Getting rid of skin redness, acne scars, wrinkles, and a mixture of skin conditions can be one of the hardest things to tackle. Each respective problem requires tons of care through a manner of solutions such as retinol creams, vitamin C serums and other skincare saviors, and sometimes it also requires frequent visits to the dermatologist. or the beautician. This can add up quickly when you do multiple in-office treatments! But thanks to recent technological advancements in the beauty industry, you can now remove all blemishes from the comfort of your own home with a red light therapy device.
“Red light therapy is a treatment used in dermatology to improve collagen production and ultimately help reduce fine lines, wrinkles and pore size,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Carmen Castilla. the New York Board of Directors. “It is also sometimes used to reduce inflammation and speed up post-laser recovery procedures and can be used to promote hair growth, especially in cases of hair loss in men or women.
According to Dr. Michele Green, another New York-based dermatologist, red light therapy can also be used to facilitate healing in muscle tissue and other parts of the body. “The researchers believe that the red light therapy acts on the mitochondria of the cells, which produce the energy necessary for the biochemical reactions of the cell”, notes the pro. “By producing more energy, cells can function more efficiently, such as repairing the skin and stimulating the growth of new skin cells.”
Although home beauty tools are nowhere near as powerful as in-office procedures, they can still work wonders if you stick to using them regularly. Here we share the best red light therapy devices to use at home for a glowing and youthful complexion.
Best overall
current body skin
CurrentBody Skin LED Light Therapy Mask
How often should you use |
5 times a week for 10 minutes |
Best for |
Wrinkles, acne, pigmentation, blemishes, sagging skin |
Best panel
trophy skin
Trophy Skin Rejuvalite® Red Light Therapy
How often should you use |
5 times a week for 5 minutes |
Best for |
Facial lines and wrinkles, sun damage, skin inflammation |
Ideal for the eye area
LightStim®
LightStim LED light therapy device for wrinkles
How often should you use |
2 to 3 times a week for 3 minutes |
Best for |
Fine lines and wrinkles, uneven texture, bags under the eyes |
Best multi-purpose device
Therabody
TheraFace PRO
How often should you use |
5-8 minutes every 24 hours |
Best for |
Redness, acne, wrinkles, sagging skin, clogged pores |
Best compact
Solawave
Advanced Skin Care Wand with Red Light Therapy
How often should you use |
5-30 minutes per day |
Best for |
Wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles, imperfections, dark spots |
Best functional mask
higher dose
Red light mask
How often should you use |
3 to 5 times a week for 10 minutes |
Best for |
Redness, uneven skin texture, inflammation, |
Ideal for lips
CurrentBody
CurrentBody Skin LED Lip Perfector
How often should you use |
3 minutes a day |
Best for |
Fine lines and wrinkles and loss of volume around the lips |
Ideal for the neck
Goddess
LED luminous mask Shani Darden by Déesse PRO
How often should you use |
10 minutes for 4-5 days a week |
Best for |
Acne, uneven skin tone, redness, fine lines and wrinkles, |
fastest device
Dr. Dennis Gross Skin Care
DRx SpectraLite™ FaceWare Pro
How often should you use |
3 minutes a day |
Best for |
Redness, fine lines and wrinkles, acne |
Best handheld
FOREO
UFO™ 2
How often should you use |
Twice a day 90 minutes |
Best for |
Pores, redness, dull skin, dryness, sunburn, muscle aches |
How often can you do red light therapy at home?
It all depends on the device, but Dr. Castilla recommends using red light therapy 3-4 times a week. And as with any new skincare product and device, it’s crucial to slowly introduce red light into your regimen to ensure there is no adverse reaction, adds Dr. Green. “Follow the instructions on the device throughout the treatment. If you are unsure how to use red light therapy devices or if they are safe for your skin, consult a board-certified dermatologist.
What are the benefits of red light therapy at home?
Both Dr. Castilla and Dr. Green agree that at-home red light therapy is convenient and safe, and any skin type can benefit from the treatment, but regular use of a device is essential.
“Consistent use of red light therapy at home will help rejuvenate the skin, decrease inflammation and provide anti-aging benefits by stimulating collagen synthesis,” notes Dr. Green. “At-home red light therapy is ideal in conjunction with normal anti-aging focused skincare routines (i.e. retinol, vitamin C serum, peptides). ”
How long does it take for red light therapy to work?
“To see the potential benefits, it would take several months of regular use,” says Dr. Castilla. “It’s definitely not for those of us who want instant gratification and immediate results.”
And because at-home devices tend to be gentler than in-office treatments, “more treatments may be needed to achieve similar results,” adds Dr. Green.
Sophie Dweck
Sophie Dweck is Associate Shopping Editor for Town & Country, where she covers beauty, fashion, home & decor, and more.