If you’re into skincare, you’ve probably been advertised light therapy face masks.

These high-tech hockey masks promise to plump up or heal your skin through light – often red, but sometimes yellow, green, blue or even purple.

Norman and Tegan go through the rainbow to assess where there's evidence, and where there's not.

References:
Sweaty sauna bathing for better health - What's That Rash?
Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy: A Review of Recent Progress and Their Target Molecules for Cancer Therapy
Effect of NASA Light-Emitting Diode Irradiation on Wound Healing
Visible Red Light Emitting Diode Photobiomodulation for Skin Fibrosis: Key Molecular Pathways
Utilization of light-emitting diodes for skin therapy: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Photodynamic Therapy Using HMME for Port-Wine Stains: Clinical Effectiveness and Sonographic Appearance
Effect of Blue Light on Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review
The efficacy of violet light in the treatment of acne
Featured review: What are the benefits and risks of light therapy for treating atopic eczema?
Light therapy for preventing seasonal affective disorder

This episode first aired on December 18, 2024. 

What's That Rash?

ABC Australia

Red and other light therapy — can it work?

APR 14, 202618 MIN
What's That Rash?

Red and other light therapy — can it work?

APR 14, 202618 MIN

Description

<p>If you’re into skincare, you’ve probably been advertised light therapy face masks.</p><p>These high-tech hockey masks promise to plump up or heal your skin through light – often red, but sometimes yellow, green, blue or even purple.</p><p>Norman and Tegan go through the rainbow to assess where there's evidence, and where there's not.</p><p>References:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/whats-that-rash/sauna-sweat-health-benefits/104221000">Sweaty sauna bathing for better health</a> - What's That Rash?</li><li><a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9916513/">Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy: A Review of Recent Progress and Their Target Molecules for Cancer Therapy</a></li><li><a href="https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/104454701753342758">Effect of NASA Light-Emitting Diode Irradiation on Wound Healing</a></li><li><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13671-016-0141-x">Visible Red Light Emitting Diode Photobiomodulation for Skin Fibrosis: Key Molecular Pathways</a></li><li><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/phpp.12841">Utilization of light-emitting diodes for skin therapy: Systematic review and meta-analysis</a></li><li><a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/2020/6030581">Photodynamic Therapy Using HMME for Port-Wine Stains: Clinical Effectiveness and Sonographic Appearance</a></li><li><a href="https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/20/6943">Effect of Blue Light on Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review</a></li><li><a href="https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(03)03395-4/fulltext">The efficacy of violet light in the treatment of acne</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cochrane.org/news/featured-review-what-are-benefits-and-risks-light-therapy-treating-atopic-eczema">Featured review: What are the benefits and risks of light therapy for treating atopic eczema?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD011269.pub3/full?highlightAbstract=light%7Ctherapy%7Ctherapi">Light therapy for preventing seasonal affective disorder</a></li></ul><p>This episode first aired on December 18, 2024. </p>