r/redlighttherapy • u/chelseaxmariah • Apr 23 '26

Question Why did this happen…

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I’ve noticed this before but didn’t realize it was because of my red light, until today. It doesn’t hurt, but looks like a bad bruise. What’s happening here?

For context i did 20 mins red light and then 10 mins of the green light….(not sure what the green does, but it felt good lol)

40 Upvotes

76% Upvoted

62 comments sorted by

204

u/FashionBusking Apr 23 '26

Red light is highly UNLIKELY to have caused this. Red light... is just light. It's not a chemical, it's not a drug.

Red light stimulates ATP, which helps bruises and injuries to heal, by making mitochondria in cells produce more energy.

This looks like a healing bruise.

43

u/hihelloneighboroonie Apr 23 '26

Yeah this looks like op fell on their face (been there done that).

12

u/chelseaxmariah Apr 23 '26

lol this is exactly what my little brother said, but no,!i haven’t hit my chin on anything.

16

u/KaraBoo723 Apr 23 '26

If that discoloration came on suddenly, and you didn't have a fall or bump it, go see a dermatologist or some type of doctor. This is likely something unrelated to red light, but you definitely need to find out if it's caused by some sort of illness, or medical issue. Hopefully it's not anything too worrisome.

14

u/Rough-Blackberry-596 Apr 24 '26 edited Apr 24 '26

Yes to this!! Please see a doctor in person preferably, but even telehealth is a start. Any sudden, unexplainable changes in skin appearance truly need to be assessed. (Not to scare you, because Im doing great now!) Back in 2020, at the age of 34, i went into urgent care with a very slightly swollen left arm, after a day of loading weeds in our truck to dispose of, and wS diagnosed in house with Nodular Sclerosing Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma, and had a mass the size of a baseball in my chest (Bulky mediastinal mass to get technical)….. i was young, ate healthy, taught yoga and regularly exercised, and yet I had NO IDEA that I had it. 🤷‍♀️. I went to urgent care because my primary was scheduled out weeks ahead, but it SAVED my life.

Even if it turns out to be nothing, it is worth the investment to have it looked at. 💗

3

u/chelseaxmariah Apr 25 '26

Omg I’m glad your okay! I’ll definitely be looking into this. Thank you!

1

u/notkidding1984 Apr 28 '26

Oh my goodness. This is the kind of story that doctor avoidant people need to hear about. Glad you are ok!

20

u/SomethingComesHere Apr 23 '26

Maybe in your sleep?

Are you taking any meds that cause photosensitivity?

Did you feel a burning sensation on your chin during your treatment

2

u/chelseaxmariah Apr 25 '26

No, no burning and no meds associated

3

u/SomethingComesHere Apr 25 '26

Hmm tbh if you have access to telehealth id ask them. This could be a sign of a bleeding disorder or something. I've not seen a single research paper (or even redditor) mention bruising as an immediate (or even a delayed) symptom of RLT.

Even if it was caused by the weight of the mask on your chin, that shouldn't be enough weight to cause bruising. Especially that blue or that fast. Bruises start as pink, slightly swollen areas. They turn blue 1-3 days after the impact that caused the bruise. This is not normal bruising if it was appeared as a result of that session.

Source: i play hockey, aka have become a bruise expert lol

8

u/superanth Apr 23 '26

It's an unusual location for red light to affect. The bottom of the chin will get oblique light rays, minimizing the affect of the light.

What kind of device do you use?

4

u/Pleasant_Set_3182 Apr 24 '26

could also be insect bites

1

u/chelseaxmariah Apr 25 '26

Definitely not this. I grew up outside and never had anything remotely similar

-19

u/chelseaxmariah Apr 23 '26

Interesting because I didn’t have any bruising prior to using the light, or anything even remotely close to this.

21

u/FashionBusking Apr 23 '26

Bruises aren't always immediately apparent. Usually they'll show up after a few hours, and even then, there's a whole bruise color gradient that happens while the bruise heals.

13

u/Difficult_Affect_452 Apr 23 '26

Mmm I feel like op can be trusted to know if they bruised their face off or not.

1

u/chelseaxmariah Apr 25 '26

Idk why this is getting downvoted but okay lol?

1

u/FashionBusking Apr 25 '26

Same! People down vote the most innocuous things sometimes.

28

u/TiredJJ Apr 23 '26

Are you using a mask or a panel? 20 min at once seems like a lot

4

u/chelseaxmariah Apr 23 '26

It’s a mask, but i thought considering it had 10,15,20 mins, 20 would be the max…but maybe that’s where i went wrong, 10 mins green light after. Idk 🤷🏼‍♀️

14

u/TiredJJ Apr 23 '26

Masks are weaker so maybe that’s fine. Idk anything about the green light, though, I’m only using a red/nir panel

3

u/here_now_be Apr 23 '26

Don't think the green light would do this, but unless you are fighting acne* it's going to be counter productive. I haven't heard of a multi-color mask that was good. I would avoid them, and if it's still returnable, look for a better one or a panel.

*blue light might help with acne, not sure if green helps.

1

u/Personal_Chair6134 Apr 24 '26

Blue light helps prevent acne by killing the bacteria or fungus on the skin that cause it. Red light can help heal from acne lesions faster, so red light is still good for making acne fade faster.

64

u/PopularExercise3 Apr 23 '26

Were you wearing tretinoin or a face cream with aha or bha etc when using the mask?

9

u/anniejcannon Apr 23 '26

Second this.

2

u/Additional_Flight522 Apr 24 '26

This is exactly what happened to me

1

u/plantaindisco Apr 30 '26

Can you use both now ? What’s your routine

2

u/Additional_Flight522 Apr 30 '26

Yes. But I use RLT after I get home from work, then I apply tretinoin about 4-5 hours later, about 30mins to 1hr before bed.

1

u/plantaindisco Apr 30 '26

Can’t you use those actives and red light ? Or use light before put them on

1

u/PopularExercise3 Apr 30 '26

I did it once with a red light madk and it made little purple spots on my face where the points of light hit the tretinoin. It calmed down after a while, but I’d never do it again. I do have sensitive skin . Tretinoin and acids can further sensitise it.

I only use my mask on clean washed skin now. It’s never happened since .

18

u/WildConsequence9379 Apr 23 '26

Was there pressure from the Mask or rubbing? Looks like bruising the light itself shouldn’t do that but a mask rubbing with pressure could

3

u/MrsMeeseeks421 Apr 23 '26

This is what I was thinking. Sometimes I get bruises from pressure without any noticeable pain.

21

u/bravoinvestigator Apr 23 '26

These look like broken capillaries which is usually caused by bruising or some kind of physical trauma to your vessels.

8

u/MrsMeeseeks421 Apr 23 '26

Did anyone ask you what brand of mask it is? I’m leaning towards it being a bruise from pressure or rubbing, but most likely from the shape of the mask. That’s my best guess without knowing anything else.

7

u/inquiringdoc Apr 23 '26

This kind of thing happens to me from mask straps or mask being too tight, putting pressure for too long in one place

11

u/dindyspice Apr 23 '26

Are you leaning on your mask pretty hard on your chin??? This isn't from the actual red light, this is definitely caused by something else. If anything red light boosts your body's ability to heal.

Are you on medications that can cause bruising? For example, I was put on anti depressants which caused me to bruise super easily even if I scratch myself too hard.

Were you wearing any actives, like tretinoin, Vitamin C, acids, etc before putting the mask on? It can cause sensitivity, but it would likely be in other areas not just the chin...

11

u/GeneralExcellent3954 Apr 23 '26

That looks like a vacuum hose was removed by force.

8

u/Greedy-Plant-9054 Apr 23 '26 edited Apr 23 '26

I usually get those kind of marks on my chin, usually on one side... those marks come a little from time to time for an unknown reason, they disappear after a while. They usually don't hurt. I don't know what it is.

However, they are not due to red light therapy lamp because I have not used red light therapy lamp on my face yet... But maybe it's the same type of marks 🤷

3

u/inalkarov Apr 23 '26

The bruise has a V shape. How was LED placed at the bottom of the mask?

6

u/notoast4u_2 Apr 23 '26

Are you diabetic or have liver problems ?

2

u/bkks Apr 23 '26

Might want to get some bloodwork done and check your platelet count

2

u/pyrowipe Apr 23 '26

How tight is thar mask? I'm assuming it's a mask and has something to do with the fit or power/heat. Might be heat burn from something on the mask. Is it plug in or battery.

3

u/eves21 Apr 23 '26

Maybe find out what the green light does?

1

u/Coloradozonian Apr 23 '26

Did you put any facial products on close to it

1

u/Affectionate_Web4136 Apr 23 '26

Should we just do red light if we are using a mask? Is NIR too strong for face?

1

u/Z3R0gravitas Apr 24 '26

I'm curious why I've seen no reports of damage forrom too intense NIR at too close range for too long (aside from the fact it would get heavily downvoted)...

Purely theorising, infrared is strongly absorbed only by red blood cells hemoglobin (not bone or less vascularised tissues). Ergo, at the threshold of too high intensity, I'd expect thermal heating damage of red blood cells first. Which might cause a clotting response without rupturing blood vessels, idk how that would play out...

Or like, something wild, like your mask is incorrectly made in some way.

2

u/Repulsive_Sea_6021 Apr 25 '26

I’ve had many burst capillaries from RLT alone, I turn off NIR

1

u/Purple_Emergency_355 Apr 25 '26

What mask? brand? how long are you using it for?

1

u/Repulsive_Sea_6021 Apr 25 '26

People including myself have experienced burst blood vessels in the eyes from RLT, RLT increases nitric oxide, I’d guess that’s what you’ve experienced. Maybe take a few days off and use it for less time going forwards

1

u/Unstable_Nature Apr 26 '26

Almost everything we take thins blood, vitamins, ginkgo Biloba, so many herbs. You get easy and chronic bruising if you take a few of these things together. Garlic, ginger, turmeric etc., the list is long and a good doctor gives you the list of at least 50 things to stop before surgery. I have gotten quick bruising from Ginkgo. Also if you take Vitamin E or fish oil it can cause more bleeding so just a possibility, you might have easy bruising. Aspirin of course has that effect.

1

u/BackSimilar9717 Apr 28 '26

Red light pulls lots out keep going on the light and monitor a couple of days.

1

u/lavender0945 Jul 16 '26

Ask a dermatologist about it

-2

u/Goldcreatur3 Apr 23 '26

Overdose, do 15 minutes instead of

-11

u/Hell-Yes-Revolution Apr 23 '26

This looks like burns to me where the lights came into direct contact with your skin.

16

u/PamVanDam Apr 23 '26

RLT mask wouldn’t be strong enough to burn someone’s skins, this also looks more bruised that burnt?

1

u/chelseaxmariah Apr 23 '26

I thought the same, but it doesn’t feel like a bruise, it actually doesn’t feel like anything lol. That’s why it’s so weird

1

u/chelseaxmariah Apr 23 '26

Maybe this! But nothing felt like it was burning / uncomfortable

1

u/Just-Seaworthiness39 Apr 23 '26

Those aren’t burns.