If you’re dealing with hyperpigmentation, you might still be looking for an effective treatment. Standard options (like chemical peels and topical treatments) may not have worked for you, and you could be searching for something gentler or more natural. This is where red light therapy comes in as a potential solution for hyperpigmentation.
We’ll be talking all about red light therapy as a treatment for hyperpigmentation in this article. We’ll also be talking about whether or not red light therapy can worsen hyperpigmentation. Whether you’re looking to learn a bit more about this skin condition or are thinking about adding light therapy to your skincare routine, we’ve got you covered.
What is Hyperpigmentation?
Let's start by talking about what hyperpigmentation is. In a nutshell, hyperpigmentation is a common skin condition where patches of your skin become darker than the surrounding areas due to the overproduction of melanin.
In case you don’t know, melanin is the pigment that gives color to your skin, hair, and eyes. While everyone can experience hyperpigmentation, it’s particularly common in people with darker skin tones who already have more melanin.
There are several causes of hyperpigmentation. Melanin doesn't just color your skin; it also acts as a natural shield against the sun (i.e. it protects your skin from UV radiation). However, when your skin cells are damaged or unhealthy, your body produces extra melanin as a defense mechanism.
This can be triggered by factors like certain medications (such as birth control pills and anti-inflammatory drugs), health conditions (like hormonal changes and vitamin deficiencies), skin injuries or inflammation from acne, rashes, or cuts, excessive sun exposure, genetic factors, aging, and even excessive alcohol consumption.
How to Manage Hyperpigmentation
When it comes to managing a skin issue like hyperpigmentation, you’ll need to be proactive. Remember to take your daily vitamins, avoid drinking too much alcohol, and use sunscreen whenever you go outside. You should also avoid picking at your skin at all costs (trust us — we understand the urge, but it’ll only make things worse).
You might also try some skin-lightening products like kojic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, and vitamin C creams. That said, these methods may not always be sufficient, especially if you have sensitive skin. Treatments like lasers and chemical peels can be more invasive and carry risks of side effects. Red light therapy, however, offers a promising alternative treatment.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
Red light therapy is a scientifically recognized treatment that mimics the healing benefits of sunlight without the risks associated with UV exposure. NASA initially explored red light therapy because it had the potential to grow plants and heal wounds in space. Pretty cool, right?
If you’re wondering how red light therapy works, you’re not alone. The science behind it is quite fascinating. Red light therapy involves using low-level wavelengths of red or near-infrared light, which are absorbed by the skin and increase the mitochondria in skin cells. This can stimulate collagen production, and, potentially, repair damaged skin.
Can Red Light Therapy Worsen Hyperpigmentation? Can it Make it Better?
So how does red light therapy work for hyperpigmentation? It penetrates deep into the skin to reach the melanocytes (the cells responsible for melanin production). By reducing the activity of these cells, red light therapy addresses hyperpigmentation at its source.
Red light therapy also features sequential pulsing, which allows the intensity to be adjusted for effective treatment of more severe hyperpigmentation issues. Not only that, but it improves the skin's natural defenses against UV rays. Even if red light therapy doesn’t improve your hyperpigmentation (though, we think it definitely will over time), you might still want to use it for the other benefits it provides.
For example, red light therapy is also quite beneficial for treating skin injuries and reducing their impact on melanin production. It’s been proven to improve blood flow, and reduce redness and swelling, too. This is especially true if you’re consistently using red light therapy (in fact, you’ll need to use it consistently if you want it to work).
Because of its low frequencies, it's a gentle, non-invasive, and non-toxic option — which, perhaps is why it’s gained so much popularity as of late. Studies have shown that it can effectively treat dark spots that are caused by acne (as well as age spots and scars) without worsening hyperpigmentation.
The Effects of Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy has been researched for its ability to reduce and remove hyperpigmentation without causing any side effects (or requiring recovery time, for that matter). It comes with quite a few benefits, including skin tightening, wound healing, reduced sagging, and skin rejuvenation (in addition to treating hyperpigmentation).
A number of studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of red light therapy when it comes to treating hyperpigmentation. For example, a 2018 study involved testing 940 nm infrared light on seven women who had hyperpigmentation or melasma on their faces and had not seen success with other treatments.
In this study, one side of each participant’s face was treated, while the other side was left untreated as a control group. The treated side underwent microdermabrasion followed by the 940 nm infrared light therapy.
The women received weekly treatments for eight weeks. The researchers evaluated the effects using white light and ultraviolet light photographs, Melanin Index scores, and Melasma Area and Severity Index scores.
After the 12th week, assessments showed significant reduction in pigmentation on the treated side through both subjective and objective measurements. This just goes to show that red light therapy truly works and is effective.
For those who, for whatever reason, develop dark spots from red light therapy, switching off the infrared light might help. Otherwise, red light therapy is effective in reducing melasma and hyperpigmentation (a side note: melasma is hyperpigmentation, but not all hyperpigmentation is melasma) with some studies showing a 50% reduction in hyperpigmentation. Seems like it’s worth giving it a try, don’t you think?
Frequently Asked Questions About Red Light Therapy and Hyperpigmentation
Does light therapy work for hyperpigmentation?
Red light therapy uses natural light to help the body create more energy and rejuvenate the skin. This therapy has been found to be very effective for hyperpigmentation and can also help with other skin issues (like acne, inflammation, burns, and scars).
Some light therapy devices combine red and blue light, so you’ll be able to treat your acne while also treating your hyperpigmentation (if you happen to struggle with both). DermForge has a few different LED light therapy masks available, so don’t hesitate to check them out.
How do you treat hyperpigmentation?
The methods you use to treat hyperpigmentation will probably be a little different depending on your skin texture and skin tone, since different skin types respond better to specific treatments.
For people with light skin, most hyperpigmentation treatments are pretty effective. Other treatment options, such as laser therapy treatments and micro peeling, can significantly reduce dark spots and even out skin tone. These treatments tend to be more invasive, though.
People with medium skin tones often see better results with chemical peels and microdermabrasion. These methods help to exfoliate the skin and remove the layers affected by hyperpigmentation.
For people with darker skin types, treatments need to be gentler (for the purpose of avoiding irritation and further discoloration). By choosing the right treatment for your specific skin type, you’ll be able to treat your hyperpigmentation (and other skin concerns) and live your best life with healthy skin.
Why is red light therapy better for hyperpigmentation than near-infrared light therapy?
This is a great question. Studies suggest that near-infrared light treatments can help produce the tyrosinase enzyme, which stops melanin production altogether. This is helpful for people with vitiligo because it stimulates melanocytes (similar to how vitamin C lightens hyperpigmentation).
However, there isn’t a clear agreement among scientists about using near-infrared light therapy treatments for hyperpigmentation. Red light is considered safer because it doesn’t trigger pigment production. Instead, it provides healthy light wavelengths that help skin cells heal and rejuvenate naturally.
How soon can you see results from light therapy for hyperpigmentation?
You can expect to see results after several weekly treatments. The improvement in your skin will depend on how consistently you’re using red light therapy, though. The more regularly and carefully you follow the treatment, the better your results will be. Just remember not to pick at or touch the treated areas. This will be the best way to prevent skin irritation or infection.
The Bottom Line
To answer the question: “Can red light therapy worsen hyperpigmentation?” — no, it cannot make hyperpigmentation worse. In fact, red light therapy has actually been proven to work wonders for hyperpigmentation. Depending on your skin color, other treatments (like laser therapy) might be more effective, but red light therapy is worth a try either way.
At DermForge, we’re all about providing you with high-quality skincare products (like our LED light therapy masks, for example). If you want to learn more about the benefits of light therapy, feel free to check out our blog.
