The Actual Benefits of Red Light Therapy, According to Doctors
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YOU MAY HAVE seen people on social media wearing masks or knee wraps that are glowing with bright red light. While they may look like they’ve just stepped out of a sci-fi film, they’re actually using red light therapy devices.
Red light therapy is a type of phototherapy that uses low levels of red light to trigger blood flow and energize cells, which can have healing properties, explains Billy Huh, M.D., Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Pain Medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.
This type of light therapy can be done in a doctor’s office or medspa, and there are several red light devices that you can purchase for pain or skincare to use at home.
While it’s an emerging therapy, experts say it’s a promising treatment with several applications. But more research is needed to understand the details and know where it might be most effective. Here’s how red light therapy works and what health concerns it can potentially treat.
What is red light therapy—and why is it healing?
Also known as photobiomodulation, red light therapy uses continuous beams of low-energy red light between 600 and 700 nanometers in wavelength, Dr. Huh says. The light doesn’t generate heat.
“What it does is basically energize your cells,” he explains.
Red light stimulates the cell’s mitochondria, which is its energy source, and this improves the cell’s functioning, which can reduce inflammation, improve circulation, promote healing, repair muscles and tissues, and relieve pain, Dr. Huh adds.
The use of red light therapy goes back to the early 1900s when a Danish physician discovered that the light could accelerate the healing of sores. For decades, NASA has been experimenting with red light therapy to help heal wounds in astronauts and to help plants grow in space.
The Benefits of Red Light Therapy
Research on red light therapy is ongoing, but some studies have shown that the treatment can be used in several different realms. Here’s an overview:
Skin Conditions
Red light has become popular for treating skin issues like wrinkles, age spots, and sagging, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. It can also help with conditions like acne, rosacea, and psoriasis, adds Amit Om, M.D., a dermatologist at Dermatology, Laser and Vein Specialists of the Carolinas in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Skin cells absorb the light wavelengths, which can boost cell growth and repair and rejuvenate the skin. It may help increase collagen to give the skin more elasticity and strength, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation, Dr. Om says.
“It's a relatively new area in dermatology, so people are still trying to figure out the best ways of turning it into the most beneficial treatment for the patient,” he explains.
A 2019 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that low-level red and infrared light may stimulate the production of biomarkers that offer anti-aging skin benefits. The research also said daily at-home treatments could reduce the signs of aging and skin damage.
Other research has shown red light therapy could minimize the appearance of wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, and broken blood vessels—and improve skin hydration and elasticity. Another study found that red and blue light therapy could help mild to moderate acne, with red light minimizing inflammation.
While it’s effective, Dr. Om says red light therapy should be considered “complementary” to other treatments for skin conditions or anti-aging, such as chemical peels, microneedling, or retinol or retinoid products.
Pain Management
Treating pain is another area where red light therapy shows promise, says Mohab Ibrahim, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of the University of Arizona Health Sciences Comprehensive Center for Pain and Addiction.
Since the light doesn’t penetrate deep into the skin, he says it’s most effective for pain related to muscle, tendons, and ligaments, which are close to the surface of the skin. That might include muscle strain, inflammation, or soreness from overworking or exhausting the muscles.
A 2022 study showed that red or near-infrared could improve pain intensity and sensitivity of myofascial trigger pain points (or tender, painful knots in muscles) in chronic non-specific low back pain. Another study suggests that low-intensity photobiomodulation therapy could offer a “non-invasive, safe, drug-free, and side-effect-free method for pain relief” for musculoskeletal conditions and fibromyalgia.
Red light therapy relieves pain by stimulating cell production, which reduces inflammation and improves circulation, Dr. Huh says. It can also release endorphins and other neurotransmitters, which act as painkillers, and help regenerate cells, boosting collagen and repairing damaged tissue.
However, if you have severe pain, such as from a muscle tear or injury, Dr. Ibrahim says you should see a doctor to find out what’s causing the pain before using red light therapy. Once you get a diagnosis, phototherapy may be recommended,
Wound Healing
Red light therapy’s ability to increase blood flow could help with wound healing, Dr. Huh says. Increasing circulation delivers nutrients and oxygen to the area, which allows it to repair faster and reduce the pain.
There's some research to back that up, although one study is in animals: This 2024 study found that red light could speed up wound healing and minimize scarring. Other research shows red and near-infrared light were associated with wound repair and skin rejuvenation.
Hair Loss
Red light therapy is also used to treat hair loss, Dr. Om says. Research suggests that repeated red light treatments could regrow hair for hereditary or hormonal hair loss, also known as male pattern baldness. Another study showed that red light therapy generated hair regrowth, with the hair growing thicker and longer.
Is it as good as the hair-loss medication minoxidil for men with hereditary hair loss? A small 2024 study suggested it may be. And it also found that the subjects had the best results from a combination of light therapy and minoxidil.
How often should you do red light therapy?
For skincare, Dr. Om suggests using a red-light device for about 10 minutes three to five times a week. It can take time to see results.
“What I tell my patients is give it at least a month, if not three months,” he says. “I tell them to take a baseline photo and then do the same thing in four weeks to see the improvement.”
It also may take a month or more to see a difference in your pain levels with red light therapy, Dr. Huh says. He suggests doing it for about 10 minutes at a time, and it’s safe to use a couple of times a day.
Are there any downsides?
Red light therapy is generally safe for most people, Dr. Ibrahim says.
When you’re using it for pain, he suggests seeing your doctor to get a diagnosis first, especially if you have chronic or severe pain. “Pain is sometimes an important warning sign that should not be ignored or masked,” Dr. Ibrahim adds.
Also, follow the directions that come with your red-light device. Burns and blisters have been reported by people who’ve used the devices for too long on the same spot.
What to look for in a red light device?
If you’re purchasing a red-light mask, wrap, or other device, look for ones that have been “cleared” by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Om says. And they should be labeled as such.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions for how and how long to use the device, and only use it for the time recommended.
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