Red light and skin: what the research shows
A plain summary of what controlled studies on red and near-infrared light have measured in skin, and what a session at AURORA is like.
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Based on the latest research available at the time of review
Red light is everywhere right now: face masks, wall panels, full-body pods. With so many claims around, it helps to go back to the studies. Here's what researchers actually measured when they looked at red light and skin.
In plain words
Red light therapy is also called photobiomodulation (PBM). It uses visible red light (roughly 600–700 nm) and near-infrared light (roughly 800–1,000 nm), which you can't see but can feel as a gentle warmth. It isn't ultraviolet, so it doesn't tan you, and it isn't a sauna.
The best-studied idea is that this light is absorbed by mitochondria, the energy-producing parts of your cells, which can change how those cells work. In skin, research has focused on fibroblasts, the cells that make collagen. A widely cited review summarises this work Avci 2013.
Wondering how this differs from taking collagen? We explain that in Collagen, red light and the difference between feeding the body and stimulating it. This post sticks to what skin studies measured.
What the research found
Collagen and skin texture
The trial closest to a full-body pod is Wunsch 2014. 136 volunteers took part: 113 had sessions twice a week with large full-body light units, 30 sessions in total, and 23 served as a control group. Compared with the control group, the people who had sessions reported that their skin felt better, and measurements showed smoother skin and higher collagen density on ultrasound. Assessors who didn't know which group each photo came from also rated the skin as improved.
Barolet 2009 started in the lab: 660 nm light raised collagen production in a lab-grown skin model. In a follow-up group of people, most showed less wrinkle depth and roughness on measurement after 12 sessions.
Fine lines
In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, Lee 2007 gave 76 people sessions on one half of the face, twice a week for four weeks, with 633 nm, 830 nm, both, or a sham light. In the three real-light groups, wrinkle measurements fell by up to 36% and skin elasticity rose by up to 19% compared with where they started. Skin samples showed more collagen and elastic fibres.
Russell 2005 used a 633 + 830 nm combination for 9 sessions in 31 people and measured smoother skin around the eyes at 12 weeks. In Nam 2017, 52 women used 660 nm red light daily for 12 weeks, and wrinkle measurements around the eyes improved compared with the start.
What the studies have in common
Most of these trials used two or three sessions a week (one used daily sessions) for one to four months, and the changes were measured gradually, not after a single session. Results vary from person to person and research is ongoing. We can tell you what studies found; we can't promise the same result for you.
Check first
Red light is often discussed around laser procedures, peels and microneedling. Your doctor decides: book a session only after the doctor who did your procedure gives you the OK. If you've had photodynamic therapy (PDT), your skin stays sensitive to light for a while, so please don't come in without your doctor's clearance. We'll cover procedures in a separate post.
The same applies if you're pregnant, take medication that makes you sensitive to light, or have a skin or medical condition: check with your doctor first.
At AURORA
Sessions take place in a private room. You lie in one of our 3 full-body pods, which cover your whole body, front and back, with red and near-infrared light at 633, 660, 810, 850 and 940 nm (more on each on our wavelengths page). The pods are ventilated, so you feel a gentle warmth rather than heat. A session lasts 12 minutes, and then you're straight back to your day.
Every room has two sizes of goggles, small and larger. They're optional: you can simply keep your eyes closed, but if you're sensitive to light you'll probably find the goggles more comfortable.
If skin is your goal, a regular routine matters more than any single session. Keep up your sunscreen and usual skincare: red light doesn't replace either.
Quick questions
Does it feel hot? No. You feel a gentle warmth, and the pod is ventilated throughout the session.
Will it tan me? No. Red and near-infrared light aren't ultraviolet, so they don't tan the skin. That's also why you still need sunscreen outside.
When did people in the studies notice changes? The trials above measured changes after several weeks of regular sessions (for example 8 sessions over four weeks, or 30 sessions over about three and a half months), not after one visit.
Can I combine it with my skincare routine? Usually yes. If you use prescription products or medication that makes your skin sensitive to light, ask your doctor or pharmacist first.
Come and see us
We're at Carrer del Comerç 31, in El Born. Walk in to see the pods and ask us anything, or see prices. You can read more about full-body red light therapy on our site.
This article is for general information and isn't medical advice. AURORA is a wellness centre, not a medical clinic.
Sources
Avci P, et al. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2013;32(1):41–52. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24049929/
Barolet D, et al. J Invest Dermatol. 2009;129(12):2751–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/jid.2009.186
Lee SY, et al. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2007;88(1):51–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2007.04.008
Nam CH, et al. Dermatol Surg. 2017;43(3):371–80. https://doi.org/10.1097/DSS.0000000000000981
Russell BA, et al. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2005;7(3–4):196–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/14764170500370059
Wunsch A, Matuschka K. Photomed Laser Surg. 2014;32(2):93–100. https://doi.org/10.1089/pho.2013.3616
Last reviewed: October 2026. This post is based on the latest research available at the time of review. We follow new studies and update or correct this post when the evidence changes; outdated information is corrected or removed.
Changelog: Oct 2026 · Published.
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