We sat down with skincare experts and dug into recent studies to learn more about red light therapy — what it is, how it works, and if it's really worth the hype.
Even though red light therapy has been around for a while, it has recently gained momentum and become more prevalent in salons, clinics, and homes. Many swear by it for everything from workout recovery to acne treatment and anti-aging benefits. But is it really worth the hype it’s been receiving? We were excited to speak to Susan Griffin and Melissa Rhodes — who both use red light therapy in their respective Nashville clinics — to find out!
PinFrom at-home basks to full-body therapy beds, red light is definitely having a moment in the sun. But is it worth it?
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How does red light therapy work?
When red light hits our cells, it helps them create more energy, communicate better, build essential proteins, and gain protection against damage. This is known as photobiomodulation (PBM) or low-level laser therapy (LLLT). The difference between red light and light at other wavelengths (say UV rays) is that red light and near-infrared light reach deeper into the skin — beyond the top layers — to about eight to 10mm deep. There, we can find minuscule organs called mitochondria, which use oxygen and nutrients from food to produce ATP, or adenosine triphosphate. ATP is the energy currency of our cells; it stores and transfers energy. So, when red light gets in, the cells are thought to soak it up and turn it into energy for the cell. With more production of ATP, the cells can regenerate and do their work more efficiently.
“Red light therapy has been used selectively in wound healing for centuries. It became a widely known and acceptable modality by NASA for aiding wound healing and tissue repair. At that point, the skincare community took notice and began incorporating it into skincare and antiaging treatments,” explains Susan Griffin, who founded The Skin Lounge at Nashville Cosmetic Surgery with her husband, Dr. Don Griffin. “We decided to offer it to our skincare patients in 2015 to help with inflammation and redness and hasten recovery from more invasive procedures.”
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Reported benefits
A quick search on red light therapy reveals an overwhelming number of claimed benefits. These include skin rejuvenation, collagen production, wound healing, treatment of acne, body contouring (improving and reshaping the skin, for example, following weight loss or removing fat pockets that can’t be removed through diet and exercise), and treatment of hair loss. It doesn’t stop there; red light therapy has been cited to improve mood, sleep, sight, and blood circulation. Ongoing research shows its use in cancer and psoriasis and its potential application in asthma and muscle tissue repair. Some benefits remain unproven due to the small sample sizes in research and lack of blind studies, and RLT is not yet considered a mainstream medical practice. The fact that its exact mechanism remains obscure sometimes holds the science community back from a therapy that seems too good to be true. However, scientists are eager to learn more about this non-invasive therapy that could revolutionize the medical and cosmetic worlds. PinThere are an astounding number of proposed benefits to red light therapy, including collagen production and treatment of hair loss.
But while scientists continue to do their due diligence, anecdotal evidence of red light therapy’s benefits is piling up. For example, StyleBlueprint’s Manager Editor, Alissa Harb, is a huge fan.
“I have an at-home RLT face mask and also a membership at a local spa that does full-body RLT. I can say that I notice a huge difference in some of my own health conditions — and definitely the appearance of my skin — when I am doing regular treatments, versus when I am not,” says Alissa. “I have an inner ear condition and a hip injury, both of which are worsened by general inflammation in the body. I find a combination of regular RLT and sauna to be really helpful in keeping that inflammation at bay.”
Science-backed benefits
A study focusing on the efficacy of red light photobiomodulation (RLP) as a treatment for reversing the signs of skin aging concluded that RLP significantly contributes to skin rejuvenation by enhancing its texture, reducing wrinkles, and improving overall skin condition. The findings bolster the notion that RLP can be a non-invasive, effective solution for individuals looking to mitigate the aesthetic effects of aging on the skin, providing a scientific foundation for its application in dermatological practices. The study conducted in 2023 measured results after one, two, and three months and concluded that the effect of red light therapy was progressive. Another study the same year aimed to evaluate red LED protocols and found a 30% reduction in eye wrinkle volume (crow’s feet) following ten sessions of red light therapy over four weeks. The study recruited 137 women between the ages of 40 and 65“We like to have a variety of options for our patients, young and more mature, that range in price and downtime so we can address everyone’s unique needs or concerns,” says Melissa Rhodes, founder, NP, and Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist at Ona Skincare Nashville.PinRed Light Therapy, when conducted for two sessions a week over six weeks, reduces inflammation. Image: Ona Skincare
Other applications in dermatology cover conditions secondary to cancer therapies (inflammation, similar to burning), wounds, and scars. Acne is a common condition with treatments that do not always work and tend to have nasty side effects. Studies have shown a significant improvement in acne lesions and decreased skin sebum (oil) production. The results are thought to be related to the inactivation of bacteria that directly cause acne.Research on using red light therapy for various neurological and psychological conditions also looks good. Brain PBM therapy stimulates anti-inflammatory reactions, prevents cell death, and exerts anti-oxidant responses. Its role in disorders such as dementia or Parkinson’s disease, as well as the treatment of stroke, brain trauma, and depression, has gained interest.
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How to choose your at-home red light therapy device
We asked Susan what one would look for when deciding on a red light therapy device to use at home. She explained that the factors to consider in order to manage safety and satisfy expectations for anti-aging and skin health are:
Wavelength — light in the spectral range of 600 to 1300
FDA approval/clearance
Output, efficiency, and proximity to the skin
Affordability
Ease of use
PinIt’s important to consider your expectations before choosing the appropriate in-home red light (or blue light!) therapy device.Susan also explained the difference between using red light and blue light therapies. Red light is for anti-aging and wound healing; blue light reduces the activity of the sebaceous glands and can kill bacteria that cause acne. Some at-home devices can provide both choices. She added that there are few contraindications to red light therapy, making it safe for most. However, those with a history of malignant skin cancer, anyone taking photosensitive medications, anyone with an open wound, and those living with lupus and epilepsy might need to avoid these treatments. Precautions should be taken to prevent exposing the abdomen to red light therapy during pregnancy.“We use the LED a lot for inflammation. It really calms the skin down if it is red and inflamed; it also helps with the inflammation from acne and any redness. It’s a relaxing 20-minute treatment with no pain. Patients love it,” says Melissa.Laser and light-based therapies present an opportunity to achieve results with non-invasive therapies while maintaining a relatively low side-effect profile. This promises a chance to treat certain common conditions with more success and higher compliance. The future of these therapies is looking pretty bright! Based on our research — and our team’s own experiences — we conclude that red light therapy is, in fact, worth the hype.
Miriam Calleja is a Pushcart-nominated poet, writer, workshop leader, artist, and translator. Her work appears in numerous publications including Odyssey, Taos Journal, Modern Poetry in Translation, and more. A retired pharmacist, Miriam is passionate about health and wellness topics. When she's not writing, you can find her cooking, reading, crafting, and traveling.
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