Red-light therapy has emerged as a major beauty trend in the last couple of years, with fans touting its ability to give their face a youthful, blemish-free glow.
The treatment uses low levels of red light to penetrate deep into the skin to stimulate the production of collagen, reduce redness and inflammation, lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and promote wound healing — all of which helps combat acne.
And while a doctor’s office is likely to have the most powerful and advanced technology, the ease and convenience of red-light therapy devices that you can use in the comfort of your home have made them explode into the market.
But does at-home red-light therapy really work for acne?
In a new study published Wednesday, researchers conducted six clinical trials on 216 participants with mild to moderate acne and found that using at-home red and/or blue LED devices led to a 45.3% reduction in acne — with the greatest improvement observed after 4-12 weeks of use.
While the findings are promising, the study’s authors believe that these devices can be most effective as part of a broader acne-fighting strategy rather than standalone use.
“At-home LED devices, particularly those that combine red and blue light, are efficacious for acne and can likely complement other over-the-counter and prescription treatments,” they wrote.
Dr. Raman Madan, chief of dermatology and director of cosmetic dermatology for Northwell Health, typically suggests the treatment to people who want a nonpharmaceutical intervention for their bumps.
“I recommend red-light therapy to patients who do not want to take medications,” he told The Post. “We have great treatments for acne, but a lot of the pills can cause some side effects.”
Some of the side effects of topical acne medication include temporary dryness and itchy rashes, while oral drugs can sometimes cause upset stomach, dizziness and photosensitivity.
Red-light therapy is considered generally safe to use, but you should still consult with your medical provider if you have any underlying medical conditions that might affect its effects.
And everyone should exercise a reasonable amount of caution when buying a red-light therapy device that they want to use at home.
“There are many different ones on the market,” Madan said. “Make sure they are FDA cleared and are from a reputable company.”
“I wouldn’t buy one off Temu,” he added.
He also explained that, while both red and blue light can help with acne, “blue light has been used for years to help with pre-cancers on the face,” while “red light has also been used to help with hair loss.”
And while he believes that “there are benefits to light therapy” and that the results of this study are “very positive,” consumers should keep their expectations in check when purchasing at-home red-light therapy products to treat their acne.
“I think it is an option for patients, but they should not expect miracles,” he said.
