Whether it’s being used to treat acne, signs of aging, or something in between, red light therapy is getting plenty of buzz. But do dermatologists approve of this skincare trend?
LED (light-emitting diode) treatments can take the form of wands, masks, and panels emitting varying light wavelengths. Blue, red, and near-infrared light each have a specific effect on the skin: blue kills bacteria, while red helps to dial down inflammation.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red Light Therapy (RLT) involves exposing your skin to low-wavelength red light for a range of health and beauty benefits. It’s often touted as a treatment for acne, fine lines and wrinkles, and skin damage and to boost collagen production. But it’s also being investigated — or has already been used to treat — a range of other health conditions.
You’ll find RLT in some medical offices; the device is even available for at-home use. It’s important to seek treatment from a reputable practitioner to ensure you’re getting the most effective results and avoid potential side effects. “When it comes to the quality of the equipment and the protocol being used, that’s why it’s very important to only get this type of therapy from a doctor’s office or a physician-supervised environment,” says dermatologist and pain specialist LoGerfo.
The specific wavelengths of the light aren’t known, but experts think it works by acting on a part of your cells called mitochondria. This helps them produce more energy, and it’s thought that it encourages healing in both the skin and muscle tissue.
Acne
When red light is used alone, it decreases inflammation and kills bacteria, which can help with breakouts. It’s also been used in combination with blue light to help ease how much oil your skin makes, which can contribute to acne.
Fine Lines and Wrinkles
Red light stimulates fibroblasts, which help make collagen, helping tighten the skin and ease fine lines and wrinkles. It’s also been used to reduce the appearance of scarring and improve the texture and tone of the skin.
Other Uses
Red LED light is being promoted to improve the appearance of rosacea, lessen skin damage from sun exposure, and soothe inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis. It’s also being touted to prevent cancer chemotherapy side effects such as oral mucositis and to ease the pain of Achilles tendinitis.
The best way to know if you’ll benefit from the treatment is to talk to your dermatologist or a pain specialist before undergoing it. They can provide guidance on the benefits and risks for your wellness goals and suggest which device might be most effective for your needs.
What are the Benefits of Red Light Therapy?
With the popularity of at-home LED devices, red light therapy (RLT) has become a skincare trend that has been touted for everything from smoothing fine lines to reducing acne. But is it actually effective? Red light therapy may be helpful for a range of conditions, and research is emerging to support it.
The idea behind RLT is that when you expose your skin to a lamp, device, or laser with a specific wavelength of light, your cells—especially the mitochondria, which are sometimes called “the power generators” of your body’s cells—take it in and make more energy. This may improve how your cells function, allowing them to be healthier and better able to repair themselves. You may also improve skin texture, tone, and even muscle tone if you use RLT regularly.
Red light may help to smooth fine lines and wrinkles thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties. In addition, it has been shown to increase collagen production, which can lead to skin that looks plumper and smoother. Red light may also be useful for reducing the appearance of scars and abrasions and aiding in wound healing.
When it comes to pain relief, some studies suggest that low-level light therapy (LLLT)—which is similar to RLT—may be able to decrease pain from chronic conditions like nerve damage due to diabetes. Other research shows that it may be helpful in lowering pain and inflammation from herpes simplex virus outbreaks.
It’s important to note that the majority of available research on RLT has been done on animals, so it is not yet clear whether the treatment will be effective in humans. Additionally, some experts recommend using a professional-grade red light device for the best results.
As with any new and unproven treatment, you should be careful when using at-home devices or visiting salons or wellness centers that offer this type of treatment. Ensure that the device is FDA-cleared, and ask any practitioners what types of wavelengths and durations they use for their treatments. Discussing red light therapy with a dermatologist or other medical professional is recommended before starting the treatment.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
A treatment called photobiomodulation (also known as low-level laser therapy, or LLLT) involves emitting red and near-infrared wavelengths to positively affect skin cells. This stimulates cellular rejuvenation, increases blood flow, promotes collagen production, and fights free radical damage, says Jared Jagdeo, MD, the director of the Center for Photomedicine at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York. “The treatment also helps improve the function of the mitochondria, the powerhouses of your cells, which can decrease oxidative stress and increase ATP production,” he adds.
As a result of these benefits, it’s used to treat conditions including cancer-treatment side effects, pain from certain medical treatments, and other musculoskeletal disorders and wounds. It can also help reduce fine lines and wrinkles and boost hair growth for those suffering from alopecia, notes LoGerfo. It can also help alleviate skin sensitivity issues, reduce acne breakouts, and may be helpful for those dealing with rosacea, psoriasis, or hyperpigmentation.
Red light therapy can be done at a tanning salon, dermatology office, or home using FDA-approved devices. It’s important to use a device with proper shielding for your eyes and to read the instructions carefully before starting any session, says Libby. If you have any questions or concerns, talk to a dermatologist or your doctor before beginning any treatment.
While the research on red light therapy is promising, more clinical studies are needed before it’s considered a standard part of treating a wide range of conditions. “This is why it’s so important to be under the care of a trained practitioner,” LoGerfo says. “It’s unlikely you’ll have the best results if you do red light therapy at home.”
In addition, some medical conditions and medications should make this type of treatment a no-go, including any condition that makes your skin sensitive to sunlight or that causes inflammation. The flickering nature of the light can also cause headaches, dizziness, and seizures in some people with seizure disorders or eye diseases such as glaucoma. It’s also not recommended for those taking any photosensitizing medication, such as tetracycline, doxycycline, or hydrochlorothiazide, or for pregnant women.
Who Should Not Use Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy is a safe, non-invasive treatment that may help with a variety of skin conditions and pain management. But like any complementary or alternative medicine, getting medical guidance before adding it to your routine is best. “It’s important to consult with your dermatologist or integrative/functional medicine doctor first,” says Rossi. “They’ll be able to tell you whether this type of treatment is appropriate for your specific condition.”
The FDA has cleared some red light devices for certain skin conditions, such as actinic keratosis and rosacea. The foundation recommends asking a dermatologist before buying an at-home red light device and sticking to the recommended frequency, duration, and settings. “If you overuse red light, it can cause the same effects as overexposure to sunlight and can make your skin look sunburned,” Rossi explains.
For those with acne, red light therapy can decrease oil production, which will help prevent breakouts. Plus, it can also kill bacteria and decrease inflammation in the skin, which will aid healing. “It’s a very useful tool to have in your arsenal for treating acne and reducing fine lines and wrinkles,” Jagdeo adds.
Those who suffer from redness can also benefit from the therapy, as it’s known to decrease inflammation in the skin and may improve circulation, which can help calm it. It’s also been shown to decrease pain in some chronic conditions, such as nerve pain from diabetes, notes Praveen Arany, Ph.D., an associate professor at the University of Buffalo and interim director of Shepherd University’s Center for Excellence in Photobiomodulation.
While there’s a lot of buzz surrounding red light, it isn’t a cure-all. It’s still an emerging treatment that holds a lot of promise but should be used as a complement to your skin care regimen and MD-approved treatments, such as topicals or injectables, for best results.
“If you’re considering at-home red light, always purchase a medical-grade device from a trusted brand,” LoGerfo says. That way, you can be sure the tools are standardized and that the device is being used properly.” She suggests that seeing a board-certified dermatologist who offers red light therapy in their office is another option. This is better than using an at-home device because they’ll know how to properly calibrate the red light and set it to a specific setting for your condition.