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We love a high-tech skin care device around these parts. A light therapy device for acne and wrinkles? Bring it on. A red light therapy mask for hair growth? Yes, please. Cold laser therapy devices that can address joint pain, reduce inflammation, and firm the skin? Tell us more.
“Low-level laser therapy (LLLT), or cold lasers, are not actually new,” says Lucy Goff, the founder of LYMA. “They’re used in sports rehab centers across the world to rebuild cartilage, heal tendons, and treat sprains and pains across the world. In fact, LLLT technology has been in hospitals for more than 60 years.” In recent years, companies like Lyma have harnessed these innovations to help our faces, too. Cold laser therapy devices heal and boost our skin by “emitting one or several wavelengths of light to calm skin inflammation, boost skin rejuvenation, promote hair growth stimulation, and or reduce acne,” says Dr. Kseniya Kobets, a board-certified dermatologist and the director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore Advanced Care in Elmsford, NY.
Our top picks for the best cold laser therapy devices in 2025
We haven’t even gotten to the best part—a huge upside of cold laser therapy is that there is zero downtime. Traditional lasers use heat to slightly injure the body, jumpstarting our internal repair systems. However, “cold lasers” simply use light to transfer energy into the skin. “This high-energy state causes gene expression responsible for tissue repair and regeneration to be dialed up, and genes associated with tissue breakdown and aging to be switched off,” says Goff. And you can do all of this from the comfort of your home.
If you want to test this technology out for yourself, you’ve come to the right place. After gaining some insights from our experts and combing through the internet for the best-reviewed products, we’re here to introduce you to the six best cold laser therapy devices for soothed joints and firmer skin.
Pros
Many report visible results
Cons
- A little heavy
There’s nothing like the LYMA laser when it comes to cold laser therapy for your face and neck. The undeniably powerful, FDA-cleared device is both a jack-of-all-trades and a master-of-all. In just a few months, many see a visible improvement in the evenness, texture, and elasticity of their skin. “Been using the laser every day since three months ago and have seen fantastic results, with skin glowing and wrinkles a lot less visible,” one customer raves. “Definitely the best at-home beauty device I’ve ever used!”
Wavelength: 808nm
Best for: Face
Lyma rating: 4.5/5 stars
An ELLE editor says: “The most miraculous thing I’ve ever seen the Lyma laser do for my skin is treat a rosacea breakout in record time. Due to the condition, I’ll occasionally get visits from these raised red bumps, and they usually camp out on my skin for a few days. However, the Lyma laser completely flattened and soothed one of these bumps literally overnight, and the breakout was nowhere to be seen in just two days. I don’t know if it’ll do that for everyone, but I can certainly attest to its abilities to reduce inflammation within my skin in record time.”—Carol Lee, ELLE.com associate beauty e-commerce writer
Pros
- User-friendly
Cons
- Takes hours to charge
You can pretty much use this user-friendly device anywhere on your body, from your ankles and knees to your neck and shoulders. It makes relaxing after a workout or finding relief from arthritis that much simpler.
Wavelengths: 650 nm, 808 nm
Best for: Body
Amazon rating: 4.2/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I have had severe muscle burning, heaviness, and some weakness since taking statins for at least eight years. I thought that I would never get back to normal, and that my condition would only worsen. I have used this laser device now for three days, and I sense an almost normal feeling, allowing me to do heavy work on my property already.”
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Pros
- Small enough to take on the go
Cons
- Beeps may be too loud for some
If you often struggle with soreness and pain, keeping a cold laser therapy device with you wherever you go can make a big difference. This one is not only compact and lightweight but also accompanied by a carrying case for easy transport. The extra security allows for seamless travel, so you can live your life without worry that inflammation might catch you off guard.
Wavelengths: Red Light- 660 nm; Infrared Light- 850 nm
Best for: Body
Amazon rating: 4.3/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “I have arthritis in my hand. Sometimes the pain is screaming at the base of my thumb or top of my hand. I get my light and use it several times, and the pain is gone. I do feel I have to be consistent and use it almost daily to keep ahead of the pain. Same thing with the top of my right foot. Screeching pain on the instep, and yet this red light will take it away.”
Pros
- Relatively affordable
Cons
- Can take time to figure out
Lifezoom launched this device just a few months ago to address pesky acne as well as cold and canker sores. The precise light allows you to treat precise spots on the skin, reducing inflammation and killing bacteria to cut down on how long those sores and breakouts stay on your face.
Wavelengths: 460nm, 660nm, 850nm
Best for: Face and body
Amazon rating: 4.2/5 stars
An Amazon reviewer says: “Have been using it for a couple of days already and can notice how it is helping me with my cold sore. I’m starting to think this is a great purchase. Very easy to set up and use. Good quality and great value for the money.”
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5
Best Cold Laser Therapy Belt
Lifepro AllevaRed Light Therapy Belt
Now 23% Off
Pros
- Lightweight for travel
Cons
- Pricey
Snap this belt around your waist and experience the euphoria of pain melting away. Some have even reported that it eases digestion issues, too, likely due to the device's ability to promote blood circulation. The best part? It’s hands-free, which means you can use it while doing chores around the house (or lazing around your living room).
Wavelength: Red Light- 660nm; Infrared Light- 850nm
Best for: Body
Lifepro rating: 4.8/5 stars
A Lifepro reviewer says: “My husband and I have been using our red light therapy belts for four months and absolutely love them! I have Hashimotos and have experienced a lot of relief with my fatigue and digestion issues. My husband is a cyclist (road, mountain bike, and gravel biker), and the red light therapy helps his muscles to recover quickly and relieves his aches and pains.”
Pros
- Works quickly
Cons
- Pricey
Your joints will be overjoyed once you invest in this cold laser therapy device. It wraps around wherever you need it to with six beams of light encouraging healing and decreasing inflammation within minutes. Reviewers rave about its “life-changing” effects and ability to let them live their lives again pain-free.
Wavelength: Red Light- 650nm; Infrared Light- 808nm
Best for: Body
Kineon rating: 4.7/5 stars
A Kineon reviewer says: “Two words…it works. Used the Move + Pro daily and could immediately feel relief from day one. The application was on my left knee which has been sore since last ski season. Using it daily this season and staying ahead of any pain. Also tried it on a nerve pain that comes on now and then in my anterior right shoulder. Relieved pain during first treatment. Great product!”
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Meet the Experts
Dr. Kseniya Kobets is a board-certified dermatologist and the director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore Advanced Care in Elmsford, NY.
What should you look for in a cold laser therapy device?
It goes without saying that you should do your research, especially since this is a device that can affect both your skin and the tissues underneath. “Since there are so many devices on the market that claim such benefits, it’s important to choose a device that has science behind it. Do not opt for a cheap device that emits too much heat—that can cause more damage, causing skin redness and hyperpigmentation. Many devices will claim to have a range of wavelengths and not a specific wavelength, which can emit more heat than the effect of the specific wavelength.”
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Who can benefit from using cold laser therapy devices?
Pretty much anyone can benefit from cold laser therapy. In terms of the body, they’re especially helpful for those who are particularly active or prone to muscle or joint pain. As for skin, they’re suited for “anyone who is looking for decreasing skin inflammation like in acne or rosacea, want to get started on anti-aging, or want to stimulate hair growth (or at least start to prevent hair loss related to androgenetic alopecia, which is where a lot of the LLLT research has shown great success, but the devices needed to be used many times and consistently),” explains Dr. Kobets. “They are also great for post-procedure anti-inflammation,” she adds.
Why Trust Elle Beauty
As a leading publisher of fashion, lifestyle, and beauty content, ELLE.com is committed to highlighting the best products in various categories by personally testing the latest and most innovative products, interviewing countless experts, and vetting customer-loved items. For this piece, beauty writer Carol Lee spoke with trusted cold laser therapy experts about the best at-home devices. Lee also searched the internet for the top-rated cold laser therapy devices, perused reviews for dozens of popular options, and evaluated each based on its features and customer reviews.
