A client lays under a red light for a therapy session, though she does wonder: does red light therapy work?
KEY TAKEAWAYS:  Red light therapy promises to be a powerful way to improve skin and overall health, making it an intriguing option for beauty pros. But the question is: does red light therapy work?


Whether you’re a beauty pro at the top of your craft or a customer who is passionate about the latest industry innovations, determining what trends are actually worth investing in can be a challenging part of your journey.

Red light therapy has exploded in popularity and for good reason. It promises incredible benefits that improve skin health, stimulate healing, and more, but how legitimate are these claims?

Before adding this service to your beauty biz offerings, it’s important to do your research and confirm that it provides the results you want in a safe, effective manner. That’s where our guide to red light therapy shines!

Does Red Light Therapy Work? Everything Beauty Pros Should Know

Before jumping into the pros and cons of red light therapy, it’s essential to understand exactly what it is.

Red light therapy uses low-level lasers (red light) to stimulate cells to produce mitochondria. It’s a simple service with a deep impact.

Red light therapy has grown in popularity, and it looks like a trend that is here to stay. While it is something that can be done at home, many members of your target audience prefer to turn to professionals for their red light therapy because the lights are stronger (and therefore more potent).

Red Light Therapy Benefits

Stimulates Hair Growth

Whether you use a cap, comb, helmet, or other red light device to encourage hair growth, one of the best uses of this innovative treatment is its ability to stimulate hair follicles.

This can be particularly effective for clients who have already lost hair or are experiencing hair aging or loss.

Red light therapy for hair growth works for both hereditary and hormonal causes of hair loss, making it an excellent choice for individuals who want to reclaim their confidence without the use of medication.

Reduces the Presence of Acne

Light therapy has been used to treat acne for a long time, but red light therapy offers several advantages over traditional blue light (photodynamic therapy or PDT). Rather than destroying bacteria and the glands that produce oil, red light therapy prompts a biological response without harming any cells.

In other words, red light therapy works with the body to decrease skin oil secretion and heal acne lesions. While red light therapy and PDT are often used together to reach optimal results, red light therapy alone can drastically reduce the presence of acne.

A red light therapy mask is placed on a client's face. The esthetician has discussed red therapy benefits.

Improves the Health and Appearance of Skin

When it comes to red light therapy in the beauty industry, one of the most common uses is to improve the health and appearance of skin. Red light therapy can actually help skin look (and feel) younger, making it a potent and popular treatment that many of your clients would undoubtedly love to try.

For example, red light therapy can reduce dark spots and discoloration, ease fine lines and wrinkles, and tighten loose skin. All of these effects can make a dramatic difference in appearance that lasts for several weeks even after stopping red light therapy.

Expedites Healing

Thanks to the way red light therapy works, it can be used effectively as a way to accelerate wound healing and reduce the appearance of scars. The enhanced tissue repair promoted by red light therapy makes it an appealing treatment for acne scars, post-surgery recovery, and more.

"Red light therapy promises to be a powerful way to improve skin and overall health, making it an intriguing option for beauty pros. The question is: does red light therapy actually work?"

Red Light Therapy Risks

While red light therapy can be performed at home, many people turn to beauty professionals for a more experienced touch and higher-end equipment. Red light therapy is safe, but there are a few precautions to keep in mind to ensure your clients stay as healthy as possible.

Potential red light therapy risks include:

  • Potential for temporary irritation. This usually resolves itself quickly.
  • Incorrect use. It is possible to make mistakes when performing red light therapy. This can lead to a myriad of issues ranging from minor to serious. Eye damage is among the most common and impactful consequences, so proper eye protection is vital.
  • Interactions with other medications. For those who take medication or who have preexisting medical conditions, extra safety steps should be taken. Red light therapy can exacerbate preexisting conditions and interact with medications, reducing their effectiveness.
A client gets red light therapy at her esthetician's office. She does wonder – does red light therapy work?

Light Therapy Liability Insurance

With the potential risks of performing red light services, it's important to take precautions. Investing in red light therapy insurance protects you, your reputation, your career, and your beauty biz in the event that something unfortunate happens.

If you’re a beauty pro who wants to stay on the cutting edge of innovation and offer your clients the latest and greatest treatments, consider subscribing to Elite Beauty Society.

We’re your go-to resource for all things beauty, including trends, insights, and tips.

An image is shown of the EBS copywriter Hanna Marcus from Boundless Copy.
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Meet Hanna Marcus, the Founder and Head Copy Gal behind Boundless Copy, a one-of-a-kind copywriting agency that specializes in big, bold brand voice and industry-disrupting copy that’s all about resonating with the right audience. 

Hanna has proudly teamed up with Elite Beauty Society for several years as their go-to copywriter on all things beauty, small biz marketing, and brand voice development. She’s big on feeling-first writing–her personal soapbox is that the best copy starts with telling a story. 

When she’s not writing cheeky, converting copy for clients, she’s mentoring other aspiring copywriters and creating digital copywriting resources designed for service pros and focused on taking the stress out of DIY copywriting.