Red Light Therapy for Scars: What the Research Shows
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Red light therapy for scars has real research behind it — but the evidence, and the right approach, differs a lot depending on what kind of scar you're dealing with. Here's an honest breakdown.
Surgical and fine-line scars
This is where the evidence is strongest. A 2021 randomized, controlled trial published in the Journal of Biophotonics tested LED red light on surgical incisions, starting about a week post-op, three sessions a week for three weeks. Higher-dose sessions produced scars that were measurably more pliable and less firm than untreated controls. The general idea: red and near-infrared light support the skin's own repair process during healing, which can translate into a softer, less noticeable scar over time.
Hypertrophic scars (thick, raised, but within the wound border)
Hypertrophic scars — raised but staying within the original injury's boundaries — respond to the same collagen-supporting mechanism, and starting light therapy early in healing tends to produce better outcomes than waiting until a scar is already mature and set.
Keloids — where it's more complicated
Keloids are the one case worth real caution. They form from an overreaction of the wound-healing process — collagen that keeps growing beyond the original wound. Because red light therapy's core mechanism is stimulating more collagen activity, and keloids are already a case of too much collagen, the research here is genuinely mixed: some studies suggest it can help modulate keloid tissue, but direct clinical evidence is limited, and it's not something to self-treat without a dermatologist's input, especially if you have a personal or family history of keloid scarring.
Acne scarring
For post-acne marks and mild scarring, red light is generally used as a supporting tool alongside — not instead of — treatments like retinoids, since the mechanisms are complementary rather than overlapping.
A sensible way to use it
- Start early when possible. For a new surgical or injury scar, once your provider clears you for light exposure, beginning sooner tends to outperform starting on an old, already-set scar.
- Be consistent. The clinical protocols behind the evidence used multiple sessions a week for weeks, not occasional use.
- Check with a dermatologist first for keloids or if you're prone to them.
- Set realistic expectations. Softer, less raised, less noticeable is the realistic goal — not disappearance.
Frequently asked questions
Can red light therapy make a scar disappear completely?
No. The realistic outcome is a softer, more pliable, less visually prominent scar — not full removal.
Is red light therapy safe on a keloid?
Talk to a dermatologist first. The evidence is more limited and mixed than for surgical or hypertrophic scars.
When should I start light therapy on a new scar?
As soon as your surgeon or provider clears you for it — earlier tends to produce better results than waiting for the scar to fully mature.
The Luxen Veil pairs red (665nm) with two near-infrared wavelengths (850nm and 1064nm) for sessions that work at both the surface and deeper dermal layers.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult your surgeon or dermatologist before starting light therapy on any new or existing scar, particularly keloids.
