Dermatologist Says Red Light Therapy Helps Collagen and Hair Loss, Not Deep Inflammation
Updated
Updated · American Medical Association · Jul 21
Dermatologist Says Red Light Therapy Helps Collagen and Hair Loss, Not Deep Inflammation
1 articles · Updated · American Medical Association · Jul 21
Summary
Margaretta Masse said on the AMA’s “Health vs. Hype” podcast that red light therapy has documented benefits for collagen production, some acne treatment and androgenetic hair loss, but is not a miracle cure.
Blue light in some masks works differently—targeting acne-causing bacteria in the epidermis—while standard red light does not penetrate deeply enough to affect the nervous system or joint inflammation, she said.
Masse said the therapy is generally safe, with temporary redness or mild skin pain most common, but warned skin-of-color patients may face higher risks of persistent redness, discoloration or blistering from masks.
She also pointed to evidence for oral mucositis in cancer patients, saying some major cancer centers use red light therapy to ease chemotherapy-related mouth inflammation.
Masse said red light therapy should be used only as an adjunct to basic skin care and other treatments, not as a stand-alone replacement.