08/12/2025
What is red light therapy?
Photobiomodulation uses near-infrared light emitted by LED lights or low-energy lasers. The red light energy produces a series of biological responses at a cellular level.
How can red light therapy benefit your health?
Photobiomodulation is not a one-time treatment — you’ll need to use it consistently to see the best results. Researchers are still trying to determine how long and how often to use red light therapy for optimal results. They also don’t know the long-term effects.
Experts know that in the short term, photobiomodulation seems to have significant health benefits with few adverse effects.
Red light therapy may help to:
1. Reduce signs of aging
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared several red light devices for home use in treating aging skin.
Red light therapy can treat:
Dark spots
Discoloration
Fine lines and wrinkles
Loose skin
Researchers measured the effectiveness of a red light therapy mask after three months of use. They found an improvement in skin quality, including reversed visible signs of aging.
2. Encourage hair regrowth
Near-infrared light may stimulate hair follicles to encourage hair growth and reduce hair loss.
3. Minimize acne
Light therapy is not a new treatment for acne. But red light therapy works differently than photodynamic therapy (PDT), which uses blue light to activate the destruction of acne-causing bacteria and oil-producing glands. Red light therapy stimulates biological responses, promotes healing and reduces inflammation without causing cell destruction.
A small study of people with mild to severe acne found that a series of six treatments performed every two weeks resulted in:
Significant decrease in the secretion of skin oil
Significant improvements in acne lesions
No adverse effects
For better results, consider using a combination of PDT and red light therapy. A large study found that people who used both red and blue light were more likely to completely resolve their acne.
4. Improve cognitive function
Headsets and helmets can transmit near-infrared light through the skull and nostrils, exposing the brain to red light therapy. Ongoing research shows the effects on cognition in people with dementia. Early research conducted on patients with dementia shows significant improvements in cognitive function after treatment with intranasal and transcranial red light therapy.
More recently, a 2021 study exposed participants to red light therapy for six minutes daily for eight weeks. At the end of the treatment, researchers also saw positive cognitive improvements — and no significant adverse effects — in people with mild to moderate dementia.
5. Ease chronic pain
Red light therapy may be effective in reducing pain and inflammation. A review of literature analyzed how well photobiomodulation works to reduce chronic and acute pain.
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