If you live in Edmonton and have a surgical scar, acne scar, or stretch marks, you may have searched:
“Can red light therapy fade scars?”
“Does red light therapy work on stretch marks?”
“Is it better than creams, microneedling, or laser treatment?”
The honest answer is that red light therapy may support gradual improvements in the appearance and feel of some scars. However, it does not erase scar tissue, and the evidence for stretch marks is still limited.
Results depend on the type, age, depth, and location of the scar. Red light therapy may work best as a gentle, non-invasive addition to a broader skin-care or scar-management plan.
Does red light therapy actually fade scars?
Red light therapy may make some scars look less noticeable over time. Potential changes include:
- Improved colour or pigmentation
- Softer-looking texture
- Reduced firmness or induration
- Better pliability
- Support for normal skin healing
- A more even overall appearance
It is important to use the word improve, rather than remove.
Scar tissue forms through a complex healing process. Even when collagen is remodelled, the original skin structure may not return completely. A 2026 scoping review of 7 clinical trials involving 297 patients found that red LED light (633–670 nm) improved scar pigmentation, thickness, and Vancouver Scar Scale scores in burn scars, with better results in scars under 12 months old, and reduced induration in post-surgical scars. The same review found a biphasic dose response that favoured moderate fluence, while near-infrared light (808–830 nm) improved colour, elasticity, thickness, pain, and itch in hypertrophic and post-surgical scars, including scars older than 24 months. Treatment was generally well tolerated, with temporary redness and warmth most common and rare blistering at higher doses. Larger controlled trials are still needed to standardise wavelength, dose, and timing. You can review the open-access scoping review in Lasers in Medical Science.
The evidence is encouraging, but studies use different wavelengths, doses, and schedules. That makes it difficult to promise a specific result.
Can red light therapy help stretch marks?
Possibly, but the evidence is weaker than it is for early surgical or burn scars.
Stretch marks, also called striae, develop when the deeper layers of skin stretch or change quickly. They can appear during:
- Pregnancy
- Puberty
- Weight changes
- Muscle growth
- Hormonal changes
- Rapid growth or tissue expansion
Red light therapy may support collagen and elastin activity, circulation, and skin texture. These effects could make stretch marks appear softer or less contrasted against the surrounding skin.
However, direct research on standard red LED or near-infrared therapy for stretch marks is limited. A systematic review of stretch-mark treatments found stronger clinical support for options such as fractional laser, microneedling radiofrequency, and prescription tretinoin in selected cases.
This does not mean red light therapy is useless. It means it should be considered an emerging or supportive option, not a proven primary treatment for stretch marks.
Which types of scars respond best?
Surgical scars
Early, closed surgical scars may be among the more suitable types to discuss with a qualified provider.
Red and near-infrared light may support inflammation control, collagen organization, and tissue recovery during the remodelling stage. Treatment should only begin after the incision has closed and the surgical team has provided clearance.
Red light therapy should not be used over fresh, open, infected, or incompletely healed surgical sites without medical direction.
Hypertrophic scars
Hypertrophic scars are raised but usually remain within the original wound boundary.
Early research suggests that photobiomodulation may influence fibroblast activity and excessive collagen production. Still, thick or painful scars often need a more comprehensive plan that could include silicone sheets, pressure therapy, steroid injections, or dermatologist-supervised procedures.
Red light therapy should be viewed as an adjunct rather than a replacement.
Keloid scars
Keloids grow beyond the original injury and can continue enlarging over time.
There is early laboratory and animal research into red and near-infrared light for abnormal scarring, but direct clinical evidence is not strong enough to recommend self-treatment. Anyone with a keloid or a personal or family history of keloid formation should speak with a dermatologist or scar specialist first.
Acne scars
Red light therapy may be more useful for inflammation and general skin texture than for deep, indented acne scars.
Atrophic acne scars often involve lost or tethered collagen. Treatments such as microneedling, subcision, chemical peels, and fractional laser may be more directly suited to those structural changes. Red light therapy may complement a skin-care plan, but it is unlikely to replace a procedure designed to remodel deeper scar tissue.
Active acne should also be assessed separately. Treating ongoing breakouts may be more useful than focusing only on established scars.
How does red light therapy work at a cellular level?
Red and near-infrared light are thought to interact with structures inside cells, including the mitochondria. These structures help produce cellular energy.
Photobiomodulation may influence:
- Cellular energy production
- Inflammatory signalling
- Local circulation
- Fibroblast activity
- Collagen production
- Collagen organization
- Tissue repair
- Oxidative stress responses
Fibroblasts are important because they produce collagen and other parts of the extracellular matrix. In some situations, red light may support fibroblast activity and collagen production. In other situations, particularly with excessive fibrosis, specific doses may help moderate fibroblast behaviour and collagen deposition.
This is one reason dose matters. More light is not automatically better. The response can depend on wavelength, intensity, distance, session length, and the condition being treated.
For a broader explanation of collagen and skin rejuvenation, you can read Wave Therapy’s guide to skin rejuvenation and collagen stimulation.
What about fresh scars versus old scars?
Fresh or early scars
Early scars may be more responsive because they are still undergoing active remodelling.
Research suggests that red light therapy may be most useful when used after a wound or incision has safely closed and a healthcare professional has confirmed that treatment is appropriate. Possible goals include supporting pliability, reducing firmness, and helping the scar settle.
Older scars
Mature scars can still change, but progress may be slower and less noticeable.
Older white stretch marks, deep acne scars, and long-standing raised scars may require more targeted treatment. Red light therapy may support surrounding skin quality, but it should not be expected to rebuild a completely normal skin structure.
How does it compare with creams, microneedling, and laser?
Each option works differently.
- Silicone gel or sheets: Often used for healing surgical and hypertrophic scars.
- Prescription creams: May help selected conditions, but retinoids are not suitable for everyone and should be avoided during pregnancy unless specifically directed.
- Microneedling: Creates controlled micro-injuries to encourage collagen remodelling and may be more appropriate for some indented acne scars or stretch marks.
- Laser treatment: Can target colour, texture, or deeper remodelling, but may involve more cost, downtime, and skin-specific risks.
- Red light therapy: Non-invasive and generally comfortable, but usually produces subtler and less predictable changes.
Red light therapy may be a reasonable option for people who prefer a low-downtime approach or want to support another treatment plan. It is not necessarily “better” than microneedling or laser. The right choice depends on the scar and your goals.
How many sessions before you see a difference?
There is no guaranteed number of sessions.
Many wellness providers discuss visible changes after approximately four to eight sessions, but scar remodelling can take longer. A more realistic evaluation period may be several weeks to a few months.
You may notice:
- Less tightness or firmness
- Gradual texture changes
- A softer colour contrast
- Improved skin feel
- Subtle changes in surrounding skin quality
Take photographs in consistent lighting and from the same angle. Daily checking can make gradual changes difficult to see.
At Wave Therapy, an Edmonton studio offering red and near-infrared light therapy, session timing and suitability can be discussed according to your goals and health history.
What can red light therapy help with?
Evidence varies by condition, and results are not guaranteed. Common treatment goals include:
- Scar appearance
- Surgical scar support after medical clearance
- Acne scar appearance
- Stretch-mark appearance
- Skin rejuvenation
- Collagen-support treatments
- Fine lines and wrinkles
- Skin firmness
- Uneven skin tone
- Uneven skin texture
- Acne-related inflammation support
- Joint pain
- Joint stiffness
- Inflammation-related discomfort
- Muscle soreness
- Muscle recovery
- Wound-healing support in appropriate settings
- Cellulite appearance
- Skin-tightening support
- Fat-reduction support
- Body-contouring support
- Metabolism support alongside healthy habits
- Natural hair-growth support
- General wellness and relaxation
These uses do not all have the same level of research. Red light therapy should not replace diagnosis, surgery, prescribed medication, physiotherapy, or dermatology care.
When is red light therapy not the right fit?
Speak with a healthcare professional before treatment if you:
- Have a keloid or strong history of abnormal scarring
- Have an active skin infection
- Have an open, bleeding, or weeping wound
- Recently had surgery without clearance
- Have a suspicious or changing skin lesion
- Have active cancer in or near the treatment area
- Take medication that increases sensitivity to light
- Have a photosensitivity disorder
- Have a significant eye condition
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have an active, painful skin flare
- Are unsure whether the scar is healing normally
Pregnancy deserves particular caution. There is not enough pregnancy-specific research to confirm that elective cosmetic red light therapy is appropriate for everyone. Discuss treatment with your physician or midwife before booking.
People with darker skin tones may be more prone to post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation from light-based treatments and should check with a dermatologist first, as the American Academy of Dermatology advises.
What should you expect from a session?
A typical session may include:
- A conversation about your scar, stretch marks, goals, and health history.
- A review of medications, recent procedures, and skin sensitivity.
- Positioning near a red or near-infrared light system.
- Eye-protection guidance when appropriate.
- Approximately 10 to 20 minutes of controlled light exposure, depending on the protocol.
- Gentle warmth or very little sensation.
- No needles, injections, or expected downtime for most clients.
Do not apply a treatment over a fresh surgical site unless your medical team has cleared it. If the area becomes painful, blistered, persistently red, or unusually irritated, stop and seek advice.
Massage may also support relaxation and surrounding muscle comfort, but it does not remove scar tissue. Edmonton clients can explore Massage Quest or Book a Therapy, Wave Therapy’s sister company for massage services, when massage is appropriate for their broader wellness routine.
The practical answer
Can red light therapy help scars and stretch marks in 2026?
For some scars, especially early surgical or burn scars, red light therapy may support modest improvements in texture, firmness, pigmentation, and comfort. For stretch marks, the evidence is more limited, so expectations should be especially realistic.
Red light therapy is best viewed as a gentle, non-invasive addition to scar care, not a way to erase complex scar tissue. If you are considering red light therapy in Edmonton, you can learn more about Wave Therapy or explore available sessions when you are ready.
Health note: This article is for general education only. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for medical advice. Speak with a physician, dermatologist, surgeon, or other qualified healthcare professional about abnormal scars, keloids, recent surgery, pregnancy, infection, or changing skin lesions.
Sources and further reading
- Gaumond SI, Dreifus EM, Mittal A, Eber AE. "Red and near-infrared photobiomodulation for burn, hypertrophic, and post-surgical scars: a scoping review of clinical trials." Lasers in Medical Science 41, 80 (2026)
- Cleveland Clinic: Red Light Therapy
- American Academy of Dermatology: Is red light therapy right for your skin?
- Systematic review of stretch-mark treatments: Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas
- Healthline: What Is Red Light Therapy and Is It Safe?
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