Does polychromatic red and near-infrared light treatment improve skin feeling, appearance, and intradermal collagen density compared to controls?
Red-Light Skin Therapy, a randomized trial in 136 volunteers (Photomedicine and Laser Surgery 2014, PMID 24286286) — blinded clinical evaluation of photographs confirmed significant improvement in the intervention groups compared to the control group. Broadband polychromatic PBM did not show an advantage over the red-light-only spectrum.
Source: Photomedicine and Laser Surgery 2014, PMID 24286286 ↗ · Research map · How Magellan grades evidence · evidence confidence: low
Photomedicine and Laser Surgery · 2014 · PMID 24286286 · DOI 10.1089/pho.2013.3616
Red and near-infrared polychromatic light treatment can improve skin complexion, feeling, roughness, and collagen density, but a broader spectrum did not offer additional benefits over red light alone.
The question
Does polychromatic red and near-infrared light treatment improve skin feeling, appearance, and intradermal collagen density compared to controls?
What they tested
The study hypothesized that polychromatic light, covering a broader spectral region, would be favorable for skin rejuvenation and repair compared to narrower bandwidth light sources.
How they did it
This was a prospective, randomized, and controlled study with 136 volunteers. 113 subjects were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, receiving either 611-650 nm or 570-850 nm polychromatic light twice a week for 30 sessions, normalized to approximately 9 J/cm² in the 611-650 nm range. These groups were compared to 23 controls. Data collected included blinded evaluations of clinical photography, ultrasonographic collagen density measurements, computerized digital profilometry, and patient satisfaction.
What they found
Treated subjects showed significantly improved skin complexion, skin feeling, skin roughness (assessed profilometrically), and ultrasonographically measured collagen density. Blinded clinical evaluation of photographs confirmed significant improvement in the intervention groups compared to the control group. Broadband polychromatic PBM did not show an advantage over the red-light-only spectrum.
What it means
Both novel polychromatic light sources demonstrated efficacy and safety for skin rejuvenation and increasing intradermal collagen when compared with controls. However, broadband polychromatic PBM did not offer an advantage over the red-light-only spectrum.
Limitations
The abstract does not explicitly state limitations of the study.
Where the published abstract does not list limitations, we say so rather than inventing them. Read the full paper on PubMed before drawing conclusions.
The paper at a glance
| Title | 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. |
|---|---|
| Journal | Photomedicine and Laser Surgery |
| Year | 2014 |
| PMID | 24286286 ↗ |
| DOI | 10.1089/pho.2013.3616 ↗ |
| Topic | Skin, hair & photoaging |
Read the source: PubMed record (authors, abstract, full citation) ↗ · Publisher via doi.org ↗
Where Magellan uses this paper
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Photobiomodulation (Red & Near-Infrared Light)
The primary target of red and near-infrared light is cytochrome c oxidase, an enzyme in the mitochondrial respiratory chain; stimulating it is associated with increased cellular energy (ATP) production and reduced inflammation.
Red-Light Skin Therapy
Controlled trials of red and near-infrared light report measurable reductions in fine lines, wrinkles and skin roughness alongside increased intradermal collagen density. By boosting mitochondrial activity in skin cells, photobiomodulation targets the cellular basis of skin aging.
Molecules & mechanisms in this paper
Each of these is named in the paper’s own words above. Open the monograph for the full mechanism and its other citations.
Cite this page
These citations point at this summary. To cite the original paper with its full author list, use the PubMed record or doi.org.
Magellan Longevity. (2026). Does polychromatic red and near-infrared light treatment improve skin feeling, appearance, and intradermal collagen density compared to controls? [Plain-English summary of Photomedicine and Laser Surgery 2014, PMID 24286286, DOI 10.1089/pho.2013.3616]. Magellan Longevity. https://magellanlongevity.com/study/redlight_skin.html@misc{magellan_redlight_skin,
title = {Does polychromatic red and near-infrared light treatment improve skin feeling, appearance, and intradermal collagen density compared to controls?},
author = {{Magellan Longevity}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://magellanlongevity.com/study/redlight_skin.html}},
note = {Plain-English summary of PubMed PMID 24286286; DOI 10.1089/pho.2013.3616; Photomedicine and Laser Surgery 2014. Reviewed by Gabriel Radu, DO},
urldate = {2026-08-11}
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