The Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Reality TV often shows contestants’ evening routines, including wearing red light therapy masks, helmets, or other devices. Red light therapy is used to treat certain skin conditions, hair loss, injuries, and certain chronic pain conditions such as tendon or joint pain.

If you’ve seen these devices, whether through reality TV, influencer reels, or another outlet, you may be wondering about all the hype. What is red light therapy anyway? And does red light therapy work? And if you’ve started shopping for a device, you might have been overwhelmed with your choices and even the cost.

Did you know you might be able to use your health savings account (HSA) or flexible spending account (FSA) to offset the cost of a red light therapy product if you’re using it to address a specific medical condition? This depends on your plan’s rules, of course, along with other factors.

In this article, we explore what red light therapy is, red light therapy benefits, what it’s used for, whether it works based on research, the best devices, how you might be able to purchase with your HSA or FSA, and more.

Red light therapy is a form of photobiomodulation (PBM). PBM uses light to alter cellular functions and other biological processes. Red light therapy is a noninvasive option for treating various conditions related to skin, hair, and muscles and joints.

It uses a low level of red light, a type of light on the visible light spectrum (620 to 750 nanometers).

How red light therapy works:

• Improves mitochondrial function: Red light therapy triggers mitochondria, the powerhouse of your cells, to produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is your body’s universal form of energy. With this boost in energy, your cells theoretically can function more efficiently, including when repairing damage.
• Stimulates collagen and elastin: Red light therapy stimulates fibroblasts (cells in connective tissue) to produce collagen and elastin. These are structural proteins in the skin that deliver firmness and elasticity, qualities that decline as we age.
• Boosts blood flow: Red light therapy stimulates angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) and boosts vasodilation (widening of blood vessels) by causing the release of nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels.

“From a practical standpoint,” says Melanie Palm, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Art of Skin, “this translates to reduced inflammation, improved tissue repair, and healthier cellular activity overall. Importantly, it is noninvasive, painless, and requires no downtime.”

“Red LED is scientifically proven technology that has been demonstrated to be effective in proper studies,” says Jessica Weiser, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Weiser Skin MD. She’s also an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University.

A 2025 umbrella review of existing studies looked at 204 randomized controlled clinical trials with more than 9,000 participants.

The review showed moderate evidence for several conditions:

• Reduced pain in burning mouth syndrome
• Reduced disability for knee osteoarthritis
• Reduced fatigue in fibromyalgia
• Increased hair thickness in androgenic alopecia (hair loss)
• Some evidence suggests potential cognitive benefits

Other research from 2021 indicates some benefit for acne, wound healing, and body contouring.

And a meta-analysis that reviewed 17 randomized controlled clinical trials found that red light therapy showed low-to-moderate evidence for reduced pain for tendinopathy when combined with exercise when compared to a sham treatment. Tendinopathy is chronic tendon pain and inflammation. But when the researchers compared other treatment methods in combination with exercise to red light therapy and exercise, they found no difference.

“When asked if it ‘actually works,’” says Alyssa Casciorizzo, DNP, APRN, an aesthetic dermatology nurse practitioner, “I state that it can be effective when used correctly and for appropriate indications.”

But she adds, “Many people tend to have unrealistic expectations. Red light therapy should be used as an adjunct to other treatments and not a standalone solution or a quick fix that they saw on social media.”

Red light therapy devices undergo clearance with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), rather than approval. Clearance for various conditions depends on the specific device. The list below features the range of conditions cleared across various devices.

• Wrinkles: “Red light therapy helps your skin do what it’s naturally designed to do, heal and repair itself,” says Brandon Beal, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at St. Louis Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery. “It can calm inflammation, reduce redness, and support collagen production over time.” The loss of collagen and elastin is part of why we develop wrinkles as we age.
• Acne: “I tell my patients it is not a quick fix, but it works,” Dr. Beal says. “It won’t erase acne overnight, but with consistent use, it can help your skin stay calmer, stronger, and more resilient.”
• Muscle and joint pain: “Clinically, red and near-infrared light therapy have been used for reducing inflammation, wound healing, musculoskeletal pain, [and] muscle recovery,” says Dr. Casciorizzo.
• Androgenic alopecia: “One of the most well-supported applications is androgenetic alopecia, or pattern hair loss,” says Dr. Palm. “Multiple studies have demonstrated that low-level light therapy can help prolong the anagen—or growth—phase of the hair cycle and improve hair density in appropriately selected patients.”

The terms red light therapy and infrared therapy can be confusing. They are sometimes used for similar issues, and even in the same devices, but they are different.

• Red light therapy: is on the visible light spectrum (620 to 750 nanometers), doesn’t use heat, and treats surface level concerns.
• Infrared light therapy: is invisible (750 nanometers to 1 millimeter), uses some heat and penetrates deeper.

Several devices include red light wavelengths as well as near-infrared wavelengths, which range from 700 to 2,500 nanometers. Devices that include near-infrared wavelengths often stick 700 to 850 nanometers.

We asked our experts for tips on buying a device. “It’s important to recognize that not all red light devices are made the same,” Dr. Palm says.

“The tips I give for buying a device is firstly to make sure it is FDA-cleared,” says Dr. Casciorizzo. “Secondly, a device should clearly disclose its wavelengths.”

Dr. Weiser agrees. “It implies safety and efficacy, and simultaneously shows that the company is invested in the quality of the product they are producing,” she says.

Here are some Truemed partner picks of red light therapy devices you can choose from based on what you’d like to use the device for.

Cap/Helmet Pick: iRESTORE Elite

• FDA info: This cap or helmet is FDA-cleared to treat alopecia, thinning hair, and a receding hairline for both males and females.
• Wavelengths: It features 625 nm, 655 nm, and 680 nm wavelengths.

Mask Pick: iRESTORE Illuma Face Mask

• FDA info: This mask is FDA-cleared for supporting skin health, including reducing wrinkles, addressing acne, and enhancing skin texture.
• Wavelengths: It uses 635 nm for red light therapy and 830 nm for near-infrared.

Neck and Chest Pick: Solawave Neck & Chest Rejuvenating Mask

• FDA info: This neck and chest mask is FDA-cleared for treating fine lines and wrinkles.
• Wavelengths: It uses a combination of 630 nm for red light therapy and 830 nm for near-infrared.

Wand Pick: Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand

• FDA info: This convenient portable option is cleared for supporting the health of face and neck skin, specifically for reducing fine lines and wrinkles.
• Wavelengths: It features 630 nm.

Pad/Mat Pick: LumyHealth Dual-Pulse Red Light Therapy Mat for Pain Relief

• FDA registered: This device is FDA registered and is intended for muscle- and joint-pain relief.
• Wavelengths: It uses a combination of 660 nm for red light therapy and 850 nm for near-infrared.

In some instances, red light therapy devices may be eligible for purchase using your HSA or FSA dollars. Read on for details on how. This can help save you money in the long run.

What is an HSA and FSA?

• HSA: This is a personal savings account, meaning you own it and get to take it with you if you leave your job, and the funds rollover year to year. It can only be used if you have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP).
• FSA: This is an employer-owned account that you cannot take with you if you leave your job. The funds are meant to be used within the plan’s year, with exceptions for grace periods and carryovers.

These accounts are funded with your pre-tax dollars

• Salaried employee: If you contribute to an HSA or FSA directly from your payroll, those contributions are taken out before your employer withholds income and payroll tax.
• Self-employed or having an HSA not linked to your employer: Contributions are tax deductible, reducing your taxable income.

Buying eligible items with your HSA or FSA can feel like using a 30% off discount code because you are using pre-tax dollars.

As noted above, you might be able to purchase some red light therapy devices with your HSA or FSA dollars. Red light therapy devices might be eligible expenses for these health benefit accounts if you’re using the product to address a specific medical condition. If approved by an independent licensed clinician, such conditions might include the following: androgenic alopecia, acne vulgaris, and other skin conditions.

You might need a letter of medical necessity (LMN). An LMN is a formal document from a licensed healthcare provider that explains why a certain product, treatment, or service is necessary to treat, mitigate, or prevent a medical condition.

Certain health products and services may be eligible for qualified customers with an LMN issued by an independent practitioner via Truemed’s clinical partner, when the item is used to address a specific medical condition.

Truemed* specializes in helping you maximize your FSA, HSA, and other health-related benefits:

• First, you can check whether a product or service is normally considered a qualifying medical expense or whether you might need an LMN.
• If an LMN is appropriate, an independent licensed practitioner (via Truemed’s clinical partner) will review your medical history, and if you qualify, they’ll issue the LMN. Truemed itself does not make eligibility determinations.
• You can then pay for qualifying products and services with your HSA’s or FSA’s debit card or get reimbursed for expenses after submitting your LMN and receipts.
• Truemed also offers support in the event you get a denial of reimbursement and need to provide substantiation documentation.

*Truemed is for qualified customers. HSA/FSA tax savings vary. Learn more at truemed.com/disclosures