Study: 90% Would Purchase Red Light Therapy Devices

Key Takeaways

• Results from a new survey show 90% are open to purchasing at-home red light therapy (RLT) devices, with social media as the primary information source.

• Hispanic/Latino ethnicity, male gender, and older age significantly correlated with RLT interest.

• Most respondents were skeptical of high-cost devices and uncertain about technical specifications.

New research published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology showed how social media is fueling the growing consumer demand for over-the-counter (OTC) red light therapy (RLT) devices.

The authors of the cross-sectional survey evaluated 226 social media users (88.5% female and 83.6% Hispanic or Latino origin). Of those, 60.4% said they first heard of RLT via social media. A striking 90.0% of respondents expressed willingness to purchase an RLT device, with nearly half reporting their willingness to spend between $101 to $300.

Top motivations for use included anti-aging (50.2%), skin texture improvement (37.9%), and dark spot reduction (30.8%). Most (75.6%) tried or were interested in trying RLT,  although nearly 60% (58.8%) did not believe higher-priced devices were more effective. Statistical analyses showed Hispanic or Latino ethnicity, male gender, and increasing age were all significantly associated with higher likelihood of purchasing an RLT device (P < ).001). Older age also correlated with preference for device use over daily topical regimens (P < .001).

“The findings of this study highlight trends in consumer behavior and attitudes toward at-home RLT devices, emphasizing both the widespread interest and significant demographic influences. Notably, the high percentage of respondents willing to purchase RLT devices (90.0%) underscores the growing demand for such technologies, driven largely by social media (60.4%), which emerged as the dominant source of information," the authors wrote in the study. "The strong influence of social media highlights its pivotal role in shaping consumer perceptions and decisions, making it a powerful platform for education and marketing. However, it also raises significant concerns about the potential for misinformation, where low-quality products can be misrepresented as high quality, exploiting consumer trust."

Source: Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2025;18(7):8–10.