Red light therapy uses red or near infrared light without surgery or needles. It is also called photobiomodulation, because apparently one name was not enough for a light. Home devices come as masks, panels and wands. The proposed effect involves mitochondria, the parts of cells that produce energy, and processes involved in skin repair. The exact biological pathways are still being investigated.123

How do I choose the right schedule?

  1. 1Choose a device intended for your goal, such as treating wrinkles rather than hair loss.
  2. 2Read its directions for session length and frequency. Use those instructions rather than borrowing a schedule from another mask or panel.
  3. 3Use the recommended eye protection. If goggles are required, wear them every session; sunglasses are not a substitute.
  4. 4Repeat treatment on the instructed schedule rather than adding extra sessions.
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A clinic schedule is not automatically a home schedule. Professional devices are generally more powerful, and clinic treatment can involve one to three appointments a week for weeks or months. Home treatment time varies by device. There is no universal morning or evening rule or session length to apply across all red light devices; let your device's instructions set the routine.12

Is daily use better than a few times a week?

The best treatment frequency and safest amount of red light for home use are still unsettled. Daily use is not an established shortcut to better results. Red light appears safe in the short term when used as directed, but its long term safety is not yet known. Extra exposure outside the instructions adds a risk of misuse rather than a proven benefit.12

What results should I expect, and when?

Some people see subtle to noticeable improvements in fine lines, wrinkles, rough texture or discoloration, which is a smaller promise than the phrase "skin rejuvenation" likes to make. In one facial study, participants received eight treatments over four weeks. That is an example, not a timetable for every home device. Results take time, some people see no improvement, and maintaining results requires follow up treatments. Red light is generally used alongside standard treatment rather than replacing it.1

Who should check before starting?

Speak with a dermatologist first if you have darker skin, a condition that makes you sensitive to light, or medication that increases light sensitivity. Visible light can cause more persistent dark spots in darker skin tones, and red light can worsen light sensitive conditions such as lupus. Temporary mild pain or irritation can occur. If either develops, pause treatment and ask a healthcare professional before continuing or increasing exposure.1

Does every kind of light therapy follow the same rules?

No. A bright light box for seasonal affective disorder uses a different type of light, commonly for 20 to 30 minutes daily; that timing is not a red light skincare instruction. Dermatologist prescribed light therapy for eczema commonly involves two to three treatments weekly. Photodynamic therapy, or PDT, combines light with a medicine that makes abnormal cells sensitive to it. Red light PDT is a clinic procedure, with some lesions treated once and others twice, a week apart. After skin PDT, healing commonly takes two to six weeks. Follow the treating team's schedule and aftercare rather than a home mask routine.4567

Where this answer comes from

  1. 1Is red light therapy right for your skin?aad.org
  2. 2Red Light Therapy: Benefits, Side Effects & Usesmy.clevelandclinic.org
  3. 3What to Look for in Red Light Therapy: A Product Guide Backed by Sciencepmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. 4Light Therapy for SADhealth.clevelandclinic.org
  5. 5Eczema types: Atopic dermatitis diagnosis and treatmentaad.org
  6. 6Photodynamic therapy (PDT)nhs.uk
  7. 7Red Light Photodynamic Therapy (red light PDT)cuh.nhs.uk