Red light therapy: Does it really work?

Written by: Mantasha Reviewed by: Dr. Swati Mishra 12 June 2025

Bryan Johnson’s Hair Reversal

[{"selector":"#anim-4453bd55-d86e-484c-926e-dd1a15740ef8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb57fced-a1e2-4535-a1e8-42fb353c91eb","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 127.61535%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-379990c6-905e-4a0d-b369-ef7a95507137","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9ae067b0-0867-4908-916c-955a14724130","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 412.09135%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Tech entrepreneur Bryan Johnson claims red light therapy (RLT), combined with topical treatments and diet, helped reverse his hair loss and graying within a year. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

How RLT Works

[{"selector":"#anim-7bb10113-1dea-441e-b066-36af2f09ed25","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ba54d699-e9dd-4bfb-8c6a-2455862ebbf3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.1933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1e0f7ac8-5aa9-45c7-9baa-ebc29e32496f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b1fd6b42-9566-40c8-9d2d-c3c3d6926faf","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 645.06201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] RLT uses low-level red or near-infrared light to stimulate hair follicles and boost skin cell growth. It may reduce wrinkles, spots, and skin sagging. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Skin & Hair Benefits

[{"selector":"#anim-7bc6b68d-2a6b-4102-9795-b87909db3819","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3b33fcd1-0eb7-4432-b24e-6c6f8cae8da0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 134.39876%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1ab58bb2-f4b9-4be9-8bb1-d7175b9e3976","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9f0b7340-88b5-430a-b2e0-e2f42b4f6c26","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 628.3954%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Beyond hair regrowth, RLT is often used to improve skin appearance and slow visible signs of aging. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Types of RLT Devices

[{"selector":"#anim-2301226e-7cdd-453f-9f60-ffa24f902f38","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-13135312-2bd9-4b02-9836-f4eca08ca624","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.1933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bd345853-f535-4628-bb25-029e4ccf1ad5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4f3829e1-ba7e-4f7d-a233-9cce76e6bc62","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 645.06201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Options range from red-light wands, masks, and helmets to caps, combs, and dome-like devices, each targeting specific needs. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

What the Science Says

[{"selector":"#anim-a76116ff-cfe8-410a-bed5-6cf985f17dc0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbd56609-4b0c-4dbe-b35d-8186392e7ecc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 139.1933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1b64f9d1-d514-4230-9a8a-26b55ca0126a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ef31bf2f-26f5-4446-9fc2-34dd513ac710","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 645.06201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Some studies support RLT for skin and hair growth benefits. However, experts emphasize that more robust research is needed to confirm these effects. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Safety & Side Effects

[{"selector":"#anim-37048641-9a3e-4fbb-8c5f-e1faee1633a0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-60bf3fda-a8ec-4a54-85da-485a5442879f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 160.8379%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8ae44e89-7a47-43cf-a1be-8ac79e0f216e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-854da2f9-6a22-4ded-a3e7-ff698e984121","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 625.61766%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Generally considered safe short-term, RLT can cause mild side effects like skin irritation or brief discomfort. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Precautions

[{"selector":"#anim-2760a053-d4b0-47de-a02d-4f49fc1474b1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c692d200-e407-426e-934b-b033927fcbd7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 151.00182%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8202042c-d95a-4ca5-8e3d-c466436dae72","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b92a7db6-3937-410a-9525-3577e2f23b2f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 595.06201%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Consult a dermatologist before using RLT. Following device guidelines (session duration, frequency, and intensity). Photo Credit: Shutterstock

Tap on that love ❤️ button. Stay tuned for what’s coming next!

[{"selector":"#anim-94311831-123e-4df6-8e19-5d055504eeb5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c5b7020c-f397-4fdb-a13d-41238da59fc5","keyframes":{"transform":["rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, -2404.52788%, 0) rotate(270deg)","rotate(-270deg) translate3d(0px, 0px, 0) rotate(270deg)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Arrow