“The American Academy of Dermatology warns that red-light therapy may cause hyperpigmentation in people with darker skin tones.”

Research shows that people who have darker skin tones are more sensitive to visible light, such as red light, than people with lighter skin tones. This increased sensitivity can lead to hyperpigmentation, and the resulting dark spots can be more intense and long-lasting than dark spots caused by invisible light, such as sunlight.

Clinically, this has been associated with adverse effects such as burns, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, hypopigmentation, and scarring in darker skin types [3,4, 5].

Research shows that people who have darker skin tones are more sensitive to visible light, such as red light, than people with lighter skin tones. This increased sensitivity can lead to hyperpigmentation, and the resulting dark spots can be more intense and long-lasting than dark spots caused by invisible light, such as sunlight.

For melasma, visible light shows risk of prolonged hyperpigmentation in darker skin phototypes, indicating the need for strict photoprotection. … A pivotal study by Mahmoud et al. [12] demonstrated that exposure to visible light induces darker and more persistent pigmentation in Fitzpatrick phototypes IV–VI compared with UVA1, with pigment persisting for up to 14 days.

In contrast, red light (typically in the range of 620–750 nm) does not activate the same melanogenic pathways and, in some cases, has been investigated for its potential to reduce hyperpigmentation by modulating inflammation and oxidative stress. This makes red or near-infrared light a safer and potentially beneficial alternative for phototherapy in patients prone to pigmentary disorders [32].

Check with your dermatologist beforehand if you have darker skin, since you may be more sensitive to visible light like red light, which can lead to dark spots. "Folks with darker skin types should start with lower doses," Dr. Reynolds says.

However, in darker-skin patients, melanin can increase temperature and cause adverse effects such as photosensitivity, especially in protocols with higher irradiances, such as those used in dual irradiations.

VL (400–700 nm) is now well recognized as a contributor to skin pigmentation, particularly in individuals with darker skin phototypes (FP IV–VI) [20, 24, 25]. BL is the most potent inducer of pigmentation at fluences of 40–80 J/cm2, while RL requires much higher fluences (approximately 150 J/cm2) [1, 5, 18,19, 20, 26].

However, recent literature has described the ability of visible light to cause erythema in light skin and pigmentary changes in individuals with darker skin types.

In treating melasma, patients with skin of color are at increased risk for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, necessitating a cautious and individualized approach. “Dermatologists should use care with aggressive chemical peels, energy-based devices, and prolonged topical corticosteroid use.

Blue, red, and blue + red light devices: Called visible light because you can see the colors, these devices can treat pimples. Visible light is not effective against blackheads, whiteheads, acne cysts, or nodules.

Patients with darker skin phototype may be at higher risk for PBM side effects. As such, conservative parameters and dosing may mitigate the risks for these patients.

Light emitting diode (LED) use for melasma, particularly with red or infrared light, has low evidence but may contribute to melasma treatment [146,147, 148]. Red light has been used to both increase and decrease skin pigmentation, depending on the indication [149].

Recent studies have demonstrated that in dark-skinned individuals, visible light can induce more intense and longer lasting pigmentation of the skin compared to UVA1. … Based on these findings, VL and UVA1 may also potentially play a role in conditions aggravated by sun exposure such as phototoxicity in light-skinned patients and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and melasma, especially in dark-skinned individuals.

While numerous studies have documented that irradiation with blue light and green light can induce a dose-dependent hyperpigmentation response [6,11,43,45,49,50,51], the skin phototype plays a crucial role in this process.

Mineroff J, Maghfour J, Ozog DM, Lim HW, Kohli I, Jagdeo J. Photobiomodulation CME part II: Clinical applications in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;91(5):805–15.

On the other hand, blue light mostly seems to increase hyperpigmentation in melasma rather than treat it due to upregulation of the melanogenesis-related proteins MITF, TYR, TRP-1, and TRP-2. Hence, blue light is not indicated to treat melasma or other hyperpigmentation disorders.

Caution is advised regarding retinoid dermatitis, which may potentially exacerbate PIH in dark skin.

However, recent literature has described the ability of visible light to cause erythema in light skin and pigmentary changes in individuals with darker skin types.

Is red light therapy right for your skin? If you want to use red light at home, here are 5 precautions that dermatologists recommend. The first can tell you whether it’s right for your skin.

Identify risks when using technologies and treatments in ethnic skin and will also learn how to handle different technologies, as well as several types of scar treatments in various phototypes.

- Worsening Hyperpigmentation? Rare, but if melanin is excessively heated, pigment redistribution can occur. Use lower doses and monitor closely.