolletage has a unique structure, it is typically thinner and more sensitive. It also has fewer oil glands and hair follicles making it more prone to premature and more severe signs of aging. Continuing to take steps to protect our face, to the exclusion of our neck, it could leave us with a pretty unbalanced appearance. The problem with extending anti-aging skincare topicals such as vitamin C, retinol, and AHA to the neck, is that they may not be well tolerated due to increased sensitivity. A natural approach incorporating red light therapy, a gentle moisturizer, and SPF may be a safer option.

Can I Use Red Light Therapy for Neck and Chest Areas?

Many brands now offer specific LED neck and decolletage devices to extend the anti-aging benefits of red light therapy beyond the neck. These devices are designed to carefully mold around this area to deliver a whole host of anti-aging benefits. Red light therapy is a very effective anti-aging treatment with an excellent safety profile and many clinical studies attest to its effectiveness. One study looked specifically at the impact of red light therapy on the neck area and showed a significant improvement in wrinkle severity on the Lemperle wrinkle scale after 16 weeks.

What Is the Best Red Light Therapy Device for the Neck?

Choose a neck device with both red and infrared light to ensure the full anti-aging benefits such as advanced phase collagen production, smoothing fine lines, soothing inflammation and redness. Infrared light (850nm) and deep infrared light (1072nm) wavelengths penetrate deeper into the skin to help improve the appearance of deep-seated or static wrinkles. Also important to consider is irradiance and treatment duration - for best results ensure the device delivers sufficient light intensity (measured in mW/cm²) for the recommended treatment duration.

What Are the Benefits of Red Light Therapy for the Neck?

- Smooth fine lines
- Boost skin elasticity
- Improve skin oxygenation
- Defend against free radical damage
- Balance skin tone
- Smooth rough skin texture
- Brighten dull skin
- Prevent sagging
- Target pain and inflammation

Can Red Light Therapy Help With Neck Pain?

Red light therapy and neck pain: a combination of red and infrared light is strongly linked to reducing pain and inflammation by increasing blood oxygenation and blood flow to the area. Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, affecting almost everyone at some point in their lifetime. A 2013 meta-analysis examined the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT), which includes red light therapy, on neck pain. It found that LLLT significantly reduced pain immediately after treatment for acute neck pain and provided pain relief for up to 22 weeks after treatment completion in patients with chronic neck pain. Using a red light therapy neck device has the added benefit of reducing any pain, inflammation, or stiffness, caused by injury, stress or even sitting for extended periods.

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The Takeaway: Red Light Therapy for Neck and Décolletage

Neglecting the neck area may undermine all your anti-aging efforts and lead to the appearance of deep wrinkles, sagging and crepey skin. Your neck is constantly exposed to the same environmental stressors as your face such as UV rays, pollution, and oxidative stress. Your neck requires the same treatment approach. In fact, even more care should be taken as the skin around the neck is thinner, more sensitive and therefore ages quicker. Due to the increased sensitivity, topical treatments such as vitamin C, retinol, and AHA may be too potent for the neck to tolerate. Red light therapy offers a natural and gentle alternative to harsh topicals and is clinically proven to reverse signs of aging and restore skin elasticity as we age. Red light therapy for pain relief can also benefit the neck area, try to choose a device with both red and infrared wavelengths for a more powerful treatment. 

  written by Olivia Khader