Red Light Therapy For Keloid Scars

Keloid scars can be frustrating because they do not behave like typical scars. They often grow beyond the original wound, remain raised for years, and bring symptoms that go well beyond appearance.

For many people, the discomfort, itching, tightness, or sensitivity matters just as much as how the scar looks. Red light therapy for keloid scars has gained attention as a potential way to support comfort and gradual scar improvement without invasive procedures.

While photobiomodulation is not a cure for keloids, emerging research suggests it may play a supportive role when used thoughtfully and consistently, especially alongside dermatologist-guided care.

What this article covers:

• What Are Keloid Scars?
• What Is Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)?
• Does Red Light Therapy Work For Keloids? What The Research Shows
• How Red Light Therapy May Help Keloid Scars
• What Red Light Therapy Can And Can't Do
• How To Use Red Light Therapy For Keloid Support At Home

What Are Keloid Scars?

Keloid scars form when the body produces excess collagen during wound healing, and the scar grows beyond the original injury. That detail matters because it is the clearest difference between keloids and hypertrophic scars.

Hypertrophic scars stay within the wound's borders and may flatten over time. Keloids can keep expanding outward and can remain raised, firm, and persistent for years.

Keloids also have a pattern. They often appear on higher-tension areas like the chest, shoulders, upper back, jawline, and earlobes (especially after piercings).

Genetics plays a role, and keloids are more common in people with darker skin tones, though anyone can develop them. For many, the hardest part is that keloids are not only a cosmetic concern.

They can come with symptoms that affect daily comfort, including:

• Tightness or restricted movement when the scar sits near a joint
• Itching or burning sensations that flare unpredictably
• Tenderness or pain, especially with friction or pressure
• Color changes that make the scar stand out even more in certain lighting

This combination of visibility and sensation is why people often seek supportive options that calm the skin while encouraging healthier remodeling.

What Is Red Light Therapy (Photobiomodulation)?

Red light therapy, also called photobiomodulation (PBM), uses low-level red and near-infrared light to influence cellular signaling without heat-based injury. Instead of damaging tissue to force renewal, red light therapy supports the skin's own repair pathways.

In skin, red light therapy is generally discussed in terms of three linked effects:

1. Cellular energy support: Red and near-infrared light can influence mitochondrial function, helping cells produce energy needed for repair and regulation.
2. Inflammation balance: red light therapy may help calm persistent, low-grade inflammatory signaling that keeps tissue reactive.
3. Collagen behavior over time: By influencing the environment around fibroblasts, red light therapy may support healthier collagen organization and remodeling, which is central to scar appearance and feel.

This is why red light therapy shows up in dermatology conversations about recovery and texture, and why many people consider it as a supportive tool alongside scar-focused care.

Does Red Light Therapy Work For Keloids? What The Research Shows

Small clinical studies and recent reviews suggest photobiomodulation may improve aspects of keloid scars, such as height, pliability, texture, and symptom discomfort, especially itching and tenderness.

In many cases, red light therapy is studied alongside other therapies rather than as a standalone intervention. That is consistent with how keloids are typically managed in real dermatology care, where combination plans are common.

What we know right now:

• Red light therapy may support symptom relief, particularly itch and discomfort
• Some studies report improvements in scar softness and surface texture
• Remodeling tends to be gradual and depends on consistency

What we do not know yet:

• The best universal parameters, since wavelengths, intensity, and treatment schedules vary by study
• How reliably red light therapy performs as a standalone option for mature, long-standing keloids
• Which keloid types respond best by location, age, and individual biology

So yes, there is legitimate scientific interest here. It is a supportive technology that may help the scar behave more comfortably and look more refined over time, especially when paired with dermatologist-guided treatment.

How Red Light Therapy May Help Keloid Scars

Keloids are driven by an overactive wound-healing response. Red light therapy does not erase the biology, but it may support a healthier direction in the tissue environment.

Here are the pathways most often discussed in the scar literature, using careful, evidence-aligned language:

Modulating Fibroblast Activity Tied To Excess Collagen

Fibroblasts are the cells that produce collagen. In keloids, fibroblast signaling can remain activated, which contributes to ongoing thickening.

Red light therapy may help modulate fibroblast behavior and the signaling environment associated with excess collagen production. Over time, that can support a scar that feels less rigid and looks less aggressive.

Reducing Chronic Inflammation That Fuels Itch And Discomfort

Many people underestimate how inflammatory keloids can feel. Red light therapy may help calm inflammatory pathways, which can translate to less itching, less redness, and fewer “flare days” where the scar feels irritated for no clear reason.

Supporting Healthier Collagen Alignment Through Remodeling

Collagen remodeling is slow, and keloids are stubborn. Still, red light therapy may support more organized collagen behavior over time, which can influence how smooth, pliable, and even-toned the scar appears.

This is where consistency matters. Scar change is rarely dramatic week to week. It is something you measure over months with steady input.

What Red Light Therapy Can And Can't Do

Keloids are not a simple problem, so the goal is not perfect promises. The goal is realistic progress.

What red light therapy can support:

• Comfort improvements, such as reduced itch and tenderness in some people
• A softer feel, better pliability, and gradual surface refinement
• A calmer-looking scar environment when irritation drives redness or sensitivity
• Better tolerance of a scar routine when your skin reacts easily

What red light therapy cannot reliably do on its own:

• Fully flatten or erase mature keloids
• Prevent recurrence after a scar is triggered, especially in high-risk individuals
• Replace combination care, which is still the standard for many persistent keloids

If a scar is thick, long-standing, or repeatedly reactivates, a dermatologist may recommend options such as steroid injections, silicone therapy, pressure therapy (for ear keloids), laser approaches, or other combination plans. Red light therapy can fit as supportive care within that plan.

How To Use Red Light Therapy For Keloid Support At Home

At-home red light therapy works best when it is simple, consistent, and gentle. A device that allows close placement over the scar helps maintain a steady session without constantly adjusting distance or angle.

Common at-home formats include handheld devices, small panels, and flexible wearable designs. The most important rule is to follow the guidance built into your device and avoid overuse.

A practical routine can look like this, especially if you want structure without overwhelming your skin:

• Clean the area gently, then pat it dry. Avoid harsh exfoliation over keloids.
• If your skin is reactive, prep with our soothing hypochlorous acid spray to help keep the surface calm and comfortable.
• Run a short session according to the device's instructions several times per week, rather than a long daily exposure.
• Afterward, support the barrier with a simple moisturizer. If you use a serum, keep it lightweight, fragrance-free, and consistent. Our hydrating anti aging serum can support overall skin quality without aggressive actives.
• For targeted skin support around the scar, especially if you are working on texture in nearby skin, our micro dart patches can help deliver actives precisely where you want them without layering heavy products over the area.

If your keloid sits on the chest, neck, or upper body, some people prefer a wearable approach for consistency. Our FDA-cleared red light mask and red light neck mask make consistent use easier, which is one of the biggest predictors of visible change.

For keloid scars on the upper chest or neck, it can be practical to incorporate light sessions into an existing facial or neck routine, especially if you already use red light therapy for neck wrinkles and want consistent coverage.

How To Track Progress Without Guessing

Keloid improvement is subtle, so track it like a clinician would:

• Weekly photos in the same lighting and angle
• A simple 1–10 itch scale, recorded once or twice a week
• Notes on tenderness, tightness, and how the scar feels under clothing
• A “pliability check,” gently pressing to see whether the scar feels softer over time

This keeps you anchored in measurable changes instead of day-to-day frustration.

Conclusion

Red light therapy for keloid scars is a promising supportive option for comfort and gradual remodeling, especially when paired with dermatologist-guided care.

Red light therapy is not a guaranteed flattening treatment, but it may help your keloid feel softer, look calmer, and cause fewer symptom flare-ups over time.

At Qure, we design clinical-quality red light therapy for people who want care without the burden of repeated in-clinic treatments.

Our FDA-cleared red light mask and red light neck mask are built to deliver consistent photobiomodulation in a way that respects sensitive, reactive skin, making them well-suited for comfort-focused keloid support as part of a broader dermatologist-guided plan.

Read more about targeted skincare topics:

• Red Light Therapy For Fibroids
• Red Light Therapy For Double Chin
• Red Light Therapy For Warts
• Red Light Therapy For Macular Degeneration