Do LED Light Masks Really Work?

Do LED Masks Actually Work?

The research behind LED masks is centered on the lights used, and if you’re going on those findings, LED masks can be beneficial to your skin.

For instance, in a March 2017 study in Dermatologic Surgery of more than 50 women, researchers found that red LED light treatment improved measures of eye-area wrinkles.

When it comes to acne, a March/April 2017 issue of Clinics in Dermatology that reviewed available research noted that red and/or blue light therapy for acne reduced blemishes by 46 to 76 percent after 4 to 12 weeks of treatment. That said, other research on blue light, like a review in the Annals of Family Medicine in November/December 2019, are far less promising when it comes to blue light’s ability to clear skin.

Research shows that blue light penetrates skin’s hair follicles and pores. “Bacteria can be very susceptible to the blue light spectrum. It stops their metabolism and kills them,” says Solomon. This is advantageous for preventing future breakouts. “Unlike topical treatments that work to ease inflammation and bacteria on the surface of the skin, light treatment eliminates the acne-causing bacteria in the skin before it begins to feed on the oil glands, causing redness and inflammation,” she adds. Because red light reduces inflammation, it also may be used in combination with blue light to address acne.

But it’s helpful to keep your expectations in check. “Not all at-home devices deliver the same strength that a clinical device can. What can be accomplished at home will not always have the same effect as what can be achieved at a dermatologist’s office, where treatment is calibrated and regulated,” says Solomon.

Another consideration is that you have a good skin-care regimen set in place to act in conjunction with light therapy. “This isn’t a good monotherapy. Light devices can help as long as they’re used with topicals or in-office treatments,” says Dr. Farber.