Research explained
Plain-English summaries of 20 PubMed studies on light-based skin devices: what researchers did, what they found, what the study cannot tell you, and which devices here share its technology and wavelengths. Null and weak results are included.
Lasers
- How safe are 1440 nm non-ablative fractional lasers, including on darker skin? Literature review · 2025
- Fractional lasers for the eye area worked better after 45 Randomised split-face trial · 2025
- What happens when sensitive skin meets a home fractional laser? Clinical study, sensitive vs non-sensitive skin · 2016
- Does skincare change what a home fractional laser does? Randomised, evaluator-blinded, split-face · 2016
- Can people safely use a fractional laser at home? A 124-person trial Multicentre trial, no control group · 2012
- Fractional photothermolysis: the 2004 study behind every fractional laser Prototype clinical study · 2004
- Patients liked the result; only 2 of 25 dermatologists rated it better Blinded photo evaluation · 2004
- Is it the 1450 nm laser or just the cooling? A split-face test Split-face comparison · 2002
LED light
- Does adding red light to blue help acne at home? A 2026 trial Open-label randomised controlled trial · 2026
- A sham-controlled trial of a red LED mask: two sessions a week seemed enough Randomised, sham-controlled, double-blind · 2025
- Red and amber LED light both reduced eye-wrinkle volume by about 30% Randomised split-face trial · 2023
- A commercial three-wavelength LED mask tested on men Open-label study of a commercial mask · 2023
- What 31 randomised trials say about LED light for skin Systematic review of 31 RCTs · 2018
- Red light increased collagen density against an untreated control Randomised controlled trial · 2014
- 830 nm, 633 nm or both? A double-blind, sham-controlled LED trial Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, split-face · 2007
- The early clinic study behind red plus near-infrared LED masks Clinical study, no control group · 2005
- Blue plus red light against acne: the classic randomised trial Randomised trial, observer-blinded · 2000
Reviews covering both categories
- Red and near-infrared light and cancer risk: what a systematic review found Systematic review · 2023
- Low-level light therapy: a reasonable evidence base, with gaps Review · 2021
- Home laser and light devices: what dermatologists found in the evidence Literature and FDA database review · 2015
Not medical advice. Summaries are based on the published abstracts linked on each page.