The Science Behind LED Therapy - and How it Helps Tackle Signs of Ageing, Rosacea and Eczema

Written by an independent, certified dermatologist


LED light therapy has quickly become one of the most effective non-invasive skincare treatments for mature skin. Backed by science and widely used in both clinical and at-home settings, LED therapy uses targeted wavelengths of light to treat a range of skin concerns - particularly those related to ageing, rosacea, and eczema. Devices like the Dermaglow LED & EMS Mask, the Currentbody, Omnilux and Shark Cryoglow are popular for at-home use, offering professional-level results without downtime or irritation.

As a dermatologist, I often recommend LED light therapy and EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) as part of a long-term skincare routine. Together, these technologies improve skin firmness, reduce inflammation, and support healthy skin regeneration; especially important for women aged 40 and over who are dealing with common skin issues such as fine lines, wrinkles, sagging skin, rosacea, and perimenopausal eczema.

Let’s explore the science behind LED light therapy and how it works for these major skin concerns.


1. Ageing Skin: Wrinkles, Fine Lines & Sagging

One of the most common reasons people start using LED face masks is to treat visible signs of ageing. As the skin matures, collagen and elastin production slows, leading to wrinkles, fine lines, and sagging in areas like the neck, jawline, and cheeks. These effects are often more pronounced during and after perimenopause.

How LED Therapy Helps:

The most effective LED wavelengths for anti-ageing are:

  • Red Light: Boosts collagen production, improves circulation, and smooths fine lines and wrinkles.
  • Near-Infrared Light: Penetrates deeper into the skin to support elasticity and firmness, especially useful for treating sagging skin and loose areas like jowls and turkey neck.
  • Deep Infrared Light: Helps stimulate deeper tissue repair, encouraging long-term skin rejuvenation and firmness - deep infrared light is clinically proven to be the most effective LED light therapy mode in reducing the depth of deep wrinkles.

Regular use of red and deep infrared LED light therapy has been shown to reduce the depth and appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while improving overall skin tone and texture. This technology works by stimulating fibroblasts in the dermis (inner of the two skin layers) to produce more collagen and elastin - two essential proteins that keep skin looking youthful.

What about EMS?
EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) is another technology increasingly used alongside LED therapy for skin tightening. EMS gently stimulates facial muscles, helping to lift and tone sagging areas. Combined with red and deep infrared LED light, it can improve the appearance of the lower face, jowls, and neck; key ageing concerns for many women around and after menopause.


2. Rosacea: Flushing, Redness & Sensitivity

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that typically begins after age 30. Common symptoms include facial redness, visible blood vessels, and sensitivity. Many women experience worsening rosacea during perimenopause due to hormonal fluctuations and increased skin reactivity.

How LED Therapy Helps:

  • Green Light Therapy: Green light targets pigmentation and inflamed blood vessels beneath the skin, helping to strengthen capillary walls and reduce redness caused by broken vessels. It also works to even out skin tone and calm visible rosacea symptoms by soothing vascular inflammation.
  • White Light Therapy: White light contains a broad spectrum of wavelengths that penetrate at varying depths to stimulate cellular repair and regeneration. This can help reduce inflammation, calm flare-ups, and strengthen skin function over time, making it a supportive treatment for sensitive rosacea-prone skin.
  • Yellow Light Therapy: Targets surface redness and flushing. Yellow light penetrates just beneath the epidermis (outermost layer of skin) and can even out blotchy tone and reduce the appearance of inflamed blood vessels over time.

Unlike heat-based treatments, LED light therapy does not trigger rosacea flare-ups, making it safe for regular use. Green, white and yellow LED light can support skin barrier repair and calm visible symptoms over time, making them ideal for managing rosacea at home.

Devices like the Dermaglow LED & EMS Mask, unlike most others available today, include multiple light modes to allow users to tailor their sessions to specific skin needs, including gentle green, white and yellow light therapy for rosacea-prone skin.


3. Eczema: Dryness, Irritation & Perimenopausal Flare-Ups

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, affects many adults - especially women going through perimenopause. Common symptoms include red, dry, flaky skin, itching, and sensitivity. Hormonal changes during this stage of life can weaken the skin barrier, making it more prone to inflammation and chronic dryness.

How LED Therapy Helps:

  • Red Light Therapy: Soothes irritated skin and reduces inflammation. Red light encourages healing, by stimulating the production of new collagen, and calms flare-ups without damaging sensitive skin.
  • Deep-Infrared Light Therapy: Penetrates deepest into the skin’s layers to promote long-term healing and tissue repair, supporting the skin’s natural protective barrier.
  • White Light Therapy: By enhancing overall skin cell turnover and promoting faster regeneration, white light therapy can help repair the damaged skin barrier in eczema sufferers, reducing dryness, irritation, and the frequency of flare-ups.

LED therapy works at the cellular level through a process known as photobiomodulation. When the skin absorbs red and infrared light, it boosts mitochondrial activity and increases ATP (cellular energy), allowing skin cells to function more efficiently and regenerate faster.

For eczema sufferers, this means fewer flare-ups, improved hydration, and stronger skin resilience over time. LED therapy is a gentle, drug-free option that can help reduce dependency on topical steroids and prescription creams.


Why LED Light Therapy & EMS Work: The Science Explained

Both LED therapy and EMS offer scientifically supported benefits for mature and sensitive skin.

  • LED Light Therapy triggers skin regeneration by boosting collagen levels, at an age where it is depleting over time, energising cells and reducing inflammation.
  • Red Light and Deep-Infrared Light are the most studied for collagen stimulation and wrinkle reduction.
  • Green Light is effective for rosacea, redness, and overall tone correction.
  • White light accelerates new skin cell production, making it ideal for eczema sufferers.
  • EMS lifts facial muscles and improves tone, which is especially beneficial for sagging jawlines, turkey neck, and general skin laxity.

These technologies work in harmony to treat surface concerns (wrinkles, dryness and redness) while targeting deeper structural issues such as collagen loss and poor muscle tone. The result is skin that looks and feels firmer, brighter, and more youthful.


Key Takeaways for Women Over 40

LED therapy is not a trend; it’s a well-researched and effective skincare tool that supports long-term skin health and ageing gracefully. Whether you’re managing:

  • Wrinkles, fine lines, and loose skin
  • Rosacea and facial redness
  • Eczema or perimenopausal skin sensitivity

...LED light therapy can offer noticeable improvements over time when used consistently. Products like the Dermaglow LED & EMS Mask combine multiple wavelengths with features like EMS, making it easy to target all three concerns in a single routine.


Final Thoughts

Incorporating LED therapy and EMS into your skincare routine is a smart, science-backed way to improve skin health without harsh chemicals or invasive procedures. While it’s not a miracle overnight solution, regular use can significantly reduce common issues such as ageing, rosacea, and eczema - which research shows are the main skin concerns women are looking to treat when in the market for an LED mask, especially for women navigating skin changes in their 40s, 50s, and beyond.

Be consistent, choose the right LED wavelengths, and give your skin the tools it needs to repair, strengthen, and glow.