Red light is one type of light that doctors aren't shielding us from.

• Why it matters: It's a therapy surging in popularity, especially for the treatment of wrinkles and acne. Red light therapy has also shown promise in a variety of other areas, including wound healing, pain management and cancer care, Axios' Ashley May reports.

🩺 Doctors say it's generally safe to use.

• "It can be used across a variety of skin types, even in the most sensitive individuals," says dermatologist Joshua Zeichner of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.
• Yes, but: Amit Om, a dermatologist in Charlotte, North Carolina, told Axios that he doesn't recommend the therapy to anyone with photosensitizing conditions, like lupus. People with melasma also might not benefit.

How it works: LED light directed at the skin triggers a process called photobiomodulation, a noninvasive way to stimulate certain cells that rejuvenate skin.

• That's what stimulates collagen to reduce wrinkles and scarring.

🚀 Fun fact: NASA was a red light therapy pioneer.

Reality check: While red light can improve the appearance of skin, "it's not powerful enough to replace anything that we currently have," Om told Axios.

• In other words, red light can plump aging skin, but don't expect Botox-like results. In most cases, a doctor recommends red light therapy to complement other treatment options.

👀 Another caveat: Devices you buy for home use won't give you the same results as an in-office laser treatment, Samantha Karlin with the American Academy of Dermatology told Axios.

• At-home red light devices require use at least several times a week or daily.

What's next: Red light therapy will likely shine brighter in 2025.

• Praveen Arany, who has been studying how light can help heal wounds, predicts we'll see more red light uses for post-surgical healing, more athletes using it to improve performance, and more at-home devices in various forms like helmets and panels.
• "It is a fantastic new type of treatment," but do your research before buying in, Arany cautions. "The marketing is all over the place."

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