Red light therapy (photobiomodulation) shines low-level red or near-infrared light onto the skin. Small clinic trials suggest modest changes in how facial skin looks.[1] Home devices run at lower power than clinic equipment,[2] and researchers have called for proper trials of home use.[3] For cellulite, body measurements and exercise recovery, the evidence is weak. Protect your eyes, and check the ARTG whenever a device makes a medical claim.
- What it is: low-level red or near-infrared light from LEDs or low-level lasers, not ultraviolet (UV) light.[4][5]
- Evidence: weak for every goal covered here, from how facial skin looks to cellulite, body measurements and exercise recovery.
- Home devices vary: a lab test of five handheld and intra-oral LED devices found variable output and dosing directions that wouldn't deliver an accurate dose.[3]
- Eyes first: LED light can be a hazard to the eyes, depending on its intensity and how long you're exposed.[6]
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy is the everyday name for photobiomodulation (PBM): exposing skin to low-level red or near-infrared light, delivered by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) or low-level lasers.[4][7] You'll also see it called LED therapy or low-level light therapy.
The leading theory is that cells absorb the light through an enzyme in their mitochondria, the parts of cells that produce energy, which then changes how those cells signal.[4] How much light reaches your skin depends on the device's output, how widely its beam spreads, the distance and the session length,[3][4] so the numbers on a label don't always tell the whole story.[3]
Red or near-infrared: reading the numbers
Wavelengths are quoted in nanometres (nm). Researchers define red light as roughly 620–700 nm, at the top of the visible range (400–700 nm), and near-infrared as roughly 700–1,440 nm, just beyond it.[4] Red is visible; near-infrared is hard or impossible to see, so a device can be giving out more light than it appears to. Many devices combine both: in a 2026 study of social media posts, red plus near-infrared devices were the type most often recommended (63.7%).[8] Ultraviolet light has shorter wavelengths, from 100 to 400 nm.[5]
Does red light therapy work? What the research shows
It depends on what you're hoping for. Most studies use clinic equipment, fixed doses and small groups of volunteers, so read each result as "in the conditions studied", not as a promise for any device you can buy.
| Goal | What the research shows | Our evidence rating |
|---|---|---|
| How facial skin looks | A 2018 review of 31 LED trials gave LED use for the look of facial skin a grade C recommendation, based on six small trials, on a scale where A is strongest.[1] A 2026 review of home skin devices, including LED, notes that their results are generally "more gradual and less pronounced" than those from professional equipment.[2] | Weak |
| Cellulite | The same 2018 review advised against LEDs for thigh cellulite, based on a single trial of nine people.[1] A 2024 review of 32 cellulite studies using light and other energy-based devices rated only two as well designed.[9] | Weak |
| Body measurements | A 2025 review found only three small randomised trials (160 people) of low-level laser for body measurements. They reported short-term changes in tape measurements, but varying protocols and follow-up made long-term results hard to judge.[10] | Weak |
| Exercise recovery | A 2025 review of whole-body light beds found no evidence of benefit for recovery or performance.[11] Its authors note that studies of light applied to specific muscles have reported benefits, and that more research is needed to explain the difference.[11] | Weak |
If cellulite is the reason you're looking, it's worth knowing that it's seen in up to 90% of women and, as the Australasian College of Dermatologists puts it, isn't really a disease.[12] Our guide to what cellulite is and why so many people have it is a calmer place to start than a device listing. Our comparison of cellulite treatments covers red light therapy for cellulite alongside creams, devices and clinic options.
Why social media sounds more certain than the research
A 2026 analysis of 132 social media posts promoting home red light devices, with a combined audience of about 47.5 million followers, found that only 8.3% cited peer-reviewed research. The authors concluded that the claimed benefits are "often well beyond substantiated evidence".[8]
Red light therapy at home: masks, panels and handheld devices
Home skin devices, including LED ones, run at lower energy levels than professional equipment.[2] They also vary a lot from one to the next: when researchers measured five intra-oral and handheld home LED devices, output stability was variable, the beam spread widely, and the manufacturers' dosing directions were inconsistent with accurate dose delivery.[3]
- Face masks sit at a fixed distance and cover the face only. Check how the eye area is shielded and what the instructions say about your eyes. More in our guide to LED face masks in Australia.
- Panels are larger flat units you sit or stand in front of. Light spreads as it travels, so the distance you choose changes how much reaches your skin.[3] Look for a stated distance and session time.
- Handheld devices cover a small area and are held against or near the skin.
- Full-body beds are large units you lie in; the review of whole-body light above found no evidence of benefit for recovery or performance.[11]
How long and how often?
There's no evidence-based standard dose for home use yet: researchers writing in a dermatology journal in 2024 said future clinical trials are needed to produce standardised recommendations.[7] Follow the device's instructions, and don't assume that more time or more power means more benefit. Results vary, and some people may not see the change they were hoping for.
Red light therapy risks and who should avoid it
Australia's radiation protection agency, ARPANSA, notes that LED light can be a hazard to the eyes, depending on how intense it is and how long you're exposed.[6] In July 2019, a home-use light therapy face mask was recalled in Australia after it was identified that repeated exposure could cause retinal damage in a small group of people with certain eye disorders.[13]
In clinical studies, the most commonly reported skin side effect is temporary redness.[4] If you have an eye condition, or you're unsure whether a light device suits you, ask your GP, optometrist or pharmacist before you start.
Red light devices and the ARTG: what Australians should know
In Australia, a product used for a medical purpose, such as diagnosing, preventing, treating or alleviating a disease, may be a medical device, and most medical devices need to be included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).[14] Some light-based devices are included in the ARTG as medical devices, and you can search the register yourself.[15]
ARPANSA notes that devices used for cosmetic treatments are not necessarily approved by the TGA, because their cosmetic use is not considered medical.[6]
How to check a device on the ARTG
- Search the ARTG on the TGA website by product name, sponsor (the supplier) or ARTG ID.[15]
- Check that the sponsor and manufacturer match the product you're looking at.
- Open the public summary and read the intended purpose. Ads for ARTG-included products must not be inconsistent with the intended purpose recorded there,[16] so an ad that claims more is a red flag.
- No entry, but a medical claim? Be cautious about the claim, and ask your GP or pharmacist.
Quick answers
Can you see near-infrared light?
Red is visible; near-infrared is hard or impossible to see, so a device can be giving out more light than it appears to.
Are cosmetic light devices on the ARTG?
Not always. ARPANSA notes that devices used for cosmetic treatments are not necessarily approved by the TGA, because their cosmetic use is not considered medical.[6] Some light-based devices are included in the ARTG as medical devices, and you can search the register yourself.[15]
Sources
16 sources
- Jagdeo J, Austin E, Mamalis A, Wong C, Ho D, Siegel DM. Light-emitting diodes in dermatology: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 2018;50(6):613–628. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6099480/
- Layne MR, Weiser JA. The safety and efficacy of at-home devices for skin care. Facial Plastic Surgery. 2026;42(5):571–578. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2875-0254
- Cronshaw M, Parker S, Hamadah O, Arnabat-Dominguez J, Grootveld M. Photobiomodulation LED devices for home use: design, function and potential: a pilot study. Dentistry Journal. 2025;13(2):76. https://doi.org/10.3390/dj13020076
- Maghfour J, Ozog DM, Mineroff J, Jagdeo J, Kohli I, Lim HW. Photobiomodulation CME part I: overview and mechanism of action. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2024;91(5):793–802. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2023.10.073
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). Ultraviolet radiation. Accessed 5 October 2026. https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/what-is-radiation/non-ionising-radiation/ultraviolet-radiation
- Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). Lasers, IPL sources and LED phototherapy in the cosmetic and beauty therapy industry (advisory note, undated; refers to a 2015 public consultation). Accessed 5 October 2026. https://www.arpansa.gov.au/understanding-radiation/sources-radiation/more-radiation-sources/lasers-and-intense-pulsed-light-ipl
- Mineroff J, Maghfour J, Ozog DM, Lim HW, Kohli I, Jagdeo J. Photobiomodulation CME part II: clinical applications in dermatology. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2024;91(5):805–815. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2023.10.074
- Merkle T, Tomczak L, Do K, Aji M, Ilyas E. At-home red light therapy devices: promotion and recommendation patterns on social media in the context of limited evidence. Cureus. 2026;18(2):e103274. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.103274
- Longano C, de Faria Coelho C, Buslik SA, Foguel C, Katsuragi C, Leonardo PS, Lopes-Martins RÁB. Does electrophysical agents work for cellulite treatment? A systematic review of clinical trials. Lasers in Medical Science. 2024;39(1):120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-024-04068-1
- Mustafa GA, Alawi YF, Kasem MS, et al. Low-level laser therapy for reducing body circumferences: a systematic review. Lasers in Medical Science. 2025;40(1):534. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-025-04755-7
- Álvarez-Martínez M, Borden G. A systematic review on whole-body photobiomodulation for exercise performance and recovery. Lasers in Medical Science. 2025;40(1):55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-025-04318-w
- Australasian College of Dermatologists. A–Z of skin: Cellulite (Dr Adrian Lim). Last updated December 2023. https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/atoz/cellulite/
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Neutrogena Visibly Clear Light Therapy Acne Mask and Activator (market action). 17 July 2019. https://www.tga.gov.au/safety/recalls-and-other-market-actions/market-actions/neutrogena-visibly-clear-light-therapy-acne-mask-and-activator
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Determining if your medical device should be in the ARTG. Published 21 June 2022, last updated 23 October 2024. https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/guidance/determining-if-your-medical-device-should-be-artg
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG) search. Accessed 5 October 2026. https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/artg
- Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Applying the Advertising Code rules: general requirements. 2024. https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/guidance/applying-advertising-code-rules-general-requirements