Do red-light-therapy masks work for mature skin issues?

Dear Face Time, Is there any merit in buying those red light devices for your face? How about those that specifically target the under-eye area? Or your neck? I keep seeing them everywhere on social media. I’m in my late 40s and have started noticing crepey texture on my neck and under my eyes. Do you think these would help? They’re so expensive, I don’t want to buy one and be disappointed. — Feeling Frugal

Dear Feeling Frugal, You are right to be skeptical of any beauty innovation pushed on social media, especially those that cost more than a January heating bill. However, as it turns out, red light therapy masks are more promising at treating many annoying mature-skin issues than most so-called miracle products hawked on TikTok.

In fact, several recent studies have shown that red LED therapy can rejuvenate older skin by stimulating the production of collagen and elastin, reducing pore size and softening fine lines and wrinkles. LED masks work by emitting colors and wavelengths of light to penetrate the skin at various depths. They’re designed to treat a range of conditions including inflammation, swelling and signs of aging like sagging and discoloration.

In addition to my research, I have some personal experience with these devices — specifically 10 months of testing last year when, though the results were sometimes subtle, the best LED mask I tried delivered all of the above.

It’s important to note that there are myriad types of LED therapy, and every dermatologist I’ve ever interviewed has emphatically emphasized that in-office, physician-administered, higher-powered treatments deliver better results.

Also note that any at-home LED therapy mask worth its salt will be expensive, but you don’t have to shell out the highest end ($3,000 to $10,000) to reap the devices’ rewards.

During testing, I found the Omnilux Contour face mask ($395) worked efficiently to soften wrinkles and improve my skin’s complexion and laxity. Similarly, for my neck, I like the Light Salon Boost LED collar ($250), which has truly transformed that area of sagging/crepey skin over the past six months. CurrentBody makes a solid device specifically for the area under your eyes, and it has good reviews, though I haven’t tested it yet.

All this promising news comes with a caveat: LED masks of any sort require consistency in order to perform. Unless you are a person who is able to use these devices every day or at least several times per week, you will reap zero rewards. This is not a one-and-done practice — when I stop using my red light collar for just a few weeks, my neck skin returns to its previous reptilian form. What you’re looking at here is a major investment in money and time, but my take is that a quality red light therapy mask is worth the splurge.

What’s the best makeup for wrinkles? Does retinol work? Ask Jennifer Romolini anything, as the kids say, and she’ll answer with straightforward, expert-backed advice. Submit questions in the comments below, on social @yahoolife or email askfacetime@yahoo.com.