Can LED Light Therapy Stimulate Collagen Production? Here’s What Science Shows
Authors: Tim Roberts, MSc; Rachelle Reed, PhD, MS, ACSM-EP
Expert contributor: Dr. Neera Nathan, MD, MSHS, Harvard-trained dermatologist and fellowship-trained Mohs micrographic surgeon
From serums to supplements to in-office treatments, many of today’s most popular skincare innovations promise to support collagen and slow visible signs of aging. More recently, at-home LED light therapy devices (like masks or wands that emit a red glow) have entered evening routines.
But does LED light therapy actually stimulate collagen? How effective are these devices?
Here’s what the science and experts have to say about collagen, skin aging, and the beneficial role of LED light therapy.
What is collagen and how does it impact skin aging?
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body. It plays a foundational role in keeping tissues strong, flexible, and resilient. Collagen makes up about 70% to 80% of skin tissue, providing structure to tendons, ligaments, bones, cartilage, and skin tissue. [1, 2]
“Collagen is a protein that is essential for structural support in the skin and helps contribute to skin elasticity, firmness, and hydration,” says Harvard-trained dermatologist Neera Nathan, M.D., MSHS. “As we age, we lose collagen, which leads to fine lines, wrinkles, and volume loss.”
Your body produces collagen through specialized cells called fibroblasts, which use amino acids and other nutrients (like vitamin C) to build and maintain the skin’s structural framework. [1]
Over time, both the number and activity of these fibroblasts naturally decline, making it harder for the skin to maintain its firmness and resilience. This results in: [3]
- Thinner-looking skin: Skin may start to look more delicate or less “cushioned,” especially in areas like the cheeks or under the eyes.
- Loss of elasticity: Skin may not “bounce” back like it used to.
- Fine lines and wrinkles: Small creases (especially around the eyes, mouth, and forehead) may become more noticeable.
- Increased dryness: Your skin may feel extra dry, flaky, or irritated.
- A “sagging” appearance: Areas like the jawline, cheeks, or temples may begin to look less defined and plump.
What impacts collagen loss?
The age-related decline of collagen production and preservation happens earlier than you think.
Most people begin to lose collagen in their mid- to late-20s, with levels declining by about 1% per year. [4] That rate tends to pick up after the age of 40 and, again, after menopause in women (declining estrogen causes collagen production and preservation to taper). In fact, research shows that women’s skin loses around 30% of its collagen during the first five years of menopause. [5, 6]
However, age isn’t the only factor that influences collagen loss.
Environmental and lifestyle factors can also accelerate collagen breakdown, including:
- UV exposure & sun damage: This is one of the most significant contributors to accelerated collagen loss. Ultraviolet radiation triggers the formation of free radicals and enzymes that break down collagen fibers while also slowing the skin’s ability to produce new collagen. [7]
- Chronic stress: Elevated stress hormones, like cortisol, can interfere with fibroblast function and accelerate the breakdown of collagen over time. [8]
- Poor sleep: Inadequate sleep reduces the skin’s overnight repair processes, limiting collagen production and slowing recovery from daily environmental stressors. [9]
- Environmental pollution: Pollutants generate oxidative stress that weakens collagen structure and increases inflammation, both of which contribute to faster collagen degradation. [10]
Maintaining healthy collagen levels
Maintaining healthy collagen levels generally comes down to both preserving the collagen you already have and supporting your skin’s ability to rebuild new collagen.
Collagen preservation focuses on limiting exposure to the factors that accelerate collagen breakdown. This is especially true for UV exposure, which remains one of the most well-documented drivers of premature skin aging.
“Sunscreen is essential for this,” says Nathan. “UV rays can break down collagen and lead to premature aging. So if you do nothing else — wear sunscreen and sun protective clothing.”
Rebuilding strategies focus on encouraging the skin’s natural repair processes. This includes ingredients and technologies designed to stimulate fibroblasts, the same cells responsible for producing collagen in the first place.
“To preserve and rebuild collagen, regular use of a retinoid is one of the most well-studied interventions,” says Nathan. [11]
Energy-based tools, including LED light therapy, fall into this rebuilding category. By delivering specific wavelengths of light into the skin, these treatments help stimulate cellular activity that supports collagen production.
Understanding how this happens at the cellular level helps explain why LED therapy has become an increasingly popular tool in both clinical settings and at-home routines.
How does LED light therapy stimulate collagen production?
LED light therapy (also called photobiomodulation) involves exposing the skin to specific wavelengths of light that trigger biological responses inside cells. [12]
When certain wavelengths of light reach the skin, they are absorbed by mitochondria — the energy-producing structures inside cells. This boosts cellular energy production and helps activate fibroblasts and supports the processes that lead to collagen and elastin production.
Different wavelengths have different benefits
Multiple LED light wavelengths are used in skincare. The three most common, with clinical evidence supporting their benefits, are red, blue, and infrared LED light.
- Red light (typically 630–700 nm): Red light penetrates deep into the skin and is commonly associated with skin rejuvenation benefits. Research suggests it can stimulate procollagen synthesis — the early stage of collagen production — supporting smoother, firmer-looking skin. [13]
- Near-infrared light (typically 800–850 nm): Near-infrared light travels even deeper into connective tissue. It has been widely studied for its role in tissue repair, inflammation reduction, and wound healing. Because of its depth of penetration, it is often paired with red light to support more comprehensive skin benefits. [13, 14]
- Blue light (around 415 nm): Blue light works primarily at the skin’s surface to target acne-causing bacteria. [15] (While beneficial to the skin, this wavelength doesn’t reach deep enough to target collagen production.)
The research-backed benefits of LED light therapy
Research into LED light therapy has grown significantly over the past decade, particularly on its skin rejuvenation and wound healing benefits. [16]
Many studies evaluate visible skin changes rather than measuring collagen directly, but these visible improvements are closely associated with healthy collagen structure.
Studies involving red and near-infrared light therapy have shown improvements in: [17]
- Skin firmness and elasticity
- Wrinkle depth and skin texture
- Overall skin tone and smoothness
- Tissue strength and healing response
In wound healing research (including recovery from surgery), data indicate that red and infrared light can help speed healing and improve tissue strength. These beneficial changes are closely linked to increased collagen synthesis and improved collagen organization within the skin. [18]
Clinical findings from at-home daily LED use
There are countless at-home LED facial devices to choose from. Therabody’s® TheraFace Mask and TheraFace Mask Glo are two of the most studied technologies.
Both wearable masks combine therapeutic doses of red, blue, and near infrared plus red light therapy to support skin rejuvenation, collagen production, and a more even complexion.
In 2023, Therabody partnered with Media Lab Science to conduct a 12-week study to determine the impact of using the TheraFace Mask. In total, 31 people completed the present 9-minute treatment for the three-month period. By the end of the study,
- 93.5% felt their skin looked healthier overall
- 90.3% reported that their skin looked more radiant
- 87.1% noticed a more even skin tone
These findings were replicated and validated in a 2025 clinical study of TheraFace Mask Glo, which uses the same technology as the TheraFace Mask. A 12-week study where participants used the device’s 12-minute treatment consistently (the amount of time to achieve the same therapeutic dose of light as TheraFace Mask), found improvements in:
- Radiance and luminosity
- Skin tone evenness
- Dark spots
- Wrinkle width
- Fine lines
- Skin sagging
- Firmness
- Skin texture
How to use LED light therapy for collagen support
The key to getting the most out of LED light therapy comes down to:
- Choose a device (like TheraFace Masks) that delivers precision LED Therapy.
- Use it consistently in your routine, such as using it in the morning or evening after cleansing your face but before applying any skincare products.
- Integrate it with a comprehensive skincare routine. “You can maximize the skincare benefits of an LED mask by committing to a consistent skincare routine consisting of sunscreen and a retinoid,” says Nathan. Always wait until after using an LED mask to apply a retinoid.
Key takeaways
- Collagen is the structural protein that keeps skin firm, smooth, and elastic, but natural production begins declining in your 20s and accelerates with age and menopause.
- Red and near-infrared LED light therapy may support collagen production by stimulating fibroblasts — the cells responsible for building and maintaining the skin’s structural framework.
- Clinical research shows consistent LED light therapy use is associated with visible improvements in skin firmness, texture, tone, and overall radiance.
- Preserving collagen through daily sunscreen use and supporting rebuilding with retinoids and LED therapy work best when used safely and consistently.
- Realistic results from LED light therapy are gradual, with the most noticeable improvements occurring with consistent use as part of a long-term skincare routine.
References:
- Biochemistry, Collagen Synthesis
- Aging of the skin connective tissue: how to measure the biochemical and mechanical properties of aging dermis
- Skin Ageing: Pathophysiology and Current Market Treatment Approaches
- Skin anti-aging strategies
- Managing Menopausal Skin Changes: A Narrative Review of Skin Quality Changes, Their Aesthetic Impact, and the Actual Role of Hormone Replacement Therapy in Improvement
- Caring for your skin in menopause
- UV damage of collagen: insights from model collagen peptides
- Brain-Skin Connection: Stress, Inflammation and Skin Aging
- Can good sleep quality enhance the benefits of oral collagen supplementation in the prevention of skin aging? A brief report
- The impact of pollution and climate change on skin health: Mechanisms, protective strategies, and future directions
- Use of Retinoids in Topical Antiaging Treatments: A Focused Review of Clinical Evidence for Conventional and Nanoformulations
- Proposed Mechanisms of Photobiomodulation or Low-Level Light Therapy
- A study to determine the efficacy of combination LED light therapy (633 nm and 830 nm) in facial skin rejuvenation
- A study to determine the efficacy of a novel handheld light-emitting diode device in the treatment of photoaged skin
- Clinical Efficacy of Self-applied Blue Light Therapy for Mild-to-Moderate Facial Acne
- Light‐emitting diodes in dermatology: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
- A controlled trial to determine the efficacy of red and near-infrared light treatment in patient satisfaction, reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, skin roughness, and intradermal collagen density increase
- Effects of Near Infrared Light on Surgical Wound Healing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
