If red light already reaches the dermis where collagen gets made, it's a fair question why near-infrared - which goes even deeper - gets included in LED devices at all. The answer comes down to what's actually happening at that extra depth, and it's worth understanding on its own terms.
⚕️ This article is informational only, not medical advice.
Where near-infrared actually sits
Near-infrared light (roughly 800-900nm) has the longest wavelength of the commonly used LED wavelengths, and longer wavelengths penetrate deeper into tissue. Where red light (630-660nm) reaches the dermis and interacts primarily with fibroblast cells there, near-infrared goes further still, reaching deeper tissue layers beneath the dermis.
This isn't a dramatically different mechanism from red light - it's still photobiomodulation, still working through mitochondrial energy absorption - but the extra depth means it's interacting with a somewhat different tissue environment.
What that extra depth is generally associated with
Deeper tissue recovery. Near-infrared's reach beyond the dermis is generally associated with supporting recovery processes in deeper tissue layers, beyond what red light alone addresses at a shallower depth.
Circulation support. Some research points to near-infrared light supporting improved microcirculation in treated tissue - relevant both for general skin health and for how well nutrients and oxygen reach the cells doing repair work.
Complementing red light's collagen effect. Because fibroblast activity benefits from good circulation and tissue health more broadly, near-infrared's deeper-tissue support is often framed as complementary to, rather than competing with, red light's more direct collagen-stimulation action.
Near-infrared vs red light - not a competition
It's worth being clear that near-infrared isn't a "stronger" or "upgraded" version of red light - they're doing related but distinct things at different depths. Red light is the more directly studied wavelength for collagen stimulation specifically. Near-infrared's contribution is more about supporting the broader tissue environment that collagen production happens within.
This is exactly why multi-wavelength devices tend to include both rather than picking one - they're not redundant with each other; they're addressing adjacent layers of the same underlying goal.
Where you'll actually find it
Devices like the Photon LED Face Therapy Mask and the Photon LED Neck Therapy Mask, which run multiple wavelengths in a single session, include near-infrared alongside red, blue, and yellow specifically because each wavelength contributes something distinct - near-infrared's deeper reach is part of what makes a multi-wavelength session more comprehensive than relying on a single color alone.
What near-infrared doesn't do?
It's not antibacterial the way blue light is, and it doesn't directly address surface-level concerns the way blue light's shallower penetration does. If active acne is the primary concern, near-infrared alone isn't the wavelength doing the heavy lifting - that's still blue light's role.
Read: What Is Photon LED Therapy | Red Light Therapy Benefits for Face and Skin
