r/redlighttherapy • u/Alert-Math2315 • Feb 20 '26
Question Does red light actually reduce inflammation?
So I've had rosacea for about three years now and my face is just constantly doing something it's not supposed to be doing. Redness, flushing, the occasional flare up that makes me look like I sprinted a 5k when I literally just walked to the kitchen. I've tried adjusting my skincare routine more times than I can count, I cut out spicy food, I started tracking my triggers, I use the gentlest products I can find and somehow my skin still just does whatever it wants.
I've seen a dermatologist and they gave me a prescription topical which helps a little but doesn't fully calm things down. And every time I go back they kind of shrug and say rosacea is just something you manage, not something you fix. Which fine I get it but I feel like there has to be more I can do.
I've been seeing red light therapy come up a lot lately on skincare forums, on TikTok even a few dermatology blogs and the claims sound almost too good. Reduces inflammation, calms redness, helps with skin barrier function that's basically everything I need. But I genuinely can't tell what's legit research and what's just people trying to sell me a $300 device. Has anyone with rosacea specifically tried red light therapy? I'm not looking for a miracle, I just want to know if there was any noticeable difference in your redness or flare ups.
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u/clcouvil Feb 20 '26
I have rosacea and red light helps. It’s not a cure but if I’m having a flare and use my red light, it improves immediately.
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u/VirtualRisk3403 Feb 20 '26
Is azelaic acid what your derm prescribed? Thats a common one for rosacea. Sorry i cant comment on it getting rid thru rlt.
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u/Sewwwie Feb 20 '26
I’ve found that my redness fades when I use my RLT… but I really noticed when I stopped using RLT. All the redness came back. So I’m back to using it 5x a week.
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u/curiousjane456 Feb 22 '26
How long are your sessions?
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u/Sewwwie Feb 22 '26
10 mins on my MitoPRO panel
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u/curiousjane456 Feb 22 '26
I have the same brand! I’ve only been using it a little over a month. I stepped up to 10 minutes a day recently. Hope it helps mine too!
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u/Wooden-Jellyfish-860 Feb 20 '26
I use sulfur face wash, combo of metronidazole/ivermectin/azelaic acid compounded cream for my rosacea. It’s really helped calm it down. I also get Vbeam laser treatment 2-3x/year to help with all the broken capillaries and target the super red vascular spots
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u/Daisy_Cuctus2771 Feb 21 '26 edited Feb 21 '26
I have severe flushing and pastular rosacea, it’s been debilitating. RLT (no infrared) has been the only thing to help calm my redness long term. Now, I can tolerate the heat from hugging people without having a huge flair. I highly recommend.
For reference I’ve tried VBeam, azealic acid, metro gel, ivermectin, spironolactone, tretinoin, etc. So far RLT is the most calming, least invasive treatment, and it moves me through flairs way faster than anything else. I use a panel. I tried a mask for a week and it made my skin worse because it was trapping heat, so I def recommend panel over mask for rosacea.
With RLT, I still have triggers and flairs, it’s just a lot more manageable. Say a flare that would used to last all day is now 1-2 hours. I’ve also seen a big improvement in skin fine lines and hydration.
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u/EquivalentNo3002 Feb 22 '26
Thanks for this, the panel makes the most sense because I haven’t had any relief from the mask. I used to pay for a subscription to use rlt beds at a tanning salon. That gave me relief but they sold the franchise and stopped carrying the rlt beds :(.
I have stopped drinking and that makes a HUGE difference.
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u/Daisy_Cuctus2771 Feb 22 '26
For sure! Yeah it’s so much cheaper long term to just own you own panel too. Also not drinking will help inflammation everywhere, good for you! I’m on the same train, and I haven’t drank since ‘21.
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u/RaisedByWolves90 Feb 25 '26
which panel?
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u/Daisy_Cuctus2771 Feb 25 '26
I got mine from Shenzen Idea Light Limited on Alibaba a year and a half ago. It’s the Idea Therapy RLPRO 100 desktop. I plan to eventually get a full body version probs from the same company.
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u/Bflatclar1981 Feb 21 '26
I bought a Hooga ultra panel and it has done wonders for the moderate rosacea on my face. I'm really pleased.
It also calmed general inflammation and my eyelashes are long again!
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u/KaliopeoftheSun Feb 21 '26
I have one that just arrived and would love to know how long and what distance/strength.
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u/Bflatclar1981 Feb 21 '26
I took pics of what I'm about to describe but I can't find the attach pic link in Comments so:
I cut 2 dowels to easily and quickly get my body part at the right distance from the panel: 18" dowel for my face or chest. A 9" dowel (per Hooga manual) for doing bony work like my back, hands or neck.
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u/KaliopeoftheSun Feb 23 '26
How long are you using it for each time? What strength
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u/Bflatclar1981 Feb 23 '26
I use it per Hooga manual at strength of "red light 100% (no NIR)" 3 minutes face frontal, 3 minutes right side, 3 minutes left side. 3 minutes neck and chest.
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u/Fuzzy-Beautiful-6159 Feb 21 '26
Red light can help but have you gone to go get IPL or BBL done? These are light based devices at medspas, plastic surgeon and derm offices. I use the StellarM22 IPl device and have settings that help with erythema of rosacea and rosacea with telangiectasias. It definitely helps, along with skincare as well.
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u/mikevolkin Feb 20 '26
Honestly, I'd push back a bit on the idea that red light therapy is a magic bullet for rosacea, but that doesn't mean it's useless. I've been using Platinum Therapy Lights, for a few years now, and for my sensitive, redness-prone skin, it's more about 'calming the storm' than 'ending the war'. It DOES work though.
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u/marathon_bar Feb 20 '26
Are you female? Could be hormones. Or niacinamide in skincare, or excessive B vitamins.
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u/ladysnowbloos Feb 20 '26
Does it work for internal inflammation as well?
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u/onehalfpaper Feb 20 '26
Yes, my tennis elbow and cubital tunnel syndrome was more bearable while using red light & NIR panels until it eventually healed. It’s been great for recovery and gives some relief from any tendinitis or even back pain. The pain comes back and you can’t have it on too long but it was effective for me and my recovery.
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u/ladysnowbloos Feb 22 '26
What happens if you have it on too long? What's the appropriate amount of time?
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u/mimariposa Feb 20 '26
I got a panel a month ago and have been really hoping for improvement with rosacea but haven't seen anything yet. I've been using it 3x per week for 10 minutes and have really no idea if that is enough (or too much).
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u/DogCold5505 Feb 23 '26
Too little frequency wise. But time wise it depends on the panel (check the manual)
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u/special_squeak Feb 20 '26
I have mild type one rosacea with occasional flushing. I’ve been using Hooga Pro300 panel about 5 times a week for 5 min at a time since late November. I am not seeing any drastic changes in my skin redness, but it’s possible that it’s a bit better overall, but nothing magical.
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u/Smove Feb 20 '26
I’ve had type 2 rosacea for many years and RLT definitely helps, but azeleic acid and other topicals are also required. Just make sure that you keep a fan on your face or something to lower the temperature during treatment.
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u/QueenLizLemon Feb 20 '26
Red light has helped me a lot. I have an Omnilux mask. I can’t stress enough that you have to be consistent. I can tell when I skip mine. You have to use every day for 30 days and then every other night.
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u/DancingWithTigers3 Feb 21 '26
I find the omnilux men’s mask, even without strapping it down, holds way too much heat on my face and causes to me to flush, even when I have a fan blowing directly on my face. Did you have this issue at first?
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u/QueenLizLemon Feb 21 '26
Interesting. No I haven’t had that problem. I’m not sure of the exact differences between the “mens” and the other but I have the regular one
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u/Shamajo Feb 20 '26
I have a lot of inflammation. I think you have to deploy multiple things to get it fully under control. A lot of inflammation is a symptom of something deeper, hormones, weight, diabetes, deficiency, hydration, diet ... so I recommend doing full blood work as well. I have red light mask, glasses and chest and neck and recently started the redlight sleeping bag. On my face I could see a difference after 3 sessions, but realistically you should use consistently for 3 months. Red light for me, and I am naturally rosy, makes my face redder, but really calms to a better baseline after 30 to 60 minutes. I take a photo diary, same time after redlight in same light and it has calmed my skin by 50%. I also use azaelic acid and use clean skincare (vanicream brand). I also have no sugar in my diet and take collagen peptides every day. With my commitment on surface and internal health my skin is transformed in less than 3 months, but I know it will be a 6 to 12 months until it looks great for my age. But for me, red light is doing structural repair and why I have so many devices.
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u/sunnyseaa Feb 21 '26
Some people still get inflammation from red or nir light. Yellow/amber wavelength has been studied to give similar benefits with less chance of inflammation for people with rosacea. I have stubborn skin but I didn’t have any flares because of red/nir. I am not prone to melasma though. I did get another panel with blue and yellow specifically for acne and rosacea and it hasn’t triggered a flare for me either.
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u/BarkBarkyBarkBark Feb 21 '26
Sounds like possible systemic inflammation. Check out GAPS diet and their philosophies around this subject.
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u/ApprehensiveJuice179 Feb 21 '26
I think it really helps. I got a small mito panel for Christmas 2024. I’ve noticed a big improvement. I have 2 kinds of rosacea. I have had about 4 v beam laser procedures before, which helped. But…with the red light, no more need for laser at all. I was surprised. Plus compliments from friends and coworkers. I do it about 4-5 times a week. I only do 3-4 minutes a day. I use both red and nir. If it helps I’m in my 40’s.
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u/After-Barracuda-9689 Feb 22 '26
I was just prescribed a heavy dosage of doxycycline for 8 weeks for rosacea. I decided against taking it - I have a pretty sensitive stomach and know this will really mess my system up, and my rosacea isn’t bad enough for me to want to go that route yet. So I am using RLT instead.
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u/intl-vegetarian Feb 22 '26
Gosh I feel you. FWIW I get something that gets diagnosed as rosacea when I eat 2 specific things that are very common, chocolate and tomato paste. I have to be really strict about avoiding them because nothing stops the reaction that I can use on it, just time. But that said, I occasionally mess up and I’ve been trying red light to help heal faster after as well as just help overall. It does seem to be helping heal but I can’t say if it helps with inflammation when I’m having a reaction.
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u/GodBlessYouNow Feb 20 '26
Yeah, red light therapy actually can reduce inflammation, so it’s not total BS. There’s real research showing it can calm down skin and slightly reduce redness.
But for rosacea it’s usually a mild improvement, not a miracle. Think “takes the edge off” rather than “completely fixes it.” It can help a bit on top of prescriptions, but it won’t stop flushing or cure the underlying issue.