Mental Health & Wellness > Wellness Matters

Red light therapy for acne, pain, and hair loss: Evidence vs hype

By Lisa Marie BasileFact-checked by Barbara BekieszPublished July 28, 2026

Industry Buzz

While RLT may be overhyped by marketers and social media influencers, there is encouraging evidence supporting its use as an adjunct to (rather than a replacement for) evidence-based rehabilitation and treatment.

—Mariam Zakhary, DO

A positive study using a specific medical device and protocol does not automatically validate every mask, panel, or full-body bed being marketed at a spa.

—Elise Min, MD, FACS

You’ve probably seen red light therapy (RLT)—otherwise known as photobiomodulation—gaining major traction in the beauty world, with celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Nicole Kidman swearing by its skin-rejuvenating properties.^[]

But do its benefits reach beyond the merely aesthetic and into clinical territory? According to a Cureus examination of available clinical data on red and near-infrared (NIR) light, there is some evidence that RLT has a place in dermatology—with uses in acne management, wound healing, and androgenetic alopecia. RLT may even reduce musculoskeletal pain and inflammation.^[]

That said, an endless number of claims, proliferated on social media,^[] aren’t yet entirely backed by evidence. So, where does RLT land on the fact-or-fiction spectrum?

The experts shine a light on photobiomodulation

“While RLT may be overhyped by marketers and social media influencers, there is encouraging evidence supporting its use as an adjunct to, rather than a replacement for, evidence-based rehabilitation and treatment,” says Mariam Zakhary, DO, a sports medicine physician.

Dr. Zakhary also notes that while many tout its miraculous anti-aging abilities, the evidence is still scant. “RLT to slow aging or enhance cognitive function continues to be in its infancy and does not currently provide sufficient rationale to support regular use,” she says.

And while Dr. Zakhary says she doesn’t discourage patients from using RLT, she swears by more tried-and-tested approaches: “A combination of exercise, adequate sleep, proper nutrition, and physical therapy continues to provide the biggest evidence-based health benefits for muscle health compared to red light therapy.” Another inherent limitation to RLT is that there’s no standardized intervention, explains Elise Min, MD, FACS, a plastic surgeon. “A positive study using a specific medical device and protocol does not automatically validate every mask, panel, or full-body bed being marketed at a spa,” she says. “While RLT can provide modest improvements in fine lines, skin texture, collagen density, acne, and certain types of hair loss…I counsel patients to expect subtle, gradual improvement rather than results comparable to resurfacing lasers, injectables, or surgery.”

What about red light therapy for hair?

“Red light therapy for hair loss is very much in my wheelhouse,” says Ken Anderson, MD, FAACS, FISHRS, a hair restoration surgeon. He notes that while doing research on RLT for hair loss care, he expected the results to be mixed—but it wasn’t the case. “Every single clinical trial about using photobiomodulation to treat hair loss showed benefits,” he says.

“Red light therapy is neither a miracle nor a gimmick. Also, it's not something I would ever recommend as a stand-alone treatment. RLT is a useful and effective adjunctive treatment for hair loss when combined with a broader medical treatment plan for hair loss, such as medications like finasteride and minoxidil,” Dr. Anderson says.

Dr. Anderson emphasizes that physicians should know that RLT isn’t a one-and-done treatment. “It has to be used consistently. This is not something a patient can use once a week or only when they remember, and expect meaningful results. Continued long-term use is also important because hair loss is progressive and has no cure. The goal is not just to stimulate some growth, but to help preserve existing hair and slow the ongoing process of hair loss.”

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