Do Red Light Therapy Devices Work? We Tried Top Options for 6 Weeks to Find Out (2024)

It’s incredible how much red light therapy can improve your skin. From acne to psoriasis, fine lines and wrinkles, and more, red light therapy can promote healing within your body.

There are many red light therapy products on the market—some are more effective than others. It’s important to note that although at-home red light therapy masks can be effective, regular in-office LED light therapy might be more effective in treating various skin conditions, as these treatments usually use stronger LED lights.At the end of the day, results from red light therapy may vary, and it may take some time to notice significant improvements. Dermatologists we spoke to said you need to be patient and give the treatment time to work.

When searching for a red light therapy device, you want to look for a device with 600 to 900 nanometers of light. You also want to choose a device that is easy to use or easy to wear, too.Our editors spent six weeks testing the best red light therapy masks and evaluating them on effectiveness, design, ease of use, and comfort. A dermatologist from our Medical Expert Board reviewed the content in this article for medical and scientific accuracy.

In order to choose the best red light therapy devices on the market, we tested multiple devices on different skin types and skin tones. We tested the devices per their instructions for six weeks, and looked for improvement in areas including acne, hyperpigmentation, redness, overall tone, and wrinkle-reduction. We also tested each device to see how easy it was to use and how it held up while in use.

To find out what to look for in red light therapy devices, we interviewed three dermatologists and one esthetician for their best tips. These experts include:

• Julie Russak, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Russak Aesthetic Center in New York City
• Joanna Vargas, a celebrity esthetician based in New York City
• Erum Ilyas, MD, a board-certified dermatologist a Schweiger Dermatology Group in King of Prussia, PA
• Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology in New York City

What Is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy (RLT), also known as Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation, is a therapeutic treatment that uses specific wavelengths of red light (640 nm) very often in combination with near IR (830 nm) LED lights to stimulate various biological processes in cells and tissues. “RLT uses low-level wavelengths of red light to treat various skin conditions, such as wrinkles, scars, redness, acne, and other signs of aging,” says Julie Russak, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Russak Aesthetic Center in New York City. “Studies suggest that low-level red and near IR light combinations stimulate the production of collagen and elastin in fibroblasts and increase ATP production in mitochondria, which therefore improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles through tissue regeneration.”

The interest in red light therapy evolved from NASA's experiments with red light to promote plant growth in space and help heal wounds in astronauts. This led to further investigations into potential medical uses, and it is now widely accepted for certain applications, such as photodynamic therapy, where it is used to treat skin conditions like skin cancer and psoriasis, according to Dr. Russak.

Red light therapy is generally considered safe when used as directed for short-term treatments. “It is non-toxic and non-invasive, but misuse or overuse may lead to skin or eye damage,” explains Dr. Russak.

According to Dr. Russak, there are many things you want to consider when using red light therapy devices.Once you've chosen the right device for your specific needs and preferences, the most important thing to keep in mind as you use a device is to protect your eyes. If using a full-face panel or mask device, consider using proper eye protection to avoid eye strain.

How to Pick the Right Red Light Therapy Devices

Not all red-light devices are created equal. No matter what kind of red-light therapy device (a mask, a wand, etc) you use, you want to pay attention to these three things:

• Irradiance: This is the amount of energy that the light delivers to your body. “The higher the irradiance, the more effective the therapy will be,” explains Dr. Russak. “However, too much irradiance can be harmful, so it's important to choose a device that has a safe irradiance level.”
• Frequency: This is the wavelength of the light. Red light therapy devices typically use wavelengths between 600 and 900 nanometers, says Dr. Russak. For red light therapy, you need either 660 or 850 nanometers for wavelength. “660 is more common for the skin, whereas 850 is used more for sports recovery,” explains Vargas. “I would also look to see how many red lights were actually in the device—the better the saturation, the better the result.”
• Treatment coverage area: Some red-light devices are designed to treat a small area of the body, while others can treat a larger area. “If you're treating a specific area, such as your face or joints, you'll need a device with a small treatment coverage area,” says Dr. Russak. “If you're looking to treat your whole body, you'll need a device with a larger treatment coverage area.”

There is evidence that red light therapy can have positive effects on multiple skin concerns, including pro-aging benefits to wound healing and inflammatory conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Red light therapy can treat acne-prone skin, promote wound healing, treat rosacea, psoriasis, alopecia areata, and fine lines and wrinkles, too.

When You Can Expect to See Results

You can treat virtually any part of your body/face with red light therapy, whether it be via a facial, full body treatment, or at home using handheld devices. “At my spa, we offer face and body LED light treatments,” explains Joanna Vargas, a celebrity esthetician based in New York City. “Results of an LED light bed are dependent on the physical condition of the person, age, diet, and lifestyle.”

Some people start to see visible results after only a few sessions, however, normally people need a minimum of 12 in-person treatments—the results are cumulative. “LED light is a proven technology, as it reduces inflammation, speeds the healing of the body by 300%, increases collagen production, and corrects damage to the surface of the skin,” explains Vargas. “If you are willing to invest the time, the results are truly incredible.”

• Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite™ FaceWare Pro: This device is a pricier LED light therapy mask on the market. We loved that it’s hands-free, created by a dermatologist, and automatically shuts off after three minutes. Unfortunately, during our testing, we didn’t see a huge difference in our skin after using this device.
• Skin Gym Wrinklit LED Mask:We liked that this product was easy to use and sat comfortably on the face, but we didn’t notice any difference in fine lines and wrinkles, and we also got a defective device that wouldn’t work without being plugged in.

Your Questions, Answered

Is it safe to use red light therapy devices?

According to Vargas, people often mistake light for laser, or think that it will cause sun sensitivity, but it won't. “It's totally safe and non-invasive,” she explains. “Also, I think people have some idea that it is just a ‘beauty treatment’—it is a proven technology and a real therapy. It is a technology that has been studied and its results are proven.”

Which red light therapy devices are FDA-approved?

“If you choose to use an at-home red light therapy device, I recommend looking for devices that are FDA-cleared,” explains Erum Ilyas, MD, a board-certified dermatologist a Schweiger Dermatology Group in King of Prussia, PA. “LED red light devices that are intended to produce safe light, generally go through the FDA clearance process as likely class II devices.”

If this is not noted on the product you are considering, it is difficult to say if it has been subject to independent verification of its safety. In terms of effectiveness, this is not always as clear. “Most devices I have come across appear to be FDA-cleared and not necessarily FDA-approved,” says Dr. Ilyas. “The clearance process is not as high a standard as the approval process.”

What is the difference between LED light therapy and red light therapy?

According to Dr. Ilyas, not all red light is the same, depending on the source of the red light. “LED light therapy is thought to be more effective in delivering energy to the skin with less heat compared to other sources,” she says.

Daley Quinn is a writer for Health.com specializing in skincare and wellness topics.