Red Light Therapy for Photoaging: Scientific Evidence

28 of 30 patients with facial photoaging completed a 2025 human randomized controlled trial comparing two LED light combinations. One group received 570 nm yellow light paired with 620 nm red and 850 nm infrared light, and the other group received 590 nm yellow light with the same red and infrared wavelengths, both delivered at an irradiance of 7.1 mW/cm2 and a dose of 6.39 J/cm2, 3 times a week for 56 days. After 8 weeks, both groups showed overall skin improvement and reduced wrinkles, as compared with baseline. The 570 nm group also showed a reduction in brown spot scores, and the improvement in wrinkle scores was greater in the 570 nm group than in the 590 nm group.

Researchers in 2020 conducted a human observational study testing a home-use LED mask combined with hyaluronic acid for photoaged skin. They split 48 participants into two groups for 28 days, with Group A using a home-use LED mask emitting 660 and 850 nm light at a dose of 1.89 J/cm2 for 20 minutes daily alongside a hyaluronic acid ampoule, and Group B using the hyaluronic acid ampoule alone. Compared with hyaluronic acid alone, the combination of LED mask and hyaluronic acid was associated with a greater improvement in photoaged skin, the researchers reported. They also noted that the LED mask could be used safely and efficiently on a daily basis at home.

A 2008 observational study evaluated the effect of LED therapy on photoaged skin. Researchers treated the area around the eyes of 22 adults, 38% men and 62% women, ages 38 to 49 years, with 633 nm and 830 nm LED light delivered in contact mode for 20 to 30 minutes per session, 8 sessions per week over 28 days. The study reported that 74% of participants showed visible improvement in fine lines and wrinkles 8 weeks after treatment, though this finding should be interpreted with caution since no control group was used.

Comparing response around the eyes and the smile lines, a 2007 human clinical trial evaluated LED therapy for sun-damaged skin. Thirteen participants with moderate to severe sun damage received 9 sessions of 20 minute LED treatment per week over 35 days, held about 0.39 inches from the skin and combining 633 nm and 830 nm light at irradiances of 55 and 105 mW/cm2 and doses of 66 and 126 J/cm2. By 12 weeks, improved skin tone was reported by 91% of participants and smoother skin by 82%, with the area around the eyes responding better than the smile lines and most participants rated as having a moderate or slight response overall.

20 women with facial wrinkles and dark spots, ages 35 to 61, took part in a 2006 observational study testing far infrared light for photoaging. The face was treated daily on weekdays for 15 to 20 minutes per session over 180 days with far infrared light at 900 to 1000 nm, with clinical evaluations every 4 weeks and skin biopsies taken before and one month after treatment. The study reported good improvement, in the range of 51 to 75%, in skin texture and roughness, fair improvement of 25 to 50% in color tone, and no clear improvement in the dark spots. Side effects were generally mild and short lived, with 80% of patients developing transient redness, a few reporting dryness or scaling, and one case of irritation around the mouth that resolved on its own.