Beauty fans are likely already familiar with LED devices and the promise they offer of brighter, firmer, and younger-looking skin. But the technology’s benefits can extend beyond the borders of your face to an area of the body woefully underserved by modern medicine: the vagina. When it comes to taking care of your vagina—whether the issue is dryness, pain, postnatal repair, or something else—innovation has been somewhat lacking. LED therapy, however, seems to have the potential to heal and promote overall vaginal health, both at the doctor’s office and at home.
Given the amount of interest in LED skincare devices—the global market share for LED face masks was estimated at $238.1 million in 2021—it’s not surprising that brands have stepped in to explore the technology’s possibilities for vaginal care. Keep reading to learn how LED therapy could be the key to a healthier, happier vagina.
How does LED therapy work?
LED stands for light-emitting diodes, which for beauty purposes are “non-ablative and nonthermal devices that help with ATP production, modulation of oxidative areas, alteration of collagen synthesis, and stimulation of angiogenesis [a process that promotes wound healing],” says board-certified dermatologist Naana Boakye. In other words: By using light, which doesn’t scrape or heat the skin, LEDs can reduce inflammation and prompt the production of collagen, a crucial protein that keeps your skin smooth, bouncy, firm, and wrinkle-free.
Boakye adds that red and blue light are most commonly used for dermatological LED treatments: “Red light is able to reach the dermis and activate fibroblast growth factor expression”—cells that are involved in collagen production]—“whereas blue light has a lower penetration and is useful for conditions in the epidermis,” such as acne.
What’s the current status of LED therapy for vaginas?
A 2019 study on photobiomodulation therapy, or low-level laser therapy, found it was effective at treating symptoms of genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and of stress urinary incontinence—what we might categorize under the umbrella term vaginal rejuvenation. In fact, these types of therapies have been used for various types of vaginal rejuvenation procedures for over 50 years, despite still not being approved for this use by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, which cited poor outcomes and a lack of clinical data. (Medical research for people with vaginas is severely undervalued in America.)
Despite this, Dr. Macrene Alexiades, a double board-certified dermatologist and founder of Macrene Actives, stresses that researchers have been testing LEDs applications for vaginal rejuvenation since 1979, and publications on the topic have increased significantly over the last decade. That’s good news for anyone with a vagina at any point in their life cycle, but especially for anyone who’s just given birth or is undergoing menopause.
How does LED therapy benefit your vagina?
In terms of how LEDs specifically can improve your vaginal health, numerous solutions are available, both for use at the doctor’s office and for at home. As far as the latter goes, there’s the vFit Gold Device, the first intravaginal LED tool, developed by Joylux, a femtech company that addresses menopausal-related health concerns. Joylux’s third-party clinical studies concluded that because an LED can penetrate the vaginal and urethral canals to rebuild collagen and elastin, users may experience better bladder function, improved vaginal tightness, a reduction in pain during intercourse, improved circulation (which improves sensation), and better natural lubrication.
Joylux also recently acquired Mommy Matters, whose products treat postpartum issues. The NeoHeat device is a red and infrared LED and heat pad designed to soothe perineal pain and accelerate wound healing. Although originally intended for women experiencing vaginal atrophy and for whom device insertion would be too painful, the NeoHeat is now marketed as a tool for postpartum and fourth-trimester recovery following a vaginal birth, during which a new mother might have experienced tearing or had an episiotomy. LED’s wound-healing capabilities make it a safe and powerful addition to anyone’s recovery regimen.
Are at-home LED vaginal devices effective?
Dr. Somi Javaid, a board-certified ob-gyn and founder and chief medical officer of HerMD, notes that several types of light-therapy sources—such as lasers, LED, and broadband light—can help with vaginal rejuvenation, but advises the treatments be administered in an office setting by a licensed health care professional, rather than used at home. “Use of over-the-counter products containing LED therapy may not be as strong as the products and devices utilized in a professional, medical setting, and therefore the anticipated benefits may be minimized or reduced,” she says.
Of course, going back to a doctor’s office or the hospital to speed up the recovery process isn’t always feasible for new mothers, which is why having an at-home device can be nice. “We have seen [from] clinicals that women were healed within two weeks [after using NeoHeat], compared to six weeks with just doing nothing—which, after you’ve given birth, [often includes] just going home and sitting on an ice pack,” says Joylux founder Colette Courtion of standard American maternal care.
Even for people not wrestling with fourth-trimester care, LED therapy can still prove valuable for vaginal health, whether that means reducing pain during sex, treating bladder incontinence, or improving pelvic-floor tone. Courtion equates LED treatments for your vaginal tissue to Kegel exercises for your musculature—the latter improve muscle tone and strength, while the former promote collagen and elastin production throughout your life. “As you age, those collagen and elastin [levels drop] and [your tissues] stretch out,” she says. “By using LED light therapy for prevention, you're helping keep your collagen and elastin in your tissue, both internally and externally, tight and supple. Your labia, your vulva—all of those will benefit.”
And in comparison to more-invasive laser options, LEDs do not damage your cells to provoke them to repair themselves. “LEDs are actually activating the mitochondria in your cells to release ATP and nitric oxide and to stimulate stem cell growth,” Courtion says. “So your cells are naturally doing what they’re supposed to be doing, but in an accelerated way.”
How does LED therapy for your vagina differ from your skincare tools?
Suppose you have an LED mask lying around your apartment that’s meant for your face, but you’re also struggling with some pain following your recent vaginal delivery. Is LED therapy as simple as maneuvering the product next to your vagina and turning it on for 10 to 20 minutes?
Not quite, unfortunately.
While visiting your ob-gyn or a dermatologist who specializes in vaginal rejuvenation is ideal for speeding up your postnatal recovery or addressing a number of other vagina-specific conditions, investing in a LED designed for that exact purpose might also be worthwhile. According to Courtion, Joylux’s vFit Gold Device (which retails for $395) is 14 to 28 times more powerful than most facial LED products on the market. “We spent millions of dollars on research and third-party independent testing, and we have 22 patents,” she says.
In essence, with a tool designed for the express purpose of treating your vagina, vulva, and labia, you’ll see faster results, with clinical testing to back up the claims. (Courtion warns you should watch out for cheaper knockoff versions of her company’s patented technology.) And if you would rather leave LED therapy to the professionals, Javaid says a few 20-minute treatments can also leave your vaginal tissue feeling healthier and refreshed.
Does LED therapy for your vagina have any risks?
As with any therapeutic procedure, there are a few risks to be cognizant of before using either an at-home device or visiting a professional. “The short-term risks associated with administration of LED therapy are minimal, and may include: skin inflammation, rash, redness, itching, and dryness. The risk of eye damage is also present, and eye protection should be worn during all treatment sessions,” says Javaid. She adds that if you’re taking certain medications—such as isotretinoin, lithium, or select antibiotics, all of which can increase the skin’s sensitivity to light—you should avoid LED therapy.
But in comparison to some other therapies available for vaginal rejuvenation—slim as the choices may presently be—LED treatment might be worth to asking your healthcare provider about. Further, simply talking about these options openly and without shame will hopefully encourage more research into the field of vaginal rejuvenation and health.
“The only way we’re ever going to change it is if more people write about it, talk about it, make it not taboo to discuss vaginal health, like we’ve been discussing men’s health for decades,” Courtion says. “So many of these issues could be resolved, and then everyone’s quality of life would improve.”
Hannah Baxter is a beauty and wellness writer, consultant, and the former deputy beauty editor at The Zoe Report, where she oversaw the site's beauty vertical. Previously, she was senior beauty editor at Coveteur, and now regularly contributes to outlets including Allure, Byrdie, Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour, Bustle and more. She’s also the founder of Anxiety Beer, a bi-monthly newsletter that destigmatizes conversations around mental health.
