Transformation Weight Loss and Wellness provides red light therapy and support for women facing a range of health challenges, none more universal than the changes brought on by perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause hormonal shifts. Currently, some 75 million women in the U.S. face these challenges—with 6,000 more women reaching menopause each day.
“Red light therapy can play a significant role in improving the health, wellness, and outlook for women across all menopausal phases,” says Dr. Annette Cronauer, founder of Transformation Weight Loss and Wellness.
Although research has been lacking for many years, science has begun to explain why peri-menopause and menopause cause women to experience dry and flaky skin and loss of collagen, elastin, and pigmentation — as well as the benefits that red light therapy can offer menopausal women.
Menopause and perimenopause involve significant hormonal changes that affect various systems in the body, including the skin. Here's a detailed look at these changes and their effects:
Hormonal Changes and Estrogen Decline
The most significant change during perimenopause and menopause is the decline in estrogen levels. Estrogen is crucial in maintaining skin health by promoting collagen production, skin thickness, and retaining moisture.
Estrogen helps maintain the skin's ability to retain moisture. When it declines, the skin becomes drier and prone to flaking.
Decreased Sebum Production
Sebum, an oily substance produced by sebaceous glands, helps keep skin hydrated. Lower estrogen levels can reduce sebum production, contributing to dryness.
Loss of Collagen and Elastin
Estrogen stimulates collagen production, which provides structure and firmness to the skin. Its decline leads to a decrease in collagen, causing the skin to become thinner and less elastic.
Similar to collagen, elastin fibers in the skin help maintain elasticity. Reduced estrogen levels can lead to a breakdown of elastin, resulting in sagging and wrinkling.
Pigmentation Changes
Hormonal changes can affect melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing melanin orf pigment. This can lead to changes in skin color, such as hyperpigmentation (dark spots) or melasma (brown or gray-brown patches. Lower estrogen levels can make the skin more susceptible to UV damage, exacerbating pigmentation issues.
Transformation Weight Loss and Wellness offers Pittsburgh’s only medical-grade LED red light therapy. It uses Red (633nm) and Near-Infrared (830nm) wavelengths, which have been shown to be beneficial for women experiencing menopause by helping to regenerate collagen and elastin in the skin.
Here's how these specific red light therapy wavelengths assist:
Collagen and elastin stimulation: Both Red and Near-Infrared light therapy stimulates the production of collagen and elastin in the skin.
Deeper penetration: Near-infrared light (830nm) penetrates deeper into the skin, allowing it to reach the deeper dermis layers where collagen and elastin are produced. This deeper penetration helps to stimulate fibroblasts, the cells responsible for producing these important proteins.
Cellular energy boost: These red light therapies using Red (633nm) and Near-Infrared wavelengths increase cellular energy production by stimulating mitochondria, enhancing the skin's ability to produce collagen and elastin.
Improved circulation: Red light therapy improves blood circulation in the skin, helping deliver more nutrients and oxygen to skin cells and supporting the production of collagen and elastin.
Red light therapy can help reduce inflammation in the skin, which is beneficial for addressing menopausal skin concerns like adult acne and sensitivity.
Hydration improvement: Red light therapy helps to improve overall skin hydration, which is particularly important for menopausal women who often experience increased skin dryness.
Non-invasive treatment: LED light therapy offers a non-invasive option for skin rejuvenation, which is especially appealing for menopausal women who may be more prone to sensitive skin.
By using LED light therapy in the Red and Near-Infrared range, menopausal women can effectively combat the signs of aging caused by hormonal changes, helping to maintain firmer, more elastic, and younger-looking skin. Regular use of these wavelengths can improve skin texture, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and an overall more youthful appearance.
In our next post on red light therapy and perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal women, Transformation Weight Loss and Wellness will look at related issues such as sleep, mood, and pain relief.