Red light therapy for scars is a possible add-on treatment for some newer surgical, burn and raised scars, not a way to erase scar tissue. A 2026 scoping review of seven clinical studies involving 297 people found possible improvements in scar thickness, color, firmness, itch and pain. The studies used different wavelengths, doses and treatment schedules, so the evidence does not establish one standard approach. Evidence for home devices and deep acne scars remains limited.
Red Light Therapy for Scars: At a Glance
| Question | Practical answer |
|---|---|
| Best-supported uses | Early surgical scars, burn scars and some hypertrophic scars |
| Possible benefits | Less redness, thickness, firmness, pigmentation, itch and pain |
| Less suitable for | Deep depressed acne scars and established keloids |
| Does it remove scars? | No. It may make a scar less noticeable or uncomfortable |
| Can you use it at home? | Sometimes, but home devices are weaker and scar-specific evidence is limited |
| When can you start? | After the wound has closed, unless a clinician gives different instructions |
| Should it replace silicone or medical treatment? | No. It is better used as an add-on |
How Red Light Therapy May Help Scars
Red light therapy is also called photobiomodulation, low-level light therapy or LED therapy. Scar studies have mainly used red wavelengths around 633 to 670 nanometres and near-infrared wavelengths around 808 to 830 nanometres. These wavelengths may affect inflammation, cell activity and collagen remodeling during skin healing.
The goal is not to remove scar tissue. A more realistic goal is to make a scar flatter, softer, less red, less pigmented or less itchy and painful.
What Does the Research Show?
The research is promising, but it is too varied to establish a standard treatment plan. A 2026 scoping review identified seven clinical studies involving 297 people with burn, hypertrophic or post-surgical scars. The studies differed in wavelength, dose, timing and treatment frequency.
The review reported several patterns:
- Red LED therapy improved scar scores, pigmentation and height in some adult and pediatric burn scars.
- Red LED therapy reduced induration and improved patient-reported scar scores in some post-surgical scars.
- Near-infrared therapy improved color and elasticity in some hypertrophic scars.
- Some studies reported less scar thickness, stiffness, pain and itch.
- Temporary redness and warmth were the most common side effects. Rare cases of blistering occurred at higher doses.
The review described red and near-infrared photobiomodulation as a generally well-tolerated add-on, particularly for early burn and post-operative scars. Larger controlled trials are still needed to determine the best wavelength, dose, timing and treatment frequency.
One randomized, sham-controlled trial examined 830-nanometre LED therapy after thyroid surgery. Treatment began one week after surgery and continued for four weeks. At six months, people in the treatment group reported greater satisfaction and lower pain and scar-scale scores. Some measured changes in scar color, height and pigmentation were not statistically significant.
Is Red Light Therapy Good for Different Types of Scars?
It may help some newer surgical, burn and hypertrophic scars, but it is less suitable as a stand-alone treatment for keloids or deep depressed acne scars.
Surgical and Burn Scars
These scars have the most promising evidence. Early scars may respond better than long-established scars because the tissue is still remodeling. Red light therapy may reduce redness, thickness, firmness and discomfort, but any improvement is usually gradual and requires repeated treatments.
Do not use a home device over an open wound, active infection, scab or unhealed surgical site unless the treating clinician specifically recommends it.
Hypertrophic Scars
Hypertrophic scars are raised but usually stay within the original wound boundaries. Red or near-infrared light may help some become softer, flatter or less uncomfortable.
Red light should not be the only treatment considered for a raised scar. Silicone gel or silicone sheets, steroid injections and dermatologist-supervised laser treatment may be more established options, depending on the scar.
Keloid Scars
Red light therapy is not a proven stand-alone treatment for keloids. Keloids can grow beyond the original injury and often return after treatment. Dermatologists may use corticosteroid injections, silicone, pressure therapy, cryotherapy, laser treatment or surgery.
Arrange a dermatology assessment if a scar is becoming thicker, growing beyond the original wound or causing persistent itch or pain. An at-home light device should not be the only treatment.
Depressed Acne Scars
Red light therapy alone is unlikely to improve deep, indented acne scars to a meaningful degree. These scars involve changes to the skin's structure and collagen support. Dermatologists may recommend microneedling, laser resurfacing, fillers or other scar-specific procedures.
Red light may still help with inflammation or recovery, but it should not be presented as a replacement for acne-scar treatment.
Red or Brown Discoloration
Red light may improve some redness linked to healing scars. Sun exposure can make scars darker and more noticeable, so the American Academy of Dermatology recommends broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on exposed, healed scars.
People with darker skin tones should take extra care. Visible light can contribute to hyperpigmentation in some people. If you are prone to dark marks, discuss at-home red light use with a dermatologist.
How to Use Red Light Therapy for a Scar Safely
- Wait until the wound is closed. Do not treat an open wound, active infection, suspicious lesion or fresh unhealed surgical site without medical guidance.
- Choose a device intended for the relevant skin concern. A device cleared for wrinkles or acne is not automatically proven or cleared for scar treatment. FDA clearance indicates that a device meets a safety standard for its stated use. It does not guarantee that the device will improve scars.
- Follow the manufacturer's schedule. More exposure is not necessarily better. Excessive intensity or treatment time can cause irritation, burns or pigmentation changes.
- Use eye protection when instructed. Do not replace the protective eyewear specified by the manufacturer with ordinary sunglasses.
- Ask a dermatologist first if you have lupus, another photosensitivity disorder, a history of skin cancer at the treatment site, a darker skin tone with a tendency to hyperpigment, or take medication that increases light sensitivity.
- Stop treatment if the scar becomes painful, blistered, increasingly red or darker.
Should You Use Red Light Therapy or Silicone for a Scar?
For a newly healed, raised surgical scar, silicone gel or silicone sheets are usually the better-supported first option. Consistent use may be needed for weeks or months, and silicone should only be applied after the wound has closed.
A sensible plan is:
- Protect the healing wound and follow the surgical aftercare instructions.
- Use silicone once the wound has closed, if appropriate.
- Apply SPF 30 or higher to exposed, healed skin.
- Consider red light therapy as an optional add-on.
- See a dermatologist if the scar is raised, growing, painful, itchy, restricting movement or not improving.
Bottom Line
Use red light therapy as an optional add-on after the wound has healed, especially when treating a newer surgical, burn or hypertrophic scar. Do not rely on it for a deep acne scar or an expanding keloid.
For home use, check the device specifications, follow the stated schedule and use the recommended eye protection. A raised, expanding or painful scar needs a dermatologist's assessment before you treat it yourself.