A new treatment for all sorts of skin conditions harnesses the healing power of light.

Pamela Allen reports

Bright light and skin don’t mix, right? Take sunbeds and sunbathing, which have quite rightly fallen out of favour now that we all know exposure to this kind of light leaves us burned and wrinkly and increases the chances of skin cancer. But we should also remember that light also has many positive effects on our bodies.

It helps us produce vitamin D, makes us feel happy, provides energy and encourages cell growth. The trick is to separate off the parts of the light spectrum that have these positive effects – red and blue light and near-infra-red.

Dermalux - winner of Treatment of the Year at the Aesthetics Awards – does just that, banishing harmful UV and harnessing the healing power of light. Studies have shown that when skin is exposed to LED Light wavelengths, skin cells regenerate themselves on average 150 per cent to 200 per cent faster and hydration can be increased by up to 600 per cent.

Light therapy is clinically proven for the treatment of a wide range of skin conditions and the most common skin concerns including lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, sun damage, dehydration, open pores, acne and blemishes, rosacea, eczema and psoriasis.

Red light energises and regenerates skin for a more youthful complexion; blue treats problems skin conditions such as spot-prone skin and redness; and the near-infrared accelerates recovery. On acne and spot-prone skin the blue light works by targeting the bacteria that becomes trapped in hair follicles, as well as reducing the sebum that traps it in the skin.

“The good thing about this treatment is that if a client has multiple skin issues, you can treat a range of conditions using a combination of the three lights,” says Kirsty Jewson, head of beauty at Saks Northallerton. “I was particularly drawn to it because of our client base. We have lots of people, like the farming community, who work outdoors and consequently suffer from very red complexions. Dermalux is brilliant at tackling this.” It can also be used to calm skin down and aid the healing process after other treatments such as Dermatude or peels.

The treatment is short – just 20 minutes – and painless, like being under a mini sunbed for the face, but without the risks. To add to the feeling of relaxation, hands and arms or feet are given a massage while you are lying there. The visible effects of the light treatment are immediate, a healthy and radiant glow. “But the results of light therapy are cumulative and improvement will continue even after the treatment has stopped,” says Kirsty. “We may recommend a course of treatments for optimum results and as light therapy does not harm the skin, there is no limit to the amount of treatment you can have.”

Dermalux costs £40 per treatment at Saks Hair & Beauty Northallerton, with the first treatment at an introductory price of £20. To book call 01609-770885. W: saks.co.uk/northallerton