Think of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, and imagine your face being bathed in the soft glow of the light emitted from that nose.
Why are we asking you to do this? Well, because this holiday shopping season red light therapy masks are becoming a hot item, as Axios recently reported. We’ll explain what they are and if you should think about getting one.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “red light is a popular treatment for skin concerns, especially signs of aging like wrinkles, age spots, and sagging skin,” as well as weight loss. Many red light devices, including red light masks, are available for people to purchase and use at home.
A recent survey of 2,000 people conducted by Talker Research on behalf of NEOSTRATA, revealed that over half of women (54%) were concerned others will notice signs of them aging. Even younger people, including 38% of millennials and 34% of Gen Z, already feel older than their age. The survey also found that more than half of millennials and Gen Z were stressed about getting older.
“Further, almost half of women noticed the first signs of aging skin by the age of 40,” said the survey press release. “Fine lines on their face (44%) and forehead wrinkles (32%) were two signs that women noticed most often, along with age spots (32%) and creases or lines in their neck (15%).”
To help combat aging, 70% of the women surveyed take their skincare routines seriously and 64% use between one and four different products on any given day, said Talker.
While red light therapy has become a trendy anti-aging tool in recent years, its history goes back to the turn of the 20th century. NASA explained that a Danish physician received a Nobel Prize in 1903 for discovering that exposure to concentrated red light accelerated the healing of sores.
More than 80 years later, biophysicist Tiina Karu discussed the benefits of low-powered laser light in a paper. She said in the 1989 publication that the treatment appeared “highly incredible and even mysterious,” said NASA. Per the Cleveland Clinic, NASA also began experimenting with red light to help support plant growth and wound healing.
Karu hypothesized that red light worked by stimulating mitochondria that drive metabolism in animal cells.
“This would accelerate cell production and relieve oxidative stress, a factor that causes inflammation and symptoms of aging and ultimately contributes to diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and other illnesses,” NASA said. Now, it is believed that red and infrared wavelengths are absorbed by cytochrome C oxidase, a key enzyme in cellular metabolism.
Dermatologists typically recommend red light as a complementary therapy paired with other treatments such as micron-needling and chemical peels, the American Academy of Dermatology noted.
“Many researchers say more clinical trials are needed to confirm its effectiveness as a treatment,” according to the Cleveland Clinic. “If you’re interested in red light therapy, ask your healthcare provider if this is an option for your skin issue.”
One widely medically accepted use of red light is photodynamic therapy, said the clinic. That therapy uses low-power red laser light to activate a photosensitizer drug and it is sometimes used to treat skin cancer, psoriasis, acne, warts, and more.
Cleveland Clinic also noted that red light therapy appears to be safe and that it isn’t associated with any side effects if used as directed. However, the American Academy of Dermatologists said it may not be suitable for people with conditions that make them sensitive to light, such as lupus, or those who are taking medications that make them sensitive to light.
After consulting with a physician, Axios also recommends that people interested in buying red light masks check the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's database for clearance claims.