Red light therapy and microneedling are both proven treatments for skin rejuvenation. But can you—should you—use them together? The short answer: yes, and the combination may enhance results beyond either treatment alone.
How Red Light Therapy Works
Red light therapy (also called LED therapy or photobiomodulation) uses specific wavelengths of light to affect cellular function:
Red light (630-660nm): Stimulates collagen production, reduces inflammation, improves circulation
Near-infrared (810-850nm): Penetrates deeper, supports tissue repair, reduces inflammation
The light is absorbed by mitochondria in your cells, boosting cellular energy production (ATP) and triggering beneficial biological responses.
How Microneedling Works
Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries that trigger your skin’s wound-healing response, including collagen production, growth factor release, increased blood flow, and skin remodeling.
Both treatments ultimately support collagen production—through different mechanisms.
Why Combining Them Makes Sense
Complementary Mechanisms
Microneedling triggers collagen through wound healing. Red light stimulates collagen through cellular energy. Using both gives your skin multiple signals to produce collagen—potentially amplifying results.
Enhanced Healing
Red light therapy is proven to accelerate wound healing. Since microneedling creates controlled wounds, using LED therapy afterward may speed recovery and reduce downtime.
Reduced Inflammation
Red light has anti-inflammatory effects. Post-microneedling inflammation is normal but not necessarily desirable. LED therapy may help manage this inflammation while preserving the beneficial collagen response.
| Treatment | Primary Mechanism | Collagen Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Microneedling | Controlled injury → wound healing | Strong stimulus; proven effective |
| Red light therapy | Cellular energy → mitochondrial function | Moderate stimulus; supports production |
| Combined | Both mechanisms working together | Potentially enhanced results |
How to Combine Them Safely
Option 1: LED After Microneedling (Same Session)
Protocol:
1. Complete your microneedling treatment with appropriate serum
2. Apply post-treatment serum and let absorb (10-15 minutes)
3. Use red light mask or LED device for 10-20 minutes
4. Continue with gentle moisturizer if needed
Benefits: Enhanced healing, reduced redness, boosted collagen stimulus
Precaution: Ensure LED device is clean—you’re applying it to freshly treated skin
Option 2: Alternating Days
Protocol:
Microneedling: Weekly (e.g., Sunday)
Red light therapy: Daily or every other day (including non-microneedling days)
Benefits: Consistent LED benefits throughout the week, supporting ongoing collagen production
Option 3: LED Before Microneedling
Protocol:
1. Red light therapy session (10-20 minutes)
2. Wait 30 minutes
3. Proceed with microneedling
Theory: Pre-treatment LED may “prime” cells for the collagen stimulus to come
What the Research Suggests
While studies specifically on combining at-home microneedling with LED are limited, related research is promising:
Professional combination studies: Clinical research on professional microneedling combined with LED shows enhanced outcomes for acne scarring and skin rejuvenation
Red light for wound healing: Multiple studies confirm LED therapy accelerates wound healing—relevant for post-microneedling recovery
LED for collagen: Research supports red light therapy’s ability to stimulate collagen production independently
The logic for combining them is sound, even if at-home specific studies are still emerging.
Choosing a Red Light Device
For effective red light therapy, look for:
Correct wavelengths: 630-660nm (red) and/or 810-850nm (near-infrared). Devices with just “red LEDs” without specified wavelengths may not be therapeutic.
Adequate power: Look for irradiance specifications. Very cheap devices often don’t deliver enough light energy.
Full face coverage: The Glownetics Red Light Mask provides full face coverage for convenient treatment.
FDA clearance: Indicates the device has met safety standards.
Sample Weekly Protocol
Sunday (Microneedling Day):
Evening: Microneedle with treatment serum → Wait 15 min → Red light mask 15-20 min → Gentle moisturizer
Monday-Saturday:
Morning or evening: Red light mask 10-15 min (daily or every other day)
Follow your regular skincare routine
Who Benefits Most from Combining
Good candidates for combination therapy:
Those focused on anti-aging and collagen building. Anyone wanting to optimize microneedling recovery. Those who already own both devices. People with more significant skin concerns wanting maximum results.
May not need both:
Those with mild concerns that respond well to microneedling alone. Budget-constrained (prioritize microneedling + good serums first). Those who find multiple treatments overwhelming.
The Bottom Line
Red light therapy and microneedling work through different mechanisms toward similar goals—collagen production and skin rejuvenation. Combining them is safe and may enhance results by giving your skin multiple signals to repair and rebuild.
If you already do microneedling, adding LED therapy is a logical next step for optimization. If you’re choosing between them, start with microneedling (more dramatic results) and add LED later.
Two proven treatments, complementary mechanisms, potentially amplified results.
