Can at-home red-light therapy really cure acne? New study puts LED devices to the test – New York Post

Red-light therapy has emerged as a major beauty trend in the last couple of years, with fans touting its ability to give their face a youthful, blemish-free glow. The treatment uses low levels of red light to penetrate deep into the skin to stimulate the production of collagen, reduce redness and inflammation, lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and promote wound healing — all of which helps combat acne. And while a doctor’s office is likely to have the most powerful and advanced technology, the ease and convenience of red-light therapy devices that you can use in the comfort of your home have made them explode into the market. But does at-home red-light therapy really work for acne? In a new study published Wednesday, researchers conducted six clinical trials on 216 participants with mild to moderate acne and found that using at-home red and/or blue LED devices led to a 45.3% reduction in acne — with the greatest improvement observed after 4-12 weeks of use. While the findings are promising, the study’s authors believe that these devices can be most effective as part of a broader acne-fighting strategy rather than standalone use. “At-home LED devices, particularly those that combine red and blue light, are efficacious for acne and can likely complement other over-the-counter and prescription treatments,” they wrote. Dr. Raman Madan, chief of dermatology and director of cosmetic dermatology for Northwell Health, typically suggests the treatment to people who want a nonpharmaceutical intervention for their bumps. “I recommend red-light therapy to patients who do not want to take medications,” he told The Post. “We have great treatments for acne, but a lot of the pills can cause some side effects.”Some of the side effects of topical acne medication include temporary dryness and itchy rashes, while oral drugs can sometimes cause upset stomach, dizziness and photosensitivity. Red-light therapy is considered generally safe to use, but you should still consult with your medical provider if you have any underlying medical conditions that might affect its effects. And everyone should exercise a reasonable amount of caution when buying a red-light therapy device that they want to use at home. “There are many different ones on the market,” Madan said. “Make sure they are FDA cleared and are from a reputable company.” 
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Never miss a story. “I wouldn’t buy one off Temu,” he added. He also explained that, while both red and blue light can help with acne, “blue light has been used for years to help with pre-cancers on the face,” while “red light has also been used to help with hair loss.”And while he believes that “there are benefits to light therapy” and that the results of this study are “very positive,” consumers should keep their expectations in check when purchasing at-home red-light therapy products to treat their acne. “I think it is an option for patients, but they should not expect miracles,” he said.
The FDA-cleared, dermatologist-recommended red light therapy device is a favorite of New York Post readers. With clinically proven results, the mask reduces fine lines and wrinkles, promotes collagen, and reduces dark spots. Trusted by more than 600,000 customers, it’s the Rolls-Royce of LED face masks and, according to one of our writers, 100% worth the splurge.
“This is an FDA-cleared device that contains both 100 red and 62 blue LED lights for a full face light emitting treatment,” Gloria Lin, MD, board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group who specializes in medical, surgical and cosmetic dermatology, told The Post. “It may help with collagen production, acne, and redness, in addition to its anti-microbial properties since it contains both red and blue light.”
As a cute handheld device, the LightStim for Acne works well for targeted treatment.“Let’s just say if a giant cyst rears its ugly head on my chin, I like to pick up this wand and treat it with both blue and red light to kill the bacteria and also reduce the inflammation,” Margarita S.Lolis, MD, board-certified Mohs surgeon and cosmetic dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group, told the New York Post, sharing her love for this less-than-$200 device.
The Skin Gym Pink LED Face Mask offers all the basics: red light for anti-aging, blue for acne, and orange to target dullness. A lot of these masks are heavy and hard to see through, so I like that the Skin Gym Face Mask has a more user-friendly design. The eye portion is large enough to see clearly out of, and the mask itself is very light. It automatically shuts off after 20 minutes.

Source: https://nypost.com/2025/03/05/health/can-at-home-red-light-therapy-really-cure-acne/