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You’ve likely seen them on your social media feed. Unlike more discreet dermaplaning tools or microdermabrasion kits, the robotic mask-like beauty gadgets are hard to miss—and even harder to forget.
They’re called red light therapy tools, and many of them look a lot like hydrating sheet masks but are generally much bulkier and rigid. Plus, they illuminate the face an eerie shade of red (some also give you the option to use other LED lights like blue light for other beauty benefits).
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy, also known as LED light therapy or RLT, is a treatment that uses a very specific and low wavelength of energy—infrared light—for therapeutic purposes, says Nina Desai, a board-certified dermatologist in Manhattan Beach, California. In this therapy, red light penetrates both upper and deeper levels of the skin, is absorbed by the cells, and is turned into energy. With this influx of energy, skin cells have improved ability to repair themselves, minimizing visible signs of aging, among other benefits.
What are the benefits of red light therapy?
“Clinically, we can use red light therapy for several different purposes,” explains Desai. Of course, anti-aging is probably the most widely known benefit of led light use. “Because of the way red light therapy improves cellular function, studies show it can be used to increase the production of collagen and elastin in the skin, which helps with tone and texture, as well as fine lines and wrinkles,” she says.
But red light therapy is also a great treatment for the blemish-prone. “Low energy red light can really help calm redness and inflammation associated with mild to moderate acne,” says Desai.
In dermatological offices, there are other applications that are often used as adjunct treatments for conditions like male and female pattern hair loss and precancerous lesions.
Can you use red light therapy at home?
Of course, for the more standard use cases—aging and acne—you can experiment with red light therapy at home. “Red light therapy is considered relatively safe, because the spectrum of light is not in the UV spectrum,” says Desai. Many at-home red light therapy tools are also FDA-approved for your peace of mind.
What’s more, you can’t really overuse red light therapy at home. While most devices will provide a recommended time frame, Desai says treatments generally range from about 5 to 30 minutes.
How long does it take for red light therapy to work?
These treatments are cumulative, so don’t expect results overnight, says Desai. It takes time and multiple treatments to see results—especially with at-home devices that aren’t typically quite as intense as medical-grade devices in dermatologist offices.
That said, even at-home treatments can still be very beneficial if you use the right device and are consistent, says Desai. First and foremost, “look for a device that has a wavelength of somewhere between 600 and 900 nanometers,” she says. And make sure it’s easy to use, since this will help with consistency.
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