Red light therapy wand. These are handheld devices that have red LED lights at one end. You use them by moving the wand over your skin in the areas that you want to treat. They are used to treat very small areas, such as the back of the hands, one knee, or a particular spot on the face.

The review noted that many of these studies were small and lacked controls and that larger trials need to be done before any benefits can be confirmed.

There are many different types of red light therapy devices, some of which can be used at home. But home devices are usually less powerful than those used in clinics and may be less effective or take longer to work. Red light therapy devices include:

Research on the benefits of red light therapy is ongoing. While more research needs to be done, there is some evidence that it may be useful for several health and beauty concerns.

Red light therapy helps your cells repair themselves. It's often used to treat signs of aging and sun damage. (Photo Credit: E+/Getty Images)

The cost of lights—whether continuous or flash—can add up quickly. Diffusers, filters, and gels are relatively cheap studio lighting essentials that allow you to alter existing lights for a variety of effects. These items are versatile, inexpensive additions to your arsenal of lighting equipment because they can give every light a much broader range of use. With these items, you get more out of every studio lighting kit than you would otherwise.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology: “Synergistic effects of using novel home-use 660- and 850-nm light-emitting diode mask in combination with hyaluronic acid ampoule on photoaged Asian skin: A prospective, controlled study”

Red light therapy bed. This looks like a tanning bed but has red LED lights instead of UV lights. It is big enough for you to lie down inside, and your whole body is exposed to red light.

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Photomedicine and Laser Surgery: “Significant Improvement in Cognition in Mild to Moderately Severe Dementia Cases Treated with Transcranial Plus Intranasal Photobiomodulation: Case Series Report”

Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews: “Low level laser therapy (Classes I, II and III) for treating rheumatoid arthritis”

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Research shows that red light therapy may be useful for relieving some types of pain, particularly pain due to inflammation (irritation and swelling of body tissues). A review of 11 studies looking at the effect of red light therapy on pain found mostly positive results, though the authors said that more studies are needed. In another small study, people with temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) had less pain, clicking, and jaw tenderness after red light therapy.

Even at a doctor’s office, however, there are some risks. One early-stage clinical trial found that at high levels, red LED lights such as those used in red light therapy can cause blistering and redness on the skin. Red light therapy may also cause eye damage in some cases, so it is best to wear protective goggles when using a red light therapy device.

There is not a lot of research on the effects of red light therapy on pregnant people, but limited research suggests that it is safe. One study examined 380 pregnant women who had used laser light treatments during pregnancy and found that it was safe for both the parent and fetus.

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There is no lighting equipment more versatile than reflectors. They’re compact, affordable, and handy for both indoor and outdoor photo shoots. If you know how to use a reflector, you’ll be able to manipulate both natural and artificial lighting to illuminate your subjects in a way that looks natural and understated. When positioned correctly in the studio, a reflector can turn one light into both the key light and, by reflecting the light behind the subject, the hair light as well.

Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery: “Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring.”

Research shows red light therapy may smooth your skin and help with wrinkles. Researchers think it does this by stimulating collagen production, which helps improve skin elasticity. Research shows it also helps improve signs of sun damage.

Learning how to work with natural light is the first step for any amateur photographer, but eventually, you’ll need to learn how to adapt to any type of environment and control the lighting to suit your needs. This is a foundational skill that every photographer needs to have, no matter what area of photography you find yourself in later on in your career.

Journal of Biophotonics: “Photobiomodulation in human muscle tissue: an advantage in sports performance?,” “Safety of light emitting diode-red light on human skin: Two randomized controlled trials”

A review of multiple studies found that red light therapy can be an effective treatment for androgenic alopecia, a genetic disorder that causes hair loss. Another review of 11 studies found similar promising results. In some studies, hair thickness improved as well as hair growth.

Outside of photography, most of us know Chinese lanterns as simple decorative hanging lamps that make your home or backyard look more festive. But for photographers on a budget, these items are actually a fantastic lighting tool for creating soft, ambient lighting during indoor shoots.

People who take medications that increase their skin or eye sensitivity should not use red light therapy. People who have a history of skin cancer or eye disease should speak with their doctor before using red light therapy.

If you decide to use a red light therapy device at home, note that it may not be as powerful or effective as devices used by doctors or other professionals. When choosing an at-home device to purchase, you can check whether it has been cleared by the US FDA, which means that it is safe and equivalent to other devices already on the market. When using a red light therapy device at home, make sure to use proper eye protection and follow all directions on the device.

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Photography is all about working with light—whether by working with existing natural light or by creating the optimum lighting setup—to capture an image that fits the photographer’s artistic vision. But since proper lighting isn’t always available, every photographer needs to have the right lighting equipment on hand in order to take better pictures.

Using these lanterns also be a casual and budget-friendly way to explore indoor lighting if you don’t have the means to invest in professional studio lighting kits yet.

What are softboxes? They’re essentially large boxes made of thin material that diffuse the light source within it. The larger the softbox, the softer the light. When it comes to portraiture, softboxes are some of the best studio lighting tools at a photographer’s disposal.

Pain Research and Treatment: “Efficacy of the LED Red Light Therapy in the Treatment of Temporomandibular Disorders: Double Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.”

Red light therapy mask. This fits over your entire face and has red LED lights on the inside, pointed toward your skin. It is designed to be worn for a short length of time several times a week. It's used as a treatment for acne, wrinkles, or other facial skin concerns.

If you don’t want to use an at-home red light device, you can get red light therapy at a variety of places, including a doctor’s office or a spa. If you want to see a doctor to do red light therapy, you will likely see a dermatologist, a doctor who specializes in treating the skin. At a clinic or a spa, you may see an aesthetician — a licensed skin care professional.

Tendinopathy is a condition that causes pain and loss of function in your tendons. A review of 17 clinical trials studying the impact of red light on treating tendinopathy found low-to-moderate quality evidence indicating that red light can help relieve pain or improve function.

Red light therapy is a treatment that may help skin, muscle tissue, and other parts of your body heal. It uses low levels of red light to target your skin and cells. It is thought to work by increasing the production of mitochondria, your cells' energy sources. This may improve cell function and repair.

Red light therapy is also sometimes called low-level laser therapy, low-power laser therapy, low-power laser, or photobiomodulation.

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Reflectors are also great for outdoor shoots since they are an easy-to-use, lightweight instrument that can fit easily into whatever you’re using to carry your equipment.

BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation: “The effect of low-level red and near-infrared photobiomodulation on pain and function in tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials”

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Red light therapy appears to be mostly safe when used correctly, especially in the short term. Many forms of red light therapy are more effective when done at a doctor’s office rather than at home. That's because doctors can use stronger lights.

Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease: “Photobiomodulation Therapy for Dementia: A Systematic Review of Pre-Clinical and Clinical Studies”

Some providers use red light therapy as a weight loss treatment. This is often called body contouring, or body sculpting. Red light therapy may help reduce the circumference of your body in the area that was treated, but the effect will likely be temporary and not due to any real weight loss.

Red light therapy uses very low levels of heat and doesn’t hurt or burn the skin. Unlike the light used in tanning booths, it doesn’t expose your skin to damaging UV rays.

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Osteoarthritis and Cartilage: “Effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis”

The number of red light therapy treatments you need depends on what you are getting treatment for. But you will likely need ongoing sessions for weeks or even months.

Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology: “Light-emitting Diodes,” “Efficacy and Tolerability of a Combined 445nm and 630nm Over-the-counter Light Therapy Mask with and without Topical Salicylic Acid versus Topical Benzoyl Peroxide for the Treatment of Mild-to-moderate Acne Vulgaris”

Beginners won’t usually invest in lighting equipment since some of those studio lighting kits can get quite expensive, but there are actually some cheap lighting essentials that are well within anyone’s budget. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the most basic equipment that every beginner should have in order to build the best studio lighting kit for learning and experimenting with different lighting styles.

There is no evidence that red light therapy causes cancer. Red light therapy does not use ultraviolet rays, a form of radiation found in tanning booths and sunlight that can lead to skin cancer.

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Red light therapy panel. This is a panel of red LED lights that you can mount on a wall or place on a table, either at a clinic or home. Panels range in size from small to large. Small panels are used for targeted areas such as your face, and large panels can target larger areas of your body.

In red light therapy, you expose your skin to a lamp, device, or laser with a red light. It uses an LED (light-emitting diode) that emits the correct spectrum of light. Red LED light travels deeper into the skin than blue LED light, which is sometimes used to treat skin surface conditions such as acne. When the light enters your skin, your mitochondria soak it up and make more energy, which helps cells repair themselves.

Red light therapy is a noninvasive treatment that may help with several health conditions including wrinkles, acne, hair loss, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions that are still being investigated. You can do red light therapy at home using devices including masks and wands, but it may be more effective at a doctor’s office where the lights are more powerful. Though it can be expensive, it is generally considered to be safe.

The cost of this therapy can vary greatly depending on whether you are using a device at home or you are getting treatment in a clinic. But in general, red light therapy isn’t cheap — treatments can cost $80 a session or more.

Research has found that red light therapy can be effective for acne treatment. This may have to do with its ability to help reduce inflammation. In addition to helping with active acne lesions, red light lasers may also help treat old acne scars.

A review of studies found that red light therapy may be a helpful short-term treatment for pain and morning stiffness for patients with rheumatoid arthritis. However, it doesn’t seem to be very helpful for other forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis.

British Association of Dermatologists: “Laser and other light therapies for the treatment of acne vulgaris: systematic review”

If you’re looking for the best indoor lighting for photography, softboxes are a great choice. It won’t likely be the first piece of lighting equipment you may buy, but once you have at least a single stand and light, having one is a fantastic opportunity to get the best out of your lights.

Dermatologic Surgery: “Utilization of Laser Therapy During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review of the Maternal and Fetal Effects Reported From 1960 to 2017”

A 2021 research review found that in all 10 studies included in the review, red light therapy had benefits for people with dementia. In one of the studies, five people with dementia who had regular light therapy on their heads and through their noses for 12 weeks had better memories, slept better, and were angry less often.