The Anti-Aging Benefits of Red Light Treatment
Have you heard of red light therapy (Low Level Light or LED Therapy) and wondered if there’s any real evidence behind it?
Maybe you’ve seen one of those horror movie style face masks claiming to be anti-aging and good for your skin.
It might seem far fetched that little red light bulbs can really do much for your skin.
So…is red light just a gimmick to sell gadgets, or is there any real evidence behind the claims? I set out to answer JUST that question based on actual scientific studies.
And the good news is…there are REAL benefits. I’ll go over those benefits, and how to use red light in your own skincare and anti-aging routine.
How Red Light Started:
Red light hit the scene with NASA (who else?) back in 1993. Their goal was to use red light to boost plant growth in space (which worked), when they discovered it actually caused wound healing on their astronauts.
Did you know wounds can’t heal on their own in space? As you can imagine this was quite a discovery when the astronauts discovered scratches on their hands healing from exposure to the red light they were using for their plants.
Fast forward 20 years and the technology is still being used today, and for many more purposes. Although we are still learning about Red Light, there is a good amount that we DO know about how it can be used.
How Does Red Light Work?
Red Light: As you may or may not know, different color light has different wavelengths. Red light has the longest wavelength and thus can penetrate our skin deeper than other colors. The long wavelength light can actually enter our cells and effect them directly. Basically the red light gets to our mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, (hello chemistry 101) and wakes it up, causing it to get to work.
Near Infrared: Most LED masks you will find pair red light (633nm) and near-infrared (830nm). Near-infrared is not visible, and has a longer wavelength; thus, penetrating even DEEPER into the skin. Studies have shown the best skin improvement when combining both red and near-infrared.
Blue Light: It’s worth noting that different depths of penetration can provide different results in the skin. For example, blue light penetrates the skin at a depths that targets acne causing bacteria and is great for those suffering from acne.
Benefits for the Skin:
For Anti-Aging: One of the most commonly cited benefits of red light therapy is improvements to the skin. Red light can actually make our skin cells act younger. As I mentioned earlier, the Red light works by stimulating pathways in the skin that lead to healing, repair, and collagen production.
There have been several studies showing the anti-aging and skin improvement benefits of Red Light, and Near-Infrared Light.
These studies have shown improvement in: Skin smoothness, Fine lines and Wrinkle depth, Texture, Laxity, and Increased collagen production. *Most notice a plumping, and brightening effect to their skin after a red light treatment.
Red Light is safe to use for all skin tones, with no down time. It does not damage the skin and does not emit any heat to the skin, therefore no risk of hyperpigmentation or burns.
Other Benefits:
For Wound Healing: As we establish this benefit was discovered by NASA. Red-light can be effective in aiding and accelerating wound healing. This makes sense with what we know about the way red light works with the mitochondria, and collagen boosting results.
For Eyes: A new study by UCL researchers has shown benefits of red light for eyesight. Red light at 670nm in the morning has been shown to improve color contrast vision in individuals older than 40. This will not work if you use red light in afternoon or evening, it must be done in the early daytime. Just 3min a day in the morning, once a week was shown to provide this benefit.
For Hair: Because Red Light can decrease inflammation and increase blood flow and circulation to the scalp, it has the potential to bring more cell activity (and nutrients) to that area. If you know anything about hair growth, blood flow is super key! Red light therapy has specifically been shown to reduce the effects of androgenetic alopecia, or genetic hair loss. Recent studies also indicate that using red light therapy may promote increased hair thickness and density, but more research is needed.
There are dedicated red light hats, helmets, and combs JUST for use on your scalp. If you’re new to this concept and you’re interested in learning more, I would start with the iRESTORE Essential Hair Growth System
For Inflammation: Some studies suggest that red light therapy may have positive effects on joint health, potentially benefiting those with conditions like osteoarthritis. Red light therapy has shown promise in reducing pain and inflammation, making it useful for conditions such as arthritis, muscle soreness, and joint disorders.
For Scars: By promoting collagen production, red light therapy may help reduce the appearance of scars over time. Red light therapy may also help remodel and soften scar tissue, making it less noticeable and more similar in appearance to surrounding healthy skin. This effect is thought to be due to the regulation of collagen synthesis and the breakdown of scar tissue.
For Circulation: Red light therapy may help improve blood circulation, which can have positive effects on overall cardiovascular health. This is where red light panels and red light beds would really shine.
For Boosting Mood: Some studies suggest that exposure to red light may stimulate the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with mood regulation. Higher levels of serotonin are often correlated with improved mood and feelings of well-being. Exposure to red light may have mood-enhancing effects and could be used as a part of the treatment for Seasonal Affective Disorder, a type of depression that occurs at specific times of the year.
For Muscle Recovery: Athletes and fitness enthusiasts may use red light therapy to potentially speed up muscle recovery after intense exercise by reducing inflammation and promoting cellular repair.
How to Use Red Light at Home:
As I mentioned, you want to make sure you are getting an LED mask that has both red light and near-infrared light. These wavelengths work together to give you the best results.
Of course, you will want to use your mask as directed. Most protocols recommend 10min use daily, or 20min use every other day.
Use on a clean, dry face free of skincare. There has been one study suggesting the use of green tea on the face in conjunction with red light for improved results. This study was done on just one person so the study wasn’t very strong. But if you’re like me, and like to try new things, you could certainly give it a go!
Once you’ve finished your treatment, it’s safe to then complete your skincare routine as you would normally. There are no skincare ingredients that you can’t use after a red light treatment.
It is important to note that the closer the light is to your skin, the better results you will see. Basically the mask should mostly be touching your skin directly.
If the mask you purchase comes with or recommends eyewear, use as directed. However, red light is generally considered safe for the eyes, and even has benefits that improve vision (as mentioned above).
Which Mask Should I Get?
Ok, you’re convinced. You’re on the bandwagon so what now? In my opinion there are two masks that I would recommend and have purchased myself. These masks aren’t cheap, and that last thing we want is to be wasting money on a mask that may not work well. Here are the two I recommend:
I originally purchased a face mask from Aduro. I chose this mask at first for several reasons. There are plenty of good reviews and I saw several beauty influencers using the mask with some pretty nice before and afters. This mask has the proper wavelengths, it’s more affordable (even though it’s still not cheap), and it also comes with 7 different colors! I wanted to option to use blue light, or green light on a whim if I felt like it. I’ve had this mask for YEARS and it hasn’t done me wrong.
I figured I would use it on my neck too to get a bigger bang for my buck. That actually didn’t work well at all, as the shape didn’t conform and it was very hard to execute. I didn’t feel the mask could get very close to my neck with the awkward shape, and probably wasn’t doing much. That’s when I purchased the Neck and Decollete mask from Omnilux.
This is the gold standard mask you are going to find recommended time and time again. This is the mask you will find for sale in plastic surgery offices and for good reason. Omnilux as a company makes the devices that are used for in-office treatments, and have a lot of development behind them. Aside from having great technology, they also have a really good 2 year warranty on the device, and 1 year warranty on the controller. When you’re spending hundreds of dollars on a device, this is very comforting.
If you’re thinking about this mask, my pro tip is to wait for a sale. They do put these masks on sale at times, so that would be a great time to buy! As I mentioned, I own the neck and decollate mask from Omnilux, and have loved it so far! Because the chest portion is a flat surface, I lay it on my hands as well to get more use out of it.
Studies:
Light-emitting diodes in dermatology: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials: https://bit.ly/3viUlJW
Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring: https://bit.ly/3vwHJPQ
Red light: A novel, non-pharmacological intervention to promote alertness in shift workers: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022437520300694?via%3Dihub
Light emitting diode-red light for reduction of post-surgical scarring: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8919713/
Light Emitting Diode Phototherapy for Skin Aging
https://jddonline.com/articles/light-emitting-diode-phototherapy-for-skin-aging-S1545961620P0359X/
Comparison of red light and blue light therapies for mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris: A randomized controlled clinical study
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/phpp.12769
Visible Red Light Emitting Diode Photobiomodulation for Skin Fibrosis: Key Molecular Pathways
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4848333/
Weeklong improved colour contrasts sensitivity after single 670 nm exposures associated with enhanced mitochondrial function
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-02311-1
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
