Red Light Therapy for Skin: What the Research Actually Says

Woman in a white robe relaxing on a spa lounger during a red light LED face mask session, lit by soft candlelight

I'm Kaitlin, the founder of Velora Living and a mom of two. I got into skincare in my twenties and became an esthetician after working in a dermatology office, where I loved the world of Botox and lasers. These days most nights, my skincare happens in the half hour while the kids are winding down: headband on, face washed, toner, and my LED mask, usually with the Hallmark Channel playing in the background. It's not a spa. It's a busy, real-life house, and those few minutes are mine.

Because the LED mask is the part of my routine I love most, I wanted to know what the science actually says about red light and skin, beyond the ads and the before-and-after videos. So I went to the dermatologists and the published studies. Here is what I found, in plain language.

One honest note up front: I'm not a doctor, and this isn't medical or skincare advice. I'm sharing what credible sources report, including what's still uncertain, so you can have a better-informed conversation with your dermatologist.

What is red light therapy?

Red light therapy uses red or near-infrared light on the skin. Its medical name is photobiomodulation. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), a few dermatologists offer it in-office, and most at-home devices (masks, wands and panels) use light-emitting diodes, or LEDs. The AAD also notes that the red light dermatologists use is more powerful than what's found in devices sold for home use.

As for how it might work, Harvard Health explains that red light is believed to act on mitochondria, the tiny "powerhouses" in our cells. Cleveland Clinic describes the same idea and is clear that researchers are still working out the full picture.

What does the research say?

This is where it gets interesting, and where I think nuance matters most.

Some studies are encouraging

The AAD says some studies indicate red-light LED devices can produce "subtle to noticeable" changes on the face for concerns like fine lines, dark spots, rough-feeling skin and redness. It describes one study in which 90 patients received eight red-light treatments to the face over four weeks, and more than 90% said they noticed some improvement.

A 2014 randomized, controlled study in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery followed 136 volunteers. The 113 people in the treatment groups had twice-weekly sessions with large-area light sources (not face masks) and were compared with 23 controls. After 30 sessions, the researchers reported improvements in measured skin roughness, collagen density and blinded photo evaluations compared with the control group.

But the evidence has real limits

A 2018 systematic review in Lasers in Surgery and Medicine looked at 31 randomized controlled trials of LEDs in dermatology. The authors called LEDs an "emerging modality." They also flagged limitations in some of the studies: small sample sizes (fewer than 20 people), no blinding, no sham placebo, and treatment settings that varied from study to study.

Cleveland Clinic puts it plainly: most experts say they don't yet know whether red light therapy works for all its claimed uses, and more high-quality studies with larger groups of people are needed. The AAD agrees that more research is needed. Because researchers test different devices for different lengths of time, results from different studies can't simply be compared.

Consistency, not quick fixes

Both the AAD and Harvard Health stress that this isn't a one-and-done treatment. In the Harvard Health article, dermatologist Dr. Rachel Reynolds says devices need to be used multiple times a week for four to six months, and calls it "slow and steady," not "anyone's quick fix." She also notes that over-the-counter products may be weaker than professional ones, and that it's hard to know which home device is best. The AAD adds that not everyone sees results.

Is it safe?

Short-term, the AAD says red light appears to be safe, and unlike UV light, research hasn't found that it causes cancer. The most common side effects it lists are mild, like temporary mild pain or irritated skin. Both the AAD and Cleveland Clinic note that long-term effects aren't yet known.

One finding I think every one of us should know: in two randomized controlled trials published in the Journal of Biophotonics, researchers tested high-dose LED red light on healthy volunteers' forearms. They found that darker skin may be more sensitive to red light, and they set a lower maximum safe dose for skin of color. The AAD and Harvard Health both recommend that people with darker skin tones talk with a dermatologist before using an at-home device.

Dermatologists' tips if you're considering it at home

These come straight from the AAD's five precautions and Harvard Health:

  • Talk with a board-certified dermatologist first, especially if you have a light-sensitive condition such as lupus or take medication that makes you sensitive to light.
  • Choose a device made for your specific concern.
  • Check for "FDA-cleared." The AAD explains that FDA clearance means the device is considered low-risk. It doesn't tell you how effective it is, and "FDA approved" or "FDA certified" have no meaning for these devices.
  • Follow the directions that come with your device every time.
  • Protect your eyes if the directions say to, using the recommended eyewear (not sunglasses).

Where the LED mask fits in my real night routine

Here's my actual routine. These are my personal picks and habits, not recommendations, and nobody paid me to mention them:

  1. Headband on, wash my face while the kids are winding down.
  2. Paula's Choice BHA toner, twice. It's my personal favorite.
  3. LED mask. It goes on right after my toner, and I follow the device's directions every time.
  4. Tretinoin every other night. This is what works for me. Tretinoin is a prescription medication, and my use of it is something I've worked out with my dermatologist. Please don't start it, or change how often you use it, without talking to yours.
  5. My derma needle with a growth factor serum. I want to be careful here: this is just my personal habit, and I'm not recommending at-home microneedling. It carries real risks, including irritation and infection, and doesn't mix well with every skin type or with actives like tretinoin, so talk with a board-certified dermatologist before trying anything like it.
  6. My Dr. Melaxin set, another honest personal pick.
  7. Hallmark Channel, then my vitamins, and that's my night.

My two cents on mornings: I don't agree with double cleansing in the morning after sleeping in all of my nighttime products. I cleanse once, in the shower, with my battery-operated facial scrubber, then start my daytime skincare. And tinted SPF, always, even in the winter, is non-negotiable for me. That's my professional opinion as an esthetician, not medical advice, so follow your own dermatologist's guidance for your skin.

If you'd like a simpler, step-by-step version just for the mask, I wrote my calm evening LED mask routine in The Velora Edit.

The mask I use and sell is our Velora Lumière LED Face & Neck Mask, a soft, flexible, cordless face-and-neck mask with seven light colors and an automatic timer. I want to be really clear: it's sold as a relaxation and personal-care accessory, not a medical device, and we don't make any skin-results claims for it. The research above is about light therapy in general, not about our mask.

The cozy part is the bit I'd never skip. On cold nights I'd reach for a warm Oversized Wearable Blanket Hoodie and the soft glow of a Velora Glow Candle Warmer Lamp. They make those few still minutes feel like your own, even in a loud house.

The bottom line

Red light therapy has real, growing research behind it. Respected dermatology sources call some results encouraging, and they're just as clear that the evidence is still developing, home devices vary, consistency matters, and it isn't right for everyone. If it's on your wish list, start with a conversation with your dermatologist and keep your expectations gentle.

With warmth,
Kaitlin, founder of Velora Living

Sources

  1. American Academy of Dermatology. "Is red light therapy right for your skin?" Last updated Sept. 13, 2024. aad.org
  2. Salamon M., reviewed by Reynolds R., MD. "Red light therapy for skin care." Harvard Health Publishing, Oct. 21, 2025. health.harvard.edu
  3. Cleveland Clinic. "Red Light Therapy: Benefits, Side Effects & Uses." Medically reviewed Dec. 1, 2021. my.clevelandclinic.org
  4. Jagdeo J, Austin E, Mamalis A, Wong C, Ho D, Siegel DM. "Light-emitting diodes in dermatology: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials." Lasers Surg Med. 2018;50(6):613-628. PubMed 29356026
  5. Wunsch A, Matuschka K. "A controlled trial to determine the efficacy of red and near-infrared light treatment in patient satisfaction, reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, skin roughness, and intradermal collagen density increase." Photomed Laser Surg. 2014;32(2):93-100. PubMed 24286286
  6. Jagdeo J, Nguyen JK, Ho D, et al. "Safety of light emitting diode-red light on human skin: Two randomized controlled trials." J Biophotonics. 2020;13(3):e201960014. PubMed 31483941

This article is for general information only and is not medical or skincare advice. The products and habits I mention are my personal choices, not endorsements or recommendations. Tretinoin is a prescription medication; talk with a board-certified dermatologist or your healthcare provider before starting it, microneedling, or any light-based treatment. The Velora Lumière LED Face & Neck Mask is a relaxation and personal-care accessory, not a medical device, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition.