What is Light Therapy? The Benefits For Skin, Pain Relief, and Wellness

Feb 13, 2025 | Biohacking/Popular Topics, Light Therapy

Summary:

  • Different types of LED therapy penetrate the body at different levels
  • Consistent use of at-home devices generates results
  • Light therapy can improve skin appearance, muscle recovery, joint pain, and hair growth

LED: A New Frontier

What is light therapy? Well, imagine a world where light, something we experience every day, holds the key to healthier skin, faster muscle recovery, and even improved mental health. It might sound futuristic, but LED light therapy has quietly made its way from medical offices to at-home treatments, offering an accessible, non-invasive way to address everything from acne to joint pain. If you’re curious about how this works, and how to increase your skin’s radiance or relieve chronic pain, it’s time to dive into the illuminating world of light therapy. Read more: Light Therapy: Natural Benefits for Seasonal Affective Disorder… Books: Red Light Therapy: Miracle Medicine…

How Does Light Therapy Work?

How to be your healthiest, most radiant self? One key way is understanding what is light therapy? And how it works. Different wavelengths, from blue to near-infrared light, target varying depths of the skin. Some of these wavelengths are visible to the human eye, like blue and red light, while others, like infrared light, work invisibly to deliver deeper benefits. This process activates cellular responses that increase skin repair, reduce pain, and improve your body’s natural healing process.

Types of Light Therapy and Their Benefits

  • Blue Light Therapy for Acne: Blue light penetrates the upper layers of skin, helping to kill acne-causing bacteria. It’s a popular treatment for clearer skin.
  • Yellow Light Therapy for Skin Radiance: Yellow light reaches deeper into the skin to reduce redness and give you that coveted healthy glow.
  • Red Light Therapy for Anti-Aging: Red light goes even further, stimulating collagen production. This can help reduce wrinkles and increase skin elasticity.

Try: DOSE Red Light Mask, Dr. Dennis Gross Mask, Dr. Dennis Gross Lip Mask, Dr. Dennis Gross Eye Mask

  • Near-Infrared Light for Muscle Recovery: Near-infrared light penetrates deepest, helping with muscle soreness, tissue repair, and overall relaxation.

Try: Red Infrared Therapy Mat

  • Far-Infrared Light Therapy for Pain Relief: By generating heat, far-infrared light targets muscles and improves circulation, making it a go-to for pain management.
  • Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT): How to increase the depth and precision of light therapy? LLLT is the more intensive, medical-grade version of light therapy. It targets deeper tissues, making it effective for wound healing, musculoskeletal disorders, and chronic pain relief.

Try: Laser Hair Growth System

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Light Therapy at Home

What is light therapy doing from home? Here are some essential tips for using light therapy at home to achieve the best results:

  1. Choose a high-quality device with plenty of LEDs and appropriate nanometer wattage.
  2. For maximum results, use red light above 630nm, blue light above 400nm, and near-infrared above 800nm.
  3. Stay consistent—regular treatments are the easiest way to achieve noticeable results.

Try: Red Light for Face and Neck, Full Body Infrared Light (35.8″) Books: Healing With Red Light Therapy: How Red and Near-Infrared Light Can Manage Pain, Combat Aging, and Transform Your Health 

LED light therapy uses specific wavelengths, from blue for acne to red and infrared for anti-aging and muscle recovery, transforming skin health, easing chronic pain, and supporting healing—all in a non-invasive, accessible way.

What Can LED Light Therapy Treat?

  • LED light therapy is a versatile treatment with a range of benefits:
  • Boost collagen production and reduce fine lines for more youthful skin
  • Ease pain from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other joint conditions
  • Support muscle performance and recovery after workouts or injury
  • Promote hair regrowth
  • Improve thyroid function in autoimmune hypothyroidism
  • Reduce symptoms of depression

Try: Red Light for Pelvic Floor Books: Illuminated Healing…

Medical-Grade vs. At-Home LED Devices: What’s the Difference?

In-office treatments use higher-powered machines that deliver faster, more dramatic results. However, at-home LED devices can still be highly effective and cost-friendly if you choose the right one. Look for FDA-approved options like the HigherDose or Dr. Dennis Gross LED masks, which deliver consistent results over time. While you won’t see overnight transformations, research shows the right device and regular use are the easiest way to see improvements in your skin, pain levels, and overall wellness (10). Be sure to ask your chiropractor, pain management physician, or rheumatologist about LED and Laser treatments for injury and joint pain, or if there are safety concerns specific to you.

Ready to Take Control of Your Health?

The beauty of light therapy is that it’s accessible to everyone. What is light therapy useful for?—whether you’re tackling wrinkles, acne, or muscle recovery, the tools to transform your skin and body are right at your fingertips. By exploring some of the recommended products, books, and supplements, you’re taking the first step toward feeling more empowered and in control of your health. The journey to wellness is about making small, consistent choices that lead to big, positive changes.

DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro
$455.00

DR. DENNIS

Wrinkles * Firming * Skin Tone * Collagen * Acne

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01/13/2026 03:01 am GMT
Red Light Therapy Mask
$349.00

HIGHERDOSE

Skin Glow * Wrinkles * Acne * Collagen * Healing * Fine Lines * Redness

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01/12/2026 07:01 pm GMT
Portable Infrared Light
$139.00 $129.00

BESTQOOL

Skin * Pain * Inflammation * Muscle Recovery * Sleep

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01/13/2026 03:05 am GMT
Full Body Infrared Light Therapy
$499.00

BESTQOOL

Led Technology * Red and NIR Therapy * High Irradiance * Durable Design

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4 Wavelengths Full Body Near Infrared Light Therapy
$589.00

BESTQOOL

FSA or HSA Eligible * Enhanced ESPEO

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01/13/2026 10:00 am GMT
Red Light Therapy Device
$899.00

BESTQOOL

Pain * Muscles * Skin * Circulation * Wounds

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Red Infrared Light Therapy Mat
$1,699.00

MEGELIN

Full Body Relief * Relaxation * Calmness * Skin Rejuvenation

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Infrared Sauna Blanket
$699.00

HIGHERDOSE

Relax * Recovery * Grounding * Low EMF & ELF * Ditch Extra Calories

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01/12/2026 10:04 pm GMT
References
  1. Wunsch, Alexander; Matuschka, Karsten (2014). A Controlled Trial To Determine The Efficacy Of Red And Near-Infrared Light Treatment In Patient Satisfaction, Reduction Of Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Skin Roughness, And Intradermal Collagen Density Increase Photomedicine And Laser Surgery 32, 2.
  2. Sadick, Neil S (2008). A Study To Determine The Efficacy Of A Novel Handheld Light-Emitting Diode Device In The Treatment Of Photoaged Skin Journal Of Cosmetic Dermatology 7, 4.
  3. Chia, Wen-Chun; Chang, Ching-Hsiang; Hou, Wen-Hsuan (2021). Effects Of Laser Therapy On Rheumatoid Arthritis American Journal Of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 100, 11.
  4. Dutra, Yago M.; Malta, Elvis De Souza; Elias, Amanda S.; Broatch, James R.; Zagatto, Alessandro M. (2022). Deconstructing The Ergogenic Effects Of Photobiomodulation: A Systematic Review And Meta-analysis Of Its Efficacy In Improving Mode-Specific Exercise Performance In Humans Sports Medicine 52, 11.
  5. Gupta, A. K.; Carviel, J. L. (2019). Meta-analysis Of Photobiomodulation For The Treatment Of Androgenetic Alopecia Journal Of Dermatological Treatment 32, 6.
  6. Höfling, Danilo B.; Chavantes, Maria Cristina; Juliano, Adriana G.; Cerri, Giovanni G.; Knobel, Meyer; Yoshimura, Elisabeth Mateus, et al. (2012). Low-level Laser In The Treatment Of Patients With Hypothyroidism Induced By Chronic Autoimmune Thyroiditis: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial Lasers In Medical Science 28, 3.
  7. Wagner, Vivian Petersen; Curra, Marina; Webber, Liana Preto; Nör, Carolina; Matte, Ursula; Meurer, Luise, et al. (2016). Photobiomodulation Regulates Cytokine Release And New Blood Vessel Formation During Oral Wound Healing In Rats Lasers In Medical Science 31, 4.
  8. Lodi, G.; Sannino, M.; Cannarozzo, G.; Giudice, A.; Del Duca, E.; Tamburi, F., et al. (2021). Blue Light-Emitting Diodes In Hair Regrowth: The First Prospective Study Lasers In Medical Science 36, 8.
  9. Hamblin, Michael; Heiskanen, Vladimir (2018). Photobiomodulation: Lasersvs.Light Emitting Diodes? Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences 17, 8. Liu V. (2007). Blue-light therapy warding of skin cancer.
  10. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pho.2013.3616
  11. https://uihc.org/health-library/blue-light-therapy-warding-skin-cancer
  12. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Photodynamic therapy: Overview.
  13. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4479368/
  14. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/in-depth/seasonal-affective-disorder-treatment/art-20048298
  15. https://opticsmag.com/far-infrared-vs-near-infrared/

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