Mar. 03, 2026
Here's a question for anyone hoping to red light their way to a youthful complexion: Did you know that in dermatology red light treatment is used mostly for hair growth?
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It begs a more serious question for those of us already using red light in our skincare routine: Are we hoping to smooth out those wrinkles just to end up looking like Wolverine?
The conundrum points to a larger issue with red light treatment, as the tools to harness its potential benefits become more available online as well as in spas, gyms and dermatology clinics. While it has gained a reputation as a multipotent ray of wellness, with claims that it can treat conditions from aging skin to erectile dysfunction, what does the research say?
Beyond that lie more questions. Can it be used safely? How is it changing the body at a cellular level? And, oh yeah: Are those using red light to reduce wrinkles destined for a surprise beard?
We turned to our Stanford Medicine experts for some red light answers — to explain the science of it, to decipher the research-backed uses for it and to parse the many things we still don't know about red light therapy.
Before red light gained a reputation in the beauty industry, dermatologists used it for early-stage treatment of precancerous and early, thin skin cancers, said Nour Kibbi, MD, clinical assistant professor of dermatology. Red light applied at a specific wavelength in conjunction with a topical drug kills skin cells, a type of treatment called photodynamic therapy. (Red light, alone, does not destroy skin cancer.) When applied to damaged or diseased skin cells, such as cancer cells, those cells die off and allow for the growth of new skin.
Since then, red light has been used for a variety of new health and beauty concerns that largely harness something called "photobiomodulation," or the use of light to alter biology, said Zakia Rahman, MD, clinical professor of dermatology.
Zakia Rahman
Nour Kibbi
"In , the National Library of Medicine made photobiomodulation a Medical Subject Heading term," Rahman said, referring to the official vocabulary used to organize PubMed's research articles. "Since then, we've seen a major increase of published studies validating the science of photobiomodulation."
The word for it might be new, Rahman said, but the studies that evaluated the effects of red light on biology date back to the s, when a Hungarian scientist was investigating whether exposure to low levels would cause mice to develop skin cancer. Instead, they found that those receiving red light treatment sprouted more hair. Additional studies — in mice and in humans — bolstered evidence of red light's ability to generate hair growth.
While hair regeneration and wrinkle reduction have fairly robust evidence to support the use of red light therapy, other applications, such as improving athletic performance, lack data. Since red light devices come in a variety of shapes and sizes, have different potencies and prescribed time of use, as well as extreme variation in costs, measuring their comparative effectiveness can be like comparing apples with oranges.
According to science, red light isn't bogus. With a process called selective photothermolysis, light can be tailored to use specific wavelengths to target tissue and stimulate an effect within tissue. The shorter the wavelength of light, the more potent it is, making it a somewhat tunable tool — shorter wavelengths can be used to kill skin cells, while longer ones can help heal or stimulate cell growth or the production of different molecules, such as collagen-building proteins.
Here's how that might apply to different uses.
Hair growth and skin care: Studies have shown that red light penetrates the skin at shallow depths and stimulates follicle growth. There's evidence that the light causes vasodilation, a widening of blood vessels. "We know some hair products, such as topical minoxidil, harness that to stimulate hair growth," Rahman said. "The dilation of blood vessels enables more blood and nutrients to reach the hair follicles. Used over multiple months consistently, red light has been shown to regrow thinning hair. But it should also be noted, when the person stops applying red light, the effects stop."
The dilation of blood vessels enables more blood and nutrients to reach the hair follicles. Used over multiple months consistently, red light has been shown to regrow thinning hair.
That vasodilation, Rahman suspects, is likely the mechanism for other dermatological effects of red light, such as wrinkle reduction. Hundreds of studies documenting the impact of red light in a clinical setting have reported a range of outcomes, including how different wavelengths of red light change the inner workings of cells and blinded clinical trials that show how red light plumps up skin features in human participants through an increase of collagen production.
Wound healing, scarring: Some preliminary studies pointed toward potential for accelerated skin and tissue healing, depending on the wavelength of light, duration and frequency of treatment. But the studies didn't show strong and consistent success, leaving a question mark in the minds of dermatologists. Kibbi noted a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, in which they performed a blepharoplasty, a surgical eyelid lift, and treated one group of patients with red light.
"It was slightly more than a coin toss, but not by much, that the red light-treated group did better. But it was not statistically significant," she said. In another paper documenting blepharoplasty healing, results differed. "In that study, the red light-treated scar healed in half the time, compared with the nontreated side in the same patient, which is pretty significant." At six weeks, however, both sides of the eye had healed completely, with no differences. "It does suggest that in the first few weeks during the first phases of wound healing there could be benefit for red light," Kibbi said. "It's very interesting and deserves further study, but for now, the data is somewhat conflicting and there are a lot of caveats."
It's very interesting and deserves further study, but for now, the data is somewhat conflicting and there are a lot of caveats.
Athletic performance, sleep, etc.: Sleep expert Jamie Zeitzer, PhD, and sports physician Michael Fredericson, MD, say the data to support red light efficacy for either is lacking. In theory, red light could be used to stimulate muscle and tissue healing in the same way it's used for wound healing, as muscle growth technically requires small lesions in the tissue that eventually heal and result in larger muscles. The good news is that risk for side effects or bodily harm is low so long as the light isn't shined directly into the eyes.
There are some wilder claims about red light uses: erectile dysfunction, chronic pain, even dementia. While interesting avenues for future exploration, none have any scientifically validated results.
At home versus the clinic: Red light therapy, particularly for hair growth or skin rejuvenation, delivered in a clinic will almost always be more powerful than any at-home device, Rahman said. However, someone who is bald likely won't see any benefit from red light tools, since the red light's effect isn't able stimulate hair growth from dead follicles. Options for hair-stimulating red light tools include red light caps and ones that have a comblike feature to separate the hairs and deliver light to the scalp, Rahman said.
But even red light treatments in a dermatology clinic aren't a sure bet — their effectiveness can vary, depending on the wavelength of red light and the duration and frequency of treatment.
"Overall, studies show that there's benefit with hair growth, and there's evidence to suggest it can reduce inflammation of tissues," Rahman said. "But it all depends on the strength and duration of the treatment — which is largely unknown when people buy tools for use at home." There is still more research to be done.
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The final words on red light therapy: Stay tuned and dip your toes in if you like. There is promise and scientific evidence to back some uses in a clinical dermatology setting, particularly for hair growth and skin rejuvenation.
And as far as the unwanted dual effect of hair growth and wrinkle reduction — if hair doesn't naturally grow in an area of the skin, it likely would not sprout anew, even after red light treatment, but there haven't been studies to definitively answer that question, Rahman said.
Whether dabbling at home or receiving treatment in a clinic, the risk of dangerous side effects is generally low. Some devices are cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, but that focuses mainly on safety, Rahman said.
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It's always best to consult your dermatologist, both Kibbi and Rahman advise. And it's reasonable to bring a healthy dose of skepticism about any promises of dramatic aesthetic change.
"There's real evidence that shows red light can change biology," Rahman said. "But that's not the same as saying it's some kind of panacea for many different health conditions."
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Red light therapy (RLT) is a treatment that uses low levels of red light to reportedly improve your skin’s appearance, like reducing wrinkles, scars, redness and acne. It’s also touted to treat other medical conditions.
To date, there’s a lot of ongoing research, publication of small studies and much discussion on the internet about the effectiveness of red light therapy for all types of health uses. Results of some studies do show some promise, but the full effectiveness of red light therapy has yet to be determined.
Other names you might hear to describe red light therapy include:
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) originally began experimenting with red light therapy on plant growth in space and then to help heal wounds in astronauts. Like many developments, other potential uses began to be investigated.
In fact, red light therapy is already widely medically accepted in its use in photodynamic therapy. In this therapy, low-power red laser light is used to activate a photosensitizer drug. The interaction creates a chemical reaction that destroys cells. It’s used to treat some skin conditions, including skin cancer and psoriasis, acne and warts, and other types of cancer.
Now, RLT is being investigated (or already in use) for treating a wide array of health conditions. What’s confusing — and controversial — is the effectiveness of the treatment for the purposes it’s being promoted.
Red light therapy is thought to work by acting on the “power plant” in your body’s cells called mitochondria. With more energy, other cells can do their work more efficiently, doing things like repairing skin, boosting new cell growth and enhancing skin rejuvenation. More specifically, certain cells absorb light wavelengths and are stimulated to work.
Red light therapy may work in skin health to:
Red light therapy is promoted as a treatment for some common skin conditions, including to:
Most experts say that they don’t know yet if RLT is effective for all its claimed uses. Most say that the studies published so far show some potential for certain conditions, but that more studies need to be conducted. Red light therapy is still an emerging treatment that’s generating growing interest. But at this point in time, there’s not enough evidence to support most uses.
The gold standard of studies to determine if a product is effective is a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. This means that a certain number of people with the same range of characteristics (age, weight, race, sex, etc.) get either the study treatment or a placebo (fake or “sham” treatment) for treatment of the same condition.
Some studies also include a comparison to another commonly used treatment. Results can then be compared between the emerging treatment versus no treatment (the placebo group) or versus a “current standard” treatment.
Many of the published studies using RLT included only a small number of people, didn’t include a placebo group, weren’t conducted in humans (animal studies) or were limited to cell tissue itself. Most researchers say results so far look promising, but that more quality studies with larger numbers of people are needed.
Red light therapy appears to be safe and isn’t associated with any side effects, at least, if used short-term and as directed. This therapy isn’t toxic, not invasive and not as harsh as some topical skin treatments. Unlike the cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun or tanning booths, RLT doesn’t use this type of light.
However, if products are misused — perhaps used too often or not according to directions — there’s a chance your skin or eyes (if not protected) could be damaged. The long-term safety of devices that use red light therapy isn’t yet known.
Your safest option is to see a dermatologist or qualified, trained, cosmetic therapist. A dermatologist can make sure your skin condition is what you think it is and can discuss the merits of red light therapy and other treatment options.
You’ll find many red light therapy products if you search on the internet. While these products are generally safe to use, they may be less powerful than devices that may be used by dermatologists or other trained skin professionals. You may not get the results you hope for.
If you do choose to purchase a red light therapy device, make sure to shield your eyes for protection, follow all directions and take good care of the device.
In addition to medical office-based use and at-home use with a purchased device, you may see RLT being promoted at beauty spas and salons, saunas, tanning salons, gyms and wellness centers. Be cautious of who is supplying and where you are receiving treatment. It’s always best to check in with a medical professional about the best options to treat your skin condition or issue.
Other potential medical uses being investigated include:
Lots of other uses are being touted on the internet. There’s no scientific evidence to support red light therapy use in weight loss, cancer, cellulite removal or mental health conditions like depression and seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
There are a lot of variables to consider when thinking about red light therapy:
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