Sarah’s Health Notes: Decoding LED face masks
Researching this article made me remember that, many years ago when I was a very spotty teen, a local doctor recommended sunlight, plus some form of (probably pretty primitive) light therapy. I say primitive, but in fact the 1903 Nobel Prize for Medicine went to a scientist Niels Finsen for ‘phototherapy’, which was used for smallpox scars among other things. Later it became popular for psoriasis as well as aches and pains, arthritis and soft tissue injury. (I worked for a doctor in the early 1970s who popped patients with bad backs, hips etc under a whole body, infra red panel.)
LED stands for Light-Emitting Diodes; you’ll also find it called low-level light therapy or LLLT. Today’s LED face masks, both salon versions and at home, are essentially high tech light therapy, using different colours or wavelengths of light, mostly red, blue and near-infra red, to help rejuvenate the skin and, in some cases, treat problems.
The first red LED was invented in 1962 and in the 1980s medical researchers started testing LED lights to treat skin conditions. In the 1990s NASA developed LED technology for wound healing. But it wasn't until the early 2000s that dermatologists saw the potential of medical-grade LED panels not just to treat acne with blue light, but also using the red light spectrum for rejuvenation by stimulating collagen and elastin. (Blue light therapy for acne was given FDA approval in 2002.)
Facialists took up LED eagerly, offering salon treatments – some effective, all at a cost. That was followed, in the last five to ten years, by an ever expanding market for at home LED face masks, costing between £40 and £1500. The at home market is predicted to be worth £600m globally by 2032.
Today’s LED technology has also acquired a new term for how it works: photobiomodulation or PBM. As consultant dermatologist Dr. Jonathan Kentley told the BBC recently:
‘LED technology works by causing the skin to absorb light energy, which then triggers cellular changes in a process known as photobiomodulation This allows new blood vessels and skin cells to be formed, along with more collagen and elastin. PBM has also been used to treat acne as [some versions have] anti-inflammatory effects and reduce the amount of oil in the skin,’ he added.
While PBM is generally considered safe, even at high levels, so it won’t cause cell damage, experts agree that more research is needed to understand what at home devices can realistically achieve.
I’d add that for noticeable results – which won’t be instant: allow two to four weeks initially – you need to use an LED face mask regularly at least three times a week, according to manufacturer’s instructions. And using one certainly doesn't take away the need for diligent skincare, a good diet and, possibly, appropriate supplements.
If you are reading this in mid to late February 2026, you will see that our current prize draw is for Correxiko’s new LED Light Therapy Mask, worth £399, plus a collagen supplement bundle – you can enter here. The Mask, which is both easy to use and comfy on the face, is designed to be used in tandem with the supplements for the best rejuvenating results. This Correxiko version, developed by a doctor we know and trust, offers advanced red light therapy with four wavelengths to support the skin at cellular level, for brightness, tone, smoothness and firmness; it also targets pigmentation and melasma. More information here.
If you choose to invest in an LED face mask, do make sure it has EU safety certifications and a high density of LED bulbs on the mask (the Correxiko version has 333…). I trialled a high street brand about four years ago, which was cheap, but honestly I was far from cheerful about the mask – it was uncomfy and didn't seem to work after a few goes – so please do your research. And then read the instructions carefully: you should do a photosensitivity test first and also look at the skincare ingredients that may trigger irritation if used together with the mask.
