Red Light Therapy for Skin Tightening: Benefits & More

When you look in the mirror, do you love what you see? If you don’t, you’re not alone: 79% of Americans are unhappy with how they look from time to time.¹

However, if what you don’t love is the way your skin looks, you might be in luck.

Red light therapy, a treatment option that benefits your skin health in numerous ways, has been shown to contribute to skin tightness. By going through red light therapy treatment, you could walk away with an appearance of tighter skin.

Today, we’re walking you through everything you need to know about red light therapy for skin tightening: What it is, how it works, and what it can do for you.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy (RLT) is a form of light therapy that relies on visible red light. In RLT, waves of light between 630 and 700 nanometers are transmitted from a device, penetrating your skin and providing energy to the mitochondria in your cells.² Infrared light, which has a longer wavelength that humans can’t see, may also be used.

If you’re not familiar with RLT, you may know it under a different name—it has more than 60 others, including³:

• Biostimulation
• Cold laser therapy
• Soft laser therapy
• Low-level laser light therapy (LLLT)
• Low-power laser therapy (LLT)
• Non-thermal LED light therapy
• Photobiomodulation (PBM)
• Photonic stimulation
• Phototherapy

No matter what you call it, red light therapy has been shown to improve your skin. Time and time again, studies have shown that RLT can help patients with acne, wrinkles, and scarring.⁴ Benefits of red light therapy for mental health have also been found.

And, of course, it’s been shown to tighten loose skin. More on that later.

Common Causes of Loose Skin

First, let’s talk about what causes loose skin.

Loose or saggy skin is completely natural. It can also be caused by external factors. Some of the most common causes of loose skin are⁵:

• Aging – As time goes on, our skin ages along with us. As it does, it loses the proteins elastin and collagen that contribute to tight, elastic skin. That means that everyone eventually experiences loose skin as they get older.

• Weight loss – When you gain weight, your skin stretches to accommodate new mass, damaging the collagen and elastin in your skin. As such, when you lose weight, your skin doesn’t “snap back” like it used to. This applies to regular weight gain, as well as gains related to pregnancy.

• Sun exposure – Areas that see frequent sun exposure may also lose tone and skin elasticity.⁶

Common Treatments for Loose Skin

Because everyone eventually loses skin tone, scientists and doctors are always inventing new ways to improve skin tightness. Along with red light therapy, these include⁷:

• Creams or lotions – Supermarket shelves are full of skin-firming creams. These offer a subtle yet noticeable plumpness to the skin, usually by providing moisture and making wrinkles less noticeable. Unless these products contain a retinoid, you won’t see a significant change.

• Radiofrequency – In this treatment, a dermatologist uses a device to heat the tissue beneath your skin. Radio-frequency skin tightening usually takes around six months to see results from this procedure.

• Laser resurfacing – When you go in for laser resurfacing, your dermatologist will focus an intense beam of light on your skin, destroying the outer layer while heating the inner layer.⁸ This process is said to be the most effective, but it also requires a week of at-home recovery.

• Dermal fillers – Fillers such as Botox® or JUVÉDERM® can also give loose skin more volume.⁶ Treatment, however, is temporary; you’ll have to return every few months for another round.

Although these treatments can be effective, they can also be invasive, expensive, or both. A more approachable, affordable option is red light therapy.

How Red Light Therapy Can Help Tighten Skin

According to the science, red light therapy helps tighten your skin by⁹:

• Stimulating collagen production – Collagen is the protein in your skin that fives in strength, structure, and elasticity.

• Increasing fibroblast production – Your fibroblast cells make collagen. By increasing the production of fibroblasts, RLT boosts collagen production even more.

It can also reduce cell inflammation and increase blood circulation to your tissues, which can have other positive effects on your health.⁹

Red Light Therapy vs. Other Skin Tightening Methods

As you can see, red light therapy has a proven potential impact on your skin. But so do some of the other treatments listed above.

So, how do they stack up? Compared to the more intense treatments, red light therapy is:

• Non-invasive – With RLT, there’s no surgery, no needles, and no pain. All you have to do is shine light on your skin, and you’re set.

• Affordable – Because RLT can be done from home with a red light device, it’s usually far more approachable than in-clinic treatments, such as ultrasounds and dermal injections. We’ll touch more on the benefits of at-home care vs. professional treatments in a moment.

• Free from serious side effects – Some treatments have long recovery times and a range of possible side effects. For example, Botox injections can come with pain, headaches, infections, and more.¹⁰ Meanwhile, the only side effects from RLT are due to improper usage; burns and blistering can happen when you use an RLT skin care device for too long.¹¹

In a nutshell, red light therapy comes with many benefits and a few downsides.

How Long Does It Take for Red Light Therapy to Tighten Skin?

The short answer: It depends.

The long answer: Let’s dive in.

In one 2014 study, patients received RLT treatment twice a week and saw noticeable improvements after 15 weeks (30 treatments).¹²

However, some healthcare providers say you may see benefits sooner. In an interview with Women’s Health Magazine, Dr. Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, explains that you should see results in as few as four treatments.¹³ So, if you go in for weekly procedures, you can enjoy tighter skin in about a month.

Of course, these results are from high-powered, in-clinic treatments given by medical professionals. At-home RLT devices may not be as strong as these procedures. As such, your mileage may vary. Ultimately, the time it takes to see results will depend on your skin, your chosen treatment, and how often you do RLT.

However, one thing’s for sure: If you keep up with red light therapy, you’re bound to see results.

Practical Guide to Using Red Light Therapy

Now, if you want to see the results of RLT, you have to get started. But that can be easier said than done. There’s so much information on red light therapy that it’s sometimes hard to know where to start.

Here are some practical considerations for exploring the world of RLT.

Professional Treatments vs. At-Home Devices

Once you decide you want to try RLT, the big question is: Do you do it at home or at a clinic?

The clinic is an option, but it doesn’t always come cheap. When done professionally, red light therapy can cost $25–200+ per session, and it is not usually covered by insurance.¹⁴

If you’re looking to save money, you can buy a red light therapy device for home use. Equipment like this usually requires a small investment, but once you have it, you can use it over and over again for free.

Choosing the Right Device

If you decide to take the at-home route, you may feel confused by the different devices available. With so many red light devices, how do you pick the right one?

Ultimately, it depends on which part of your body you want to target. Some devices allow for precision, while others work on sections of your skin—or even your entire body.

Some of the devices that may interest you include:

• Panels – Panels are convenient because you don’t need to wear or hold them; simply position yours on a flat surface and sit comfortably in front of it, allowing the light to wash over you. Does red light therapy work through clothes? Yes, you don’t need to strip down to use these devices! Lightweight and lighter-colored clothing work best. The BioHeal Red Light Panel, for example, is lightweight and easy to set up, letting you experience RLT almost anywhere.

• Belts – A red light therapy belt is perfect to wrap around your stomach and back. Do red light therapy belts work? Some belts can also be tightened for use on your arms and legs.

• Wands – Handheld wands, such as the LumiCare Torchlight, allow you to transmit red light to your entire body. That kind of convenience gives you the flexibility to target any area—and even to share your RLT device safely with others since there’s no contact with the skin.

• Personal saunas – For a full-body experience, try a portable sauna or sauna blanket. The far-infrared light from these devices can help reduce signs of aging, plus the heat allows you to relax.

Explore Red Light Therapy Devices from Lifepro

If your loose skin type has you feeling anything but your best, you might be ready to do something about it.

At Lifepro, we can help. Our quality red light therapy devices were designed with at-home treatment in mind. Best of all, they’re priced to be as affordable as possible so anyone can try out RLT.

So go ahead—experiment with some red light therapy for skin tightening, and before long, you’ll be facing the mirror with a smile.

Sources:

1. Ipsos. Most Americans Experience Feeling Dissatisfied with How Their Body Looks from Time to Time, Including Nearly Two in Five Who Feel This Way Whenever They Look in the Mirror. https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/most-americans-experience-feeling-dissatisfied-with-body-looks-from-time-to-time
2. Today. What is red light therapy? The treatment is going viral for skin, hair and exercise benefits. https://www.today.com/health/skin-beauty/red-light-therapy-rcna142437
3. Healthline. What Is Red Light Therapy and How Does It Work? https://www.healthline.com/health/red-light-therapy
4. CNN. What is red light therapy for skin? Experts explain the anti-aging benefits. https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/beauty/what-is-red-light-therapy
5. Healthline. Why Do I Have Saggy Skin, and What Can I Do About It? https://www.healthline.com/health/skin/saggy-skin
6. Cleveland Clinic. Sun-damaged Skin (Photoaging). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/5240-sun-damage-protecting-yourself
7. American Academy of Dermatology Association. MANY WAYS TO FIRM SAGGING SKIN. https://www.aad.org/public/cosmetic/younger-looking/firm-sagging-skin
8. Mayo Clinic. Laser resurfacing. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/laser-resurfacing/about/pac-20385114
9. Cleveland Clinic. Red Light Therapy. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22114-red-light-therapy
10. Mayo Clinic. Botox injections. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/botox/about/pac-20384658
11. Healthline. What Is Red Light Therapy and How Does It Work? https://www.healthline.com/health/red-light-therapy
12. National Institutes of Health. A Controlled Trial to Determine the Efficacy of Red and Near-Infrared Light Treatment in Patient Satisfaction, Reduction of Fine Lines, Wrinkles, Skin Roughness, and Intradermal Collagen Density Increase. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3926176/
13. Women’s Health. Does Red Light Therapy Really Work? Dermatologists Explain The Skin Benefits. https://www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/a41409429/red-light-therapy/
14. Verywell Health. What Is Red Light Therapy? https://www.verywellhealth.com/red-light-therapy-5217767

Author

Joel Gottehrer

Joel Gottehrer is the Co-Founder of Lifepro Fitness and has dedicated his life to helping people transform theirs. With over 12 years of experience in the fitness industry as a personal trainer and owner of two personal training studios, Joel has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to helping transform lives. After suffering from physical injuries, Joel and his business partner, Abraham Brach, came together with a common goal to alleviate the pain caused by their injuries.

They continued to find themselves disappointed with the results stemming from various products promising to relieve their pain, and with that – Lifepro Fitness was born. Joel's mission is to have a positive impact on millions of lives with the Lifepro brand. Whether it's finding new and innovative ways to help people recover from injuries or developing products to improve overall wellness, Joel is always looking for ways to push the boundaries. Thanks to his commitment to help people live their lives free of pain, Lifepro has been able to do this for thousands of people since its founding in 2017.