Are all red lights the same and do they help with acne, hair loss and wound healing?

Are all red lights the same and do they help with acne, hair loss and wound healing?

There are many different forms of light therapy which exist for the treatment of skin disorders. Red light therapy is just one form of this type of treatment technically called photobiomodulation.

All red lights are not the same. They may differ in their wavelength despite the fact that they all appear red to the naked eye. They may differ on the distance held to the skin and the amount of time needed to expose the skin to light to have an effect.

Patients with darker colored skin should be made aware of the fact that red light may result in causing dark spots on their skin which may be deep and long lasting.

Can red lights be used to treat acne?

The red lights in facemasks directed at acne lesions range between 620-785 nm and fluences ranging from 12-37 J/cm2. The red light penetrates deeply into the skin and will have an anti-inflammatory effect and stimulate tissue repair.

If using these masks, one should take precautions and protect one’s eyes to protect the retina.

The amount of time per session, the number of times per week and the number of months needed to see results has not been standardized. It may take four to twelve weeks to see any results.

There are possible side effects which can occur including redness, peeling skin, burning, pain and hyperpigmentation.

In treating acne there is no substitute for topical and oral prescription medication. The red light devices can be used to supplement treatments prescribed by your dermatologist.

 Do red lights stimulate hair growth?

There are many reasons to lose hair. The most common is androgenetic alopecia otherwise known as male pattern hair loss and female pattern hair loss. There are very few studies on the effect of red light in improving regrowth of hair. One study used red light at 633nm and 40j/cm2 to stimulate hair growth on the frontal scalp. After 6 months of once a week treatments lasting 20 minutes each there was improvement of hair density, diameter and patient satisfaction. Another study used red light in the 620-670nm range noted some improvement of hair growth.

Again there is no standardization describing the best red light to use, the amount of sessions needed and the length of time per session needed to see any results.

Do red lights aid in the healing process of skin?

It has been shown that red light in the range of 630-830nm used 3-4 times a week for 1 to10 minute treatments may help with the improvement of wounds and scars. The red light has been shown to reduce inflammation, promote cell growth, accelerate healing and decrease pain. The light also helps decrease scar formation.

What precautions should people with darker skin take when using red light?

There is a higher risk of blistering, redness, loss of skin color and increased skin color in this population. Lower doses of red light for shorter periods of time should be used when treating this population.

What does the future hold for the use of red light on skin?

More research is needed to standardize the correct parameters needed to treat different skin conditions and different skin types.