Did a wider light spectrum help more?

How the study worked

Of 136 volunteers, 113 joined four light-treatment groups and 23 received no treatment. The light came from full-body beds, not masks.

The groups used 611–650 nm red light or 570–850 nm light twice weekly for 30 sessions. Researchers checked photos, skin roughness, collagen density on ultrasound and participants’ own ratings.

The results

Treated groups had smoother skin and higher collagen density. Participants’ ratings and photo scores also improved more than in the untreated group.

The broader spectrum did not outperform red light alone.

What is still unclear

Groups used different outputs and session times, so the trial cannot identify one ideal setting. The control group was small and did not receive a sham treatment.

What to take from this

In this trial, adding more wavelengths did not improve the result.

Devices that list similar light

Five of the 5 masks in the comparison list a wavelength in the band used here (red, 611–650 nm). They are examples, listed alphabetically, each with our specification page and the manufacturer’s own product page. Related devices are examples, not evidence that a study tested that retail model.

• CurrentBody Skin LED Face Mask Series 3415 · 532 · 590 · 633 · 830 · 1072 nm · CurrentBody product page
• Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro415 · 630; page also lists 605 · 880 (unresolved) nm · Dr. Dennis Gross product page
• Dr. Renú SpectraLift Advanced465 · 530 · 630–660 · 850 nm · Dr. Renú product page
• Omnilux Contour Face633 · 830 nm · Omnilux product page
• Shark CryoGlow FW312415 · 630 · 830 nm · Shark product page

Matching a wavelength is not the same as matching the study. Dose, irradiance, session length and schedule also differ, and a mask’s reported output is not independently measured. See how dose works and home vs clinic doses.