Everything You Need to Know About At Home Red Light Therapy

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“It looks cool—and I’ve seen it all over social media—but does red light therapy actually work?” you are probably asking yourself if you clicked this link. And the answer is yes, LED-light therapy does work—with a caveat. But before we get into the red light specifics that claim to cure all (and kind of can), let’s talk about what it is and why it can work on skin.

Our Top PicksBest Red Light Therapy Mask: CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask, $380Best for Acne: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro, $455Best Spot Treatment: Solawave Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand, $169Best Handheld: LightStim LightStim for Wrinkles, $249Best for a Glow: HigherDose Red Light Therapeutic Face Mask, $349Best Vibrating: Therabody TheraFace Mask, $599What Is It?The Benefits of Red Light TherapyHow Often Should You Use Red Light Therapy?How Quickly Will You See Results from Red Light Therapy?Is Red Light Therapy Safe?How to Find the Best Red Light Therapy Device for YouMeet the Experts“Whilst clinic LED treatments are both effective and popular, at-home devices are a much more cost-effective and convenient way of using LED,” says Newman. “You can use it more consistently at home, resulting in better long-term effects on the skin.” That said, red light is an additional complexion aid—not an excuse to skip out on skincare. “Optimal at-home results will be achieved while combining light therapy treatments with a well-designed skincare routine,” says Murphy-Rose.

Best Red Light Therapy Mask: CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask

Currentbody

LED Light Therapy Mask

Why We Love It: Clinically proven to diminish the appearance of wrinkles in a mere four weeks, this device ranks high on dermatologist Dr. Nicole Ruth’s list. “I find CurrentBody’s face mask sits nicely on the curvatures of your face, allowing even coverage on the skin surface without any gaps,” she says.Device Type: Face maskBest For: The mask has noticeable anti-aging effects, including improved skin texture and firmness.Target Area: FaceTreatment Time: 10 minutesFDA-Approved: YesBest for Acne: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro

Dr. Dennis Gross

DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro

Why We Love It: Offering a combination of red and blue-light therapy, this dermatoloist-developed mask stimulates collagen production and clears up breakouts. “I specifically designed this device to be easily incorporated into your everyday routine with one three-minute daily treatment,” Dr. Dennis Gross tells Vogue.Device Type: Face maskBest For: Beneficial for aging or acne-prone skin, the device smooths fine lines and wrinkles, minimizes the appearance of sun and age spots, and tames redness and inflammation.Target Area: FaceTreatment Time: Three minutesFDA-Approved: YesBest Spot Treatment: Solawave Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand

Solawave

Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand

Why We Love It: A Vogue editor favorite, Solawave’s four-in-one device handily smooths fine lines and wrinkles, brightens dark circles, and boosts serum absorption in just a few minutes with consistent use. All the while, it delivers a depuffing face massage, which boosts circulation.Device Type: HandheldBest For: Suited for all skin types, the wand targets fine lines and wrinkles, crow’s feet, dark circles, and blemishes.Target Area: Face, neckTreatment Time: Three minutes per regionFDA-Approved: NoBest for a Glow: Higherdose Red Light Therapeutic Face Mask

Higherdose

Red Light Face Mask

Why We Love It: Higherdose’s mask, which emits glow-boosting lights, makes it easy to wellness stack: You can wear it while you go about your everyday activities, like folding laundry or washing dishes.Device Type: Face maskBest For: Anti-aging technology reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on mature skin; the device also calms redness.Target Area: FaceTreatment Time: 10 minutesFDA-Approved: NoBest Vibrating: Therabody TheraFace Mask

Why We Love It: Equipped with vibration therapy, the Therabody LED mask soothes tension in the face—and it provides more reasons to exhale. With red and blue light settings, it also firms, smooths, and boosts radiance in the skin.Device Type: Face maskBest For: The device firms and contours the complexion, making a noticeable difference in sagging and loose skin; it can also make dark spots less noticeable.Target Area: FaceTreatment Time: Three minutesFDA-Approved: YesBest Red Light Therapy Panel: Celluma HomeCelluma

Home-2Mode LED Therapy

Why We Love It: Easy to stow in bags or luggage, the LED device offers full-body benefits thanks to the large light panels. On the face, it uses red and near-infrared wavelengths to smooth fine lines and wrinkles; on the body, it can also help with wound healing and relieve pain in muscles and joints.Device Type: When used on the face, the corded panel is positioned onto two face rests. It can also be placed directly onto the shoulders, the lower back, or any other area calling for pain relief.Best For: Wound healing, anti-aging, and pain relief.Target Area: Whole bodyTreatment Time: 30 minutesFDA-Approved: YesBest for Neck: Currentbody Skin LED Neck and Dec PerfectorCurrentbody

LED Neck and Dec Perfector

Why We Love It: Currentbody’s lightweight device wraps comfortably around the neck and the decolletage, where its red and near-infrared lights stimulate collagen production and give the skin a smoother, more youthful appearance. “So many of my patients are focused on their face, but I always remind them we can’t ignore our neck and chest,” Ruth says. “CurrentBody’s neck and chest mask is lightweight and comfortable. You can use the mask while sitting in bed reading or catching up on emails.”Device Type: Neck and decolletage maskBest For: The anti-aging device has been clinically proven to reduce the appearance of wrinkles in just four weeks.Target Area: Neck, chestTreatment Time: 10 minutesFDA-Approved: YesBest Customizable: Qure Q-Rejuvalight Pro LED Light Therapy MaskQure

Q-Rejuvalight Pro LED Light Therapy Mask

Why We Love It: Dermatologist-tested, this mask has five treatments that target different skin concerns, including redness and fine lines, including around the eyes.Device Type: Face maskBest For: The wrinkle-smoothing technology makes aging skin appear fuller and more firm.Target Area: FaceTreatment Time: Three minutesFDA-Approved: YesBest Handheld: LightStim for Wrinkles

LightStim

LightStim for Wrinkles

Why We Love It: Embedded with 72 LED lights that emit wavelengths of light red, dark red, infrared, and amber, this handheld device treats wrinkles everywhere on the face—including the forehead, crow’s feet, and lips.Device Type: HandheldBest For: The wrinkle-taming device was designed for maturing skin.Target Area: Face, body, neck, hands, etcTreatment Time: 90 secondsFDA-Approved: YesBest for Redness: MZ Skin Light-Therapy Golden Facial Treatment DeviceMZ Skin

Light-Therapy Golden Facial Treatment Device

Why We Love It: ​​With five colors of LED light—including red for collagen production, blue to clear up blemishes, and yellow to tame redness—this doctor-developed mask offers targeted treatments for a host of issues.Device Type: Face maskBest For: Both sensitive and acne-prone skin will benefit from regular use of the mask, which is meant to promote a clearer, more balanced complexion.Target Area: FaceTreatment Time: 10 to 30 minutesFDA-Approved: YesWhat Is Red Light Therapy?

“Red light therapy is a treatment that exposes skin to low levels of red or near-infrared light (most devices utilize 630 to 700 nm wavelength of light),” says board-certified dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose, MD. “Red light has been shown to reduce inflammation in the skin and to stimulate fibroblasts to produce collagen, which can reduce and prevent wrinkles and can improve skin texture.”

“Unlike UV light which is associated with skin cancer and premature and accelerated aging, LED light is the visible spectrum of light which can have benefits in the skin,” says New York-based dermatologist Whitney Bowe, MD. “The longer the wavelength (i.e. red light), the deeper the penetration into the skin. Red LED lights induce changes in the skin through a process known as photo-biomodulation, which doesn’t require injury or trauma.”

The healing benefits of the treatment were first noted in the late 1980s, the hypothesis furthered, somewhat accidentally, by NASA. (NASA scientists who worked under the red and blue LEDs used to mimic photosynthesis for potato growth noted that wound healing, namely that of cuts and scrapes on their hands, seemed to be occurring more quickly.)

Now, red light therapy is a commonplace treatment in medi spas and living rooms alike. “LED (“light emitting diode”) therapy is used in-office with other complementary treatments like microneedling, chemical peels, or laser treatments,” says Bowe. “It’s a noninvasive treatment that shouldn’t involve any heat.”

What Are the Benefits of Red Light Therapy?

As noted by Murphy-Rose, regular use of red light therapy reduces inflammation and ramp up both collagen production and collagen density, leading to improved skin texture and reduced wrinkles over time. The treatment has also been used to treat pattern hair loss and alopecia and to reduce body fat.

“Red light therapy is thought to promote collagen synthesis in the dermal layer of the skin and help to dial down inflammation in the skin,” says Bowe. “The light interacts with the skin to stimulate regeneration, healing, and repair of skin cells and supports our healthy collagen production and skin elasticity.” These benefits can be applied to scarring, fine lines, and acne, too, though the latter is commonly treated with blue light.

“In clinic, benefits range across skin rejuvenation (collagen production, fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation) right through to healing (using near-infrared light),” says Laurence Newman, Founder and CEO of CurrentBody. The dialing down of inflammation has more benefits than simply reducing redness: When used on certain areas of the body, phototherapy (aka light therapy) may help to reduce pain and soreness and even heal deeper tissues.

How Often Should You Use Red Light Therapy?

Frequency and duration of red light exposure are dependent on the “what” and “where” of your red light therapy device. “In-office red light devices are significantly more powerful than the devices you can get at home, and the at-home devices that are FDA-cleared are safer and more effective than the ones that are not FDA-cleared,” says Bowe. “When we are referring to at-home devices, I recommend patients stick with regular use (daily or 3-4x/week) for at least 6 weeks to give the device a chance to work.” Bowe goes on to note that skin-firming results can require up to three months of a regular red light routine.

How Quickly Will You See Results from Red Light Therapy?

While benefits like improved signs of photoaging and collagen boosting may take a few months, red light can calm inflammation in a single 10-minute session—the dermatologist-recommended span of exposure.

Are There Any Risks With Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy is generally considered a safe and effective method for all skin types, but there are a few common sense caveats. Step one: close your eyes.

“If you’re keeping your eyes open, the light can cause damage,” says Bowe. Next, your red light device, nor your skin, should never be hot, or even warm. “If the wavelengths of light are creating heat, that can trigger pigment producing cells in your skin to pump out more melanin, so you want to be especially cautious that it isn’t emitting heat if you are prone to hyperpigmentation.”

Murphy-Rose adds that it’s best to chat with your medical provider prior to using red light if you have any conditions that make you more photosensitive or take medications that increase your photosensitivity. And before you buy that pricey device, make sure it’s been properly vetted. “I would always recommend doing your research before investing in an LED device,” says Newman. “Not all LEDs are made the same, it’s very important to check that your device operates at the correct wavelengths to offer the results you are looking for and has been tested for safety.”

Still, the non-invasive treatment is largely side effect-free. Whether you opt to treat skin conditions in-spa or try light treatment at home, the positive effects of red light therapy are worth your time and dollar direction.

How to Find the Best Red Light Therapy Device for You

Interested in giving red light therapy a try? When choosing the best device for you, Ruth says “you should consider factors such as wavelength, power output, and treatment-area coverage of the device.”

“Opt for a device with wavelengths between 630 and 850 nanometers, as these wavelengths have shown optimal penetration for skin rejuvenation,” she says. And of course, a stamp of approval from the Food and Drug Administration never hurts. “I instruct patients to look for FDA-cleared devices to ensure safety and efficacy,” Ruth notes.

Meet the Experts

Dr. Dennis Gross, founder of Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare, is a board-certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon based in New York.Dr. Nicole Ruth, DO, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York.Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist seeing patients in New York and the Hamptons; she’s also the founder of Skincare Junkie.Dr. Whitney Bowe, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and scientist based in New York and the founder of Dr. Whitney Bowe Beauty.Laurence Newman is the founder and CEO of CurrentBody.