12 Best Red Light Therapy Devices for At-Home Use, Recommended by Derms

glamour.com:

on the market?)First, the basics: is “a non-invasive treatment that uses low level light to do what we call photobiomodulation,” , MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of SmarterSkin Dermatology in New York City.

Put more simply, it’s a treatment that uses low-wavelength red light and near-infrared light to penetrate cells, activating a repair process within the cells themselves that can help reduce inflammation, speed up wound healing, and even reverse signs of aging.Red light therapy isn’t new in clinical settings, this “” or “cold laser therapy” has been around for decades but it’s recently exploded in the world of at-home skin care devices based on the tantalizing promise that you might be able to rejuvenate your skin cells by literally waving a magic wand (think: the ).But are red light therapy devices really effective?

Here’s everything you need to know about the potential benefits of red light therapy and what to expect from these at-home devices.“Red light treatments have become very popular [in skin care], especially with at-home devices,” says , MD, a board-certified cosmetic dermatologist at Union Square Laser Dermatology in New York City. “It may benefit the skin in a few ways, including collagen production to smooth fine lines, reduction of inflammation, and aiding in wound healing,” she says.

Evidence suggests it can theoretically be beneficial to address signs of aging, target scars speed up the healing process for surgical incisions, and as a treatment for inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and rosacea, she says.“Red light—particularly in combination with blue light therapy—has also been shown to help improve acne by reducing inflammation and bacteria on the skin’s surface,”.