Red light therapy is everywhere right now, but what’s real and what’s just really good marketing? In this episode, we review the evidence, address common misconceptions, and rank the top eleven at-home devices to help guide informed, evidence-based use.

For wonderings, musings, or just a quick hello, feel free to reach out: drhart@hartfamilymedicine.com

Straight Facts:

Guo Z, Yuan K. The application of light emitting diode (LED) in cosmetic dermatology. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2025;41(5):e70041. doi:10.1111/phpp.70041

Park SH, Park SO, Jung JA. Clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of home-used LED and IRED mask for crow’s feet: a multi-center, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025;104(7):e41596. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000041596

Arranz-Paraíso D, Sola Y, Baeza-Moyano D, et al. Mitochondria and light: an overview of the pathways triggered in skin and retina with incident infrared radiation. J Photochem Photobiol B. 2022.

Mineroff J, Austin E, Jagdeo J. Cutaneous effects of photobiomodulation with 1072 nm light. Arch Dermatol Res. 2023.

Li WH, Seo I, Kim B, et al. Low-level red plus near infrared lights combination induces expressions of collagen and elastin in human skin in vitro. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2021.

Cohen M, Austin E, Masub N, et al. Home-based devices in dermatology: a systematic review of safety and efficacy. Arch Dermatol Res. 2022;314(3):239-246. doi:10.1007/s00403-021-02231-0

Maghfour J, Ozog DM, Mineroff J, et al. Photobiomodulation CME Part I: overview and mechanism of action. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2024;91(5):793-802. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2023.10.073

Bragato EF, Pires JA, Momolli M, et al. Comparison of the effects of 2 frequencies of application of photobiomodulation on facial rejuvenation: controlled, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Medicine (Baltimore). 2023;102(5):e32514. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000032514

Bragato EF, Paisano AF, Pavani C, et al. Role of photobiomodulation application frequency in facial rejuvenation: randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. Lasers Med Sci. 2025;40(1):170. doi:10.1007/s10103-025-04383-1

Gutiérrez-Menéndez A, Marcos-Nistal M, Méndez M, Arias JL. Photobiomodulation as a promising new tool in the management of psychological disorders: a systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020.

Ji Q, Yan S, Ding J, et al. Photobiomodulation improves depression symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Psychiatry. 2024.

Papageorgiou P, Katsambas A, Chu A. Phototherapy with blue (415 nm) and red (660 nm) light in the treatment of acne vulgaris. Br J Dermatol. 2000.

Li J, Li J, Zhang L, et al. Comparison of red light and blue light therapies for mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris: a randomized controlled clinical study. Photodermatol Photoimmunol Photomed. 2022.

Wilkerson EC, Van Acker MM, Bloom BS, Goldberg DJ. Utilization of laser therapy during pregnancy: a systematic review of the maternal and fetal effects reported from 1960 to 2017. Dermatol Surg. 2019.

Sharma AN, Kincaid CM, Mesinkovska NA. The burden of melasma: race, ethnicity, and comorbidities. J Drugs Dermatol. 2024.

Tähkämö L, Partonen T, Pesonen AK. Systematic review of light exposure impact on human circadian rhythm. Chronobiol Int. 2019.

Knutson KL, Dixon DD, Grandner MA, et al. Role of circadian health in cardiometabolic health and disease risk: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2025.

Pan R, Zhang G, Deng F, Lin W, Pan J. Effects of red light on sleep and mood in healthy subjects and individuals with insomnia disorder. Front Psychiatry. 2023.

Lee YI, Lee E, Nam KH, et al. The use of a light-emitting diode device for neck rejuvenation and its safety on thyroid glands. J Clin Med. 2021.

A big-picture look at the supplement world: how they work, why the advice is so mixed, and what’s behind the marketing. Just a practical, slightly skeptical guide to making sense of it all.

For wonderings, musings, or just a quick hello, feel free to reach out: podcast@hartfamilymedicine.com

Straight Facts:

Wimalawansa SJ. Enhancing the design of nutrient clinical trials for disease prevention: a focus on vitamin D. Nutrition Reviews. 2025;83(7):e1740–e1781. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuae164

Costello RB, Elin RJ, Rosanoff A, et al. The case for an evidence-based reference interval for serum magnesium. Advances in Nutrition. 2016;7(6):977–993. doi:10.3945/an.116.012765

Touyz RM, de Baaij JHF, Hoenderop JGJ. Magnesium disorders. New England Journal of Medicine. 2024;390(21):1998–2009. doi:10.1056/NEJMra1510603

Lopresti AL. Effects of psychological and environmental stress on micronutrient concentrations. Advances in Nutrition. 2020;11(1):103–112. doi:10.1093/advances/nmz082

Pickering G, Mazur A, Trousselard M, et al. Magnesium status and stress: the vicious circle revisited. Nutrients. 2020;12(12):E3672. doi:10.3390/nu12123672

Arancibia-Hernández YL, Hernández-Cruz EY, Pedraza-Chaverri J. Magnesium deficiency and chronic disease. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry. 2023;57(S1):1–23. doi:10.33594/000000603

Veatch-Blohm ME, Chicas I, Margolis K, et al. Consistency and contamination in herbal supplements. PLOS ONE. 2021;16(11):e0260463. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0260463

White CM. Continued risk of adulterated dietary supplements. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 2022;62(8):928–934. doi:10.1002/jcph.2046

Tucker J, Fischer T, Upjohn L, et al. Unapproved pharmaceutical ingredients in supplements. JAMA Network Open. 2018;1(6):e183337. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.3337

DeLoughery TG, Jackson CS, Ko CW, Rockey DC. Iron deficiency anemia management update. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2024;22(8):1575–1583. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2024.03.046

Fedosov SN. Vitamin B12 uptake and balance. Biochimie. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.biochi.2025.12.002

Dai Q, Zhu X, Manson JE, et al. Magnesium and vitamin D metabolism. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2018;108(6):1249–1258. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqy274

Kuang X, Liu C, Guo X, et al. Vitamin K and D effects on bone. Food & Function. 2020;11(4):3280–3297. doi:10.1039/c9fo03063h

Asher GN, Corbett AH, Hawke RL. Herbal supplement–drug interactions. American Family Physician. 2017;96(2):101–107

Allow me to introduce myself:) I’m Mauri Hart, a family medicine resident physician, wife, and mom here to break down hot health topics and wellness trends while calling out the everyday exposures that impact our well-being. On Call with Dr. Hart is real talk on real health grounded in a root cause, low-tox, whole person approach. It’s about helping you feel better, think for yourself, and show up fully for the people you love. This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.