With LED masks becoming increasingly common for skin care, a frequent question arises: can this therapy help improve problems with skin hyperpigmentation? In this article we analyze what hyperpigmentation is, its causes and treatments, and how LED phototherapy can affect these dark skin spots.
What Is Pigmentation?
Pigmentation refers to the coloration of the skin, hair, or eyes, determined by the amount and type of melanin present in the body. Melanin is a pigment produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found in the skin, hair follicles, and eyes.
Melanin protects the skin from harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays by absorbing and dispersing UV radiation. People with more melanin tend to have darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick IV–VI), while those with less melanin have lighter skin tones (Fitzpatrick I–III).
Pigmentation can be influenced by many factors: sun exposure, aging, hormonal changes, inflammation, and certain medical conditions.
When pigmentation changes, it can cause:
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Hyperpigmentation — an increase in pigmentation that causes dark skin spots;
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Hypopigmentation — a decrease in pigmentation that causes lighter patches.
Hyperpigmentation can result from conditions such as melasma, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or age spots. It can also be triggered by skin trauma — whether physical, or from energy-based treatments (heat, UV light).
Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH)
Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation refers to the darkening of the skin that happens after inflammation or a skin injury. It occurs when melanocytes respond to skin damage by producing more melanin and/or redistributing it. People with darker skin are more predisposed to this pigment alteration.
After an inflammatory event, skin recovery may lead to either hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation (post-inflammatory hypopigmentation). These changes can affect the epidermis or dermis. Conditions like lupus, atopic dermatitis, eczema, acne, scars from aesthetic procedures or surgery — all may lead to pigment alteration.
Treatments for Hyperpigmentation
Treating hyperpigmentation remains a challenge because there is no universally effective therapy. The effectiveness of different treatments varies and many reports rely on small patient series or anecdotal evidence, making it difficult to assess efficacy reliably.
Topical treatments for facial hyperpigmentation generally aim to interrupt the enzymatic pigment production process inside melanocytes.
In melanin synthesis, the enzyme tyrosinase is key to converting L-tyrosine into L-DOPA, which is necessary for melanin formation. Compounds that interfere with this enzyme — such as hydroquinone (considered the “gold standard”), azelaic acid, kojic acid, mequinol, retinoids, or vitamin C — can reduce melanin formation and lead to pigment lightening.
Can LED Phototherapy Help?
Yes — there is evidence that LED phototherapy can influence pigmentation. For example:
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A study by Kim et al. (2012) showed that LED irradiation at 830 nm and 850 nm (near infrared) significantly reduced melanin production and tyrosinase expression — both in single-layer melanocyte cultures and in three-dimensional skin cell models.
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Earlier research with a 633 nm red LED (professional device) also showed a statistically significant decrease in melanin levels after LED treatment compared to before treatment. This applied to both anti-aging treatments (red + near infrared) and acne treatments (red + blue).
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A 2019 study on 60 women aged 25–60 with melasma (skin types V and VI) reported a significant reduction in pigmentation after LED therapy.
Conclusion
While treating hyperpigmentation is complicated and no single method works perfectly for everyone, red and near-infrared LED therapy appears to help reduce melanin levels by suppressing melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity — making it a useful complementary treatment to improve skin tone and pigmentation.
