Red and other light therapy — can it work?

About this episode

Norman and Tegan explore the effectiveness of various light therapies for skincare.

If you’re into skincare, you’ve probably been advertised light therapy face masks. These high-tech hockey masks promise to plump up or heal your skin through light – often red, but sometimes yellow, green, blue or even purple. Norman and Tegan go through the rainbow to assess where there's evidence, and where there's not. References: Sweaty sauna bathing for better health - What's That Rash? Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy: A Review of Recent Progress and Their Target Molecules for Cancer Therapy Effect of NASA Light-Emitting Diode Irradiation on Wound Healing Visible Red Light Emitting Diode Photobiomodulation for Skin Fibrosis: Key Molecular Pathways Utilization of light-emitting diodes for skin therapy: Systematic review and meta-analysis Photodynamic Therapy Using HMME for Port-Wine Stains: Clinical Effectiveness and Sonographic Appearance Effect of Blue Light on Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review The efficacy of violet light in the treatment of acne Featured review: What are the benefits and risks of light therapy for treating atopic eczema? Light therapy for preventing seasonal affective disorder This episode first aired on December 18, 2024.

People in this episode

Host: Norman

Guest: Tegan

Topics covered

• light therapy
• skincare
• health
• evidence-based treatment
• acne treatment
• photobiomodulation

Keywords

• light therapy
• skincare
• red light
• acne
• photobiomodulation
• health benefits
• evidence

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Sweaty sauna bathing for better health, Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy: A Review of Recent Progress and Their Target Molecules for Cancer Therapy, Effect of NASA Light-Emitting Diode Irradiation on Wound Healing, Visible Red Light Emitting Diode Photobiomodulation for Skin Fibrosis: Key Molecular Pathways, Utilization of light-emitting diodes for skin therapy: Systematic review and meta-analysis, Photodynamic Therapy Using HMME for Port-Wine Stains: Clinical Effectiveness and Sonographic Appearance, Effect of Blue Light on Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review, The efficacy of violet light in the treatment of acne, What are the benefits and risks of light therapy for treating atopic eczema?, Light therapy for preventing seasonal affective disorder

More episodes of What's That Rash?

• Is farting a sign your gut microbiome is happy? · June 9, 2026 · 18 min
• Still coughing — are you still infectious? · June 2, 2026 · 18 min
• Can your joints predict the weather? · May 26, 2026 · 19 min
• Should you get a full-body MRI? · May 19, 2026 · 22 min
• Deep dive on progressive exercise · May 12, 2026 · 22 min
• Hantavirus: what we know about the cruise ship outbreak · May 11, 2026 · 13 min