Benefits of Red & Near-Infrared LED Light Therapy

LED lights have been available since the 1960s, but have only been used in the past few years to treat the skin. Different wavelengths enter the skin at different depths, making this therapy useful to treat a variety of skin conditions, including:‌

Acne. Blue light is often used to treat acne. Studies show that blue light can kill the bacteria responsible for acne. It can also ease how much your oil glands make. This stops the hair follicle from becoming clogged and causing acne.

Red light is also typically used in combination with blue light to help ease inflammation and redness.‌

Aging. Red light stimulates skin cells called fibroblasts. These help make collagen, which are important parts of skin recovery. Some studies have found that red LED light therapy tightens skin, reduces wrinkles and fine lines, and makes skin smoother and softer. ‌

Photodynamic therapy with 5-aminolevulinic acid and LED light also ease fine lines and makes the skin softer.

Wound healing. Red LED light stimulates collagen, which is important for healing wounds. People who have had surgery for skin resurfacing have also had red LED light therapy after the procedure. Studies have found that this form of light therapy lowers redness, swelling, and bruising, and speeds up the healing process.

Hair loss. Red light therapy can help stimulate hair growth for those with male- or female-pattern hair loss. 

Psoriasis. Red and near-infrared LED light therapy can help lower redness and inflammation in psoriasis. One study showed that these light therapies also lowered psoriasis pimples and plaques, or red, itchy, scaly sores.‌

Skin cancers. Photodynamic therapy has been performed using both red and green LED lights to treat skin cancers. After the medication is applied to the skin, red and green lights have been used to treat Bowen’s disease and red light has been used to treat basal cell carcinoma lesions.

‌Studies have shown that the red LED light is typically better than the green one in treating Bowen’s disease and also at removing basal cell carcinoma lesions. 

Generally, LED light therapy is safe when it’s used alone without sensitizing medications or creams. LED lights don’t damage the skin or skin tissues.