Dermatology has created an array of treatments for aging skin — acid baths, dermabrasion, chemical peels, laser resurfacing, and facelift surgery. Except for the last one, all of these treatments are based on the systematic destruction of the skin so it can heal itself. All are invasive and involve significant downtime as well as discomfort. But do you really need to destroy skin in order to improve its appearance? Not since the advent of photobiomodulation (PBM), especially the specialized type of photobiomodulation known as Celluma.
The Miracle of Photobiomodulation
A comprehensive review of photobiomodulation (also known as LLLT, for low-level laser therapy) published in Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery in 2013, describes how light in specific wavelengths can cause skin to rejuvenate without the need to first damage it. The article cites a number of studies that showed when skin cells absorb photons in those wavelengths, there are two major effects: 1) it stimulates production of a chemical known as ATP, which is the source of a cell’s energy, and 2) it increases cell membrane permeability, which increases intercellular interaction.
These effects were first seen in studies of wound healing, particularly diabetic wound healing. But when researchers discovered that certain wavelengths of light could accelerate the healing of skin cells, it was probably just a matter of time before someone tested it on “healthy” skin. I put the word healthy in quotes, because wrinkled, inelastic, discolored skin can hardly be called healthy. But light from the right kind of light emitting diodes (LEDs) makes it so. And, although it may require a series of treatments to achieve full rejuvenation, the main effects are usually visible in a single session. Many clients tell us their skin glows after a Celluma session. Nearly all of them say it is visibly smoother and more supple.
Works for Plants, Works for People
The notion that our bodies respond to light in a way that’s similar to plants may seem foreign. But in the mists of time, there was a stage of evolution before plants and animals separated. Apparently, both plants and animals retained a primordial response to light. In other words, Celluma’s effect on skin is part of a natural process that has probably been with us from the inception of life itself. That is probably why Celluma is FDA-cleared. Dozens of clinical studies and thousands of applications have shown it is non-toxic, non-invasive, safe, and painless. It requires no recovery time and can be used on all skin types.
Here’s how it works. While you relax in a private room with low ambient lighting and soft music, your Peak recovery technician will check to make sure the target area is free of makeup, clothing, or anything else that may deflect light. You can use Celluma on any area of problem skin, but if you’re using it on your face, you will don light-blocking goggles because the light from the Celluma is quite bright. Then the recovery technician will place the Celluma as closely as possible to the surface of your skin and will make sure you are in a comfortable position, usually reclining or semi-reclining. The device then shines on your skin for 30 minutes. It may be slightly warm, but there is no discomfort. Many clients fall asleep during the session.
Light Years?
The manufacturer of our Celluma unit insists you will emerge from the session looking “light-years younger.” We are aware that to astronomers, the light-year is a unit of distance and not duration, but the Celluma is a light-emitting device, so the slogan is a clever in a non-astronomical way. If you happen to be an astronomer, we promise not to say it to you.
Until March 20 (2019), we are running a special that pairs Celluma with our Cryoskin facelift. Give us a call at (603) 402-4564 for more details, or book a Celluma session and see for yourself what it’s all about.
