Is red light therapy right for your skin?
Red light is a popular treatment for skin concerns, especially signs of aging like wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin. People are also using it to treat hair loss. Whether you want to treat your skin or regrow hair, you’ll find plenty of red-light devices sold for at-home use. No downtime required.
The question on many peoples’ minds is, “Does red light therapy live up to the claims?”
Here's what we know, along with five precautions that dermatologists recommend.
At-home red-light devices come in many forms
Masks, panels, and wands are used to treat skin concerns, such as acne and signs of aging like wrinkles.
What exactly is red light therapy?
It’s a non-invasive treatment that uses red or near-infrared light. Also called photobiomodulation, a few dermatologists offer it to treat acne, signs of aging like wrinkles, hair loss, and other conditions. The red light that dermatologists offer is more powerful than that found in devices sold for at-home use.
To give their patients the best results, dermatologists typically recommend red light as a complementary therapy. This means, it’s part of a treatment plan that uses standard therapy. For example, when treating signs of aging, your dermatologist may add red light to a treatment plan that includes a medicated cream, microneedling, or a chemical peel. Tailored skin care may also be part of this treatment plan.
To help you maintain results after in-office treatment, your dermatologist may recommend using an at-home red-light device.
Whether you want to use red light after receiving treatment from a dermatologist or to try it on your own, you’ll find plenty of options. Red-light wands, masks, and other devices are sold for treating the skin. Caps, combs, and helmets are sold for regrowing hair. Most at-home devices contain light emitting diodes (LED), which are considered safe for home use. You’ll also find devices sold for at-home use that have low-level lasers.
How effective is red light therapy for treating signs of aging?
Some studies indicate that in general red-light LED devices can produce subtle to noticeable results on the face, when used to treat:
Fine lines and wrinkles
Dark spots
Rough-feeling skin
Discoloration like redness
Loose skin
In one study, 90 patients received 8 LED red-light treatments to their face over 4 weeks. More than 90% of patients said they noticed some improvement, including softer and smoother skin, less redness, and lightening of dark spots.
Similar results have been seen in larger studies. In one large study, dermatologists saw that the patients who received in-office red light therapy after being treated with a laser had less discoloration and swelling from the laser.
The results from these and similar studies led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to clear several red-light devices for treating signs of skin aging at home.
While FDA clearance and the research results are encouraging, it’s difficult to know how effective at-home devices are. Researchers study different devices. They test these devices for differing amounts of time. They also design their studies to answer different questions. This means we cannot compare results from different studies.
As such, more research is needed. We still do not fully understand the effects of red light on the skin. Questions that dermatologists want to answer include:
How long can we safely use red light?
What is the optimal number of treatments for different concerns like loose skin and crow’s feet?
What is the safest and most effective amount of red light to use at home?
Can a red-light device really grow hair?
The results from some, but not all, studies show that with repeated treatments, it’s possible for red light to regrow some hair over time.
It’s important to keep in mind that there are many causes of hair loss. For some of these causes, we don’t have any studies to know what effect red light can have on that type of hair loss.
The following studies looked at one cause — hereditary/hormonal hair loss. It’s the most common reason people see hair loss. In men, this type of hair loss is also known as male pattern hair loss. In women, it’s called female pattern hair loss. The medical name for hereditary hair loss is androgenetic alopecia.
In large randomized controlled trials (best type of study for drawing conclusions), red light therapy has led to some hair regrowth, with increased hair thickness and length.
In one study, dermatologists found that low-level laser therapy was just as effective as minoxidil at regrowing hair in patients who had hereditary hair loss. In this study, they also found that the patients who had the best results received both low-level laser treatment and minoxidil.
The dermatologists conducting this study concluded that low-level laser therapy offers a safe, non-invasive, and potentially effective treatment for people with hereditary hair loss.
Studies like the above led the FDA to clear several at-home red-light devices for hair regrowth. Today, you’ll find FDA-cleared combs, caps, and helmets. The at-home devices, which mostly use LED, may stimulate your hair follicles (where hair grows from). This can lead to some hair growth and reduce hair loss. However, it won’t regrow a full head of hair.
Keep in mind that no single treatment is right for everyone. If you have thinning hair or hair loss, a board-certified dermatologist can tell you if red light therapy may be right for you as part of a hair loss treatment plan.
How often do you have to use red light therapy?
This is not a one-and-done treatment. When using a red-light device at home, you’ll need to use it regularly. The amount of time needed varies, so follow the directions that come with the device.
Keep in mind that it takes time to see the results and not everyone sees them.
When treating signs of skin aging or hereditary hair loss, either in a dermatologist’s office or at home, you’ll need follow-up treatments. This is necessary because skin continues to age, and we continue to lose hair.
Is red light therapy safe?
In the short-term, it appears to be safe. Unlike ultraviolet (UV) light, which can cause skin cancer, research hasn’t found that red light can cause any type of cancer.
The most common side effects are mild. Some people develop temporary mild pain or irritated skin from red light therapy.
As for safety, you’ll see “FDA-cleared” on many red-light devices that you can buy. This means that the FDA considers that device to pose a low risk to the public.
Keep in mind that FDA cleared doesn’t tell you anything about how effective the device is. It means the device is considered safe.
When shopping for a red-light device, you may see a term like “FDA approved” or “FDA certified.” While these terms sound impressive, they have no meaning when used to describe a medical device. The FDA clears devices. It doesn’t approve or certify them.
If you have a darker skin tone, talk with a dermatologist before using an at-home red-light device
Research shows that people who have darker skin tones are more sensitive to visible light, such as red light, than people with lighter skin tones. This increased sensitivity can lead to hyperpigmentation, and the resulting dark spots can be more intense and long-lasting than dark spots caused by invisible light, such as sunlight.
Although red-light devices are considered safe, we don’t know the long-term effects on the skin or hair. More research is needed to find out.
5 precautions dermatologists recommend if you want to use red light therapy at home
To help their patients get the best results, dermatologists recommend following these five steps when selecting a red-light device to use at home:
See a board-certified dermatologist before using red light at home. Red light therapy isn’t right for everyone. A dermatologist can talk with you about your health and examine the area you want to treat. This will let you know if an at-home red-light device may:
- Deliver the results you seek. Red-light devices are expensive. With costs often ranging between $100 to more than $1,000, this will help you know before you buy.
- Worsen an existing skin condition. A skin condition that makes you sensitive to light, such as lupus, can worsen when exposed to red light.
- Interact with medication you take or treatment you’re receiving. For example, if you’re taking medication that increases your skin’s sensitivity to light, red light may not be a recommended treatment.
Select a red-light device created for what you want to treat. For example, if you wish to treat hair loss, look for a red-light device that says it treats hair loss. However, if you want to treat wrinkles, you’d look for one that treats this concern.
Choose a red-light device that has been FDA cleared. If a device is FDA cleared,you’ll see this stated on the packaging, within the information about the device, or both. Instead of seeing FDA cleared, you may see “FDA 510k cleared.” Both mean that the device is generally considered safe.
Follow the directions that come with the FDA-cleared device. Always use the device as described.
Wear eye protection if the directions tell you to, using the eye protection that’s recommended. For example, if the directions tell you to wear protective goggles, wear them every time. Don’t substitute sunglasses for protective goggles.
Trying a new skin or hair care treatment can be exciting, but it’s helpful to have realistic expectations. By seeing a board-certified dermatologist before you try an at-home red-light device, you can find out whether this therapy is right for you. No one knows your skin (and hair) better than a dermatologist.
Images
Getty Images
References
Austin E, Geisler AN, et al. “Visible light. Part I: Properties and cutaneous effects of visible light.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021 May;84(5):1219-31.
Avci P, Gupta A, et al. “Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: Stimulating, healing, restoring.” Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2013 Mar;32(1):41-52.
Couturaud V, Le Fur M, et al. “Reverse skin aging signs by red light photobiomodulation.” Skin Res Technol. 2023 Jul;29(7):e13391.
Hernández-Bule ML, Naharro-Rodríguez J, et al. “Unlocking the power of light on the skin: A comprehensive review on photobiomodulation.” Int J MolSci. 2024 Apr 19;25(8):4483.
Jagdeo J, Nguyen JK, et al. “Safety of light emitting diode-red light on human skin: Two randomized controlled trials.” J Biophotonics. 2020 Mar;13(3):e201960014.
Maghfour J, Ozog DM, et al. “Photobiomodulation CME Part I: Overview and mechanism of action.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024 Feb 1:S0190-9622(24)00186-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2023.10.073. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38309304.
Mineroff J, Maghfour J, et al. “Photobiomodulation CME part II: Clinical applications in dermatology.” J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024 Feb 1:S0190-9622(24)00187-7.
Narla S, Kohli I, et al. “Visible light in photodermatology.” Photochem Photobiol Sci. 2020 Jan 22;19(1):99-104.
Petronelli M. “Red light treatment proves safe, effective for androgenetic alopecia.” Dermatol Times. 2020 Apr 6.
Pillai JK, Mysore V. “Role of low-level light therapy (LLLT) in androgenetic alopecia.” J Cutan Aesthet Surg. 2021 Oct-Dec;14(4):385-91.
Pixley JN, Chandy RJ, et al. “Could red and near-infrared emitting fabric technology improve the severity of psoriasis, polymorphous light eruption, and alopecia areata? J Dermatolog Treat. 2023 Dec;34(1):2251619.
Sinclair R, Murrell D, et al. “Clinical safety and efficacy of an at-home, dual wavelength red light hair growth system in subjects with androgenetic alopecia.” Published Jan 21, 2020, Last accessed July 17, 2024.
Wang JY, Austin E, et al. “Visible red light does not induce DNA damage in human dermal fibroblasts.” J Biophotonics. 2022 Nov;15(11):e202200023.
Written by:
Paula Ludmann, MS
Reviewed by:
DiAnne Davis, MD, FAAD
Neelam Khan, MD, MS, FAAD
Roopal V. Kundu, MD, FAAD
William Warren Kwan, MD, FAAD
Ata Moshiri, MD, MPH, FAAD
Sanna Ronkainen, MD, FAAD
Last updated: 9/13/24