Dermatology · London
Medical-grade LED light therapy in London, by a dermatology-led clinic.
A proper course of photobiomodulation on Dermalux, Kleresca or Omnilux panels - the right wavelength for your skin, a defined course rather than an open tab, and honest advice about where it fits alongside your other treatments.
Indicative pricing
What a course of LED light therapy costs in London.
Indicative ranges across UK private providers.
In short
£30–£90, back to work the same hour.
| Treatment | Indicative range | Typical duration | Course length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single LED session (red or blue) | £30–£90 | 15–30 min | Same visit |
| Combined multi-wavelength (Dermalux Tri-Wave) | £80–£200 | 20–30 min | Same visit |
| Kleresca acne course (12 sessions) | £1,000–£2,000 | 12 × 30 min | 6 weeks |
| Post-procedure LED add-on | £40–£100 | 15–20 min | Same visit |
| Course of 6 anti-ageing sessions | £400–£900 | 6 × 20 min | 3–4 weeks |
| Consultation only | £120–£250 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by device (Dermalux, Kleresca, Omnilux), and by whether LED is standalone or added onto another appointment. Kleresca acne courses use a photoconverter gel and sit at the top of the range.
The problem
The right wavelength, the right course, the right expectation.
LED is sold everywhere from medical dermatology clinics to nail bars.
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Not sure it will do anything?
For some concerns LED is powerful; for others it is a maintenance nudge. We say honestly which category yours falls into.
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Worried the device is a gimmick?
Clinic-grade Dermalux, Kleresca and Omnilux panels deliver the wavelengths and irradiance the trials used. Not every panel does.
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Want it done properly?
A named clinician, medical-grade equipment, a defined course rather than an open tab - including at-home options if that fits your life.
When it helps
When LED light therapy is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means a conversation with your prescriber before you book.
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Mild-to-moderate active acne
Blue 415nm targets C. acnes; combined blue and red calms inflammation. An adjunct to the NICE NG198 pathway, not a replacement.
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Photoaged skin, fine lines, dull tone
Red 633nm stimulates fibroblast collagen and improves texture over a course of sessions.
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Rosacea and reactive redness
Red light dampens inflammation and calms flushing between flares. Safe for sensitive skin.
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Post-procedure recovery
After laser resurfacing, microneedling or a chemical peel - red LED shortens the red-and-swollen window.
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Wound healing and slow-healing skin
Red and near-infrared support tissue repair - post-surgical scars, chronic wounds, diabetic-related ulcers.
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Muscle soreness and joint pain
Near-infrared 830nm penetrates deeper tissue and is used adjunctively for musculoskeletal recovery.
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Androgenetic hair thinning
Red-light devices have modest evidence as an adjunct for early androgenetic alopecia - worth a conversation, not a promise.
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Red flag: on isotretinoin or photosensitising drugs
Isotretinoin, tetracyclines, St John’s Wort and some others make skin reactive to light.
Wavelengths and devices
One label, several very different treatments.
What each wavelength does, and which of the medical-grade panels delivers it - plus where at-home devices fit in.
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Blue 415nm
Antibacterial against C. acnes. Repeated sessions for mild-to-moderate active acne, alongside topical or oral treatment.
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Red 633nm
Anti-inflammatory and collagen-stimulating. The workhorse wavelength - ageing, rosacea, post-procedure calm.
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Near-infrared 830nm
Penetrates deeper than red. Chronic inflammation, wound healing, muscle recovery, joint pain.
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Yellow 590nm
Adjunct for pigmentation and diffuse redness. Rarely stands alone - usually stacked with red.
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Combined blue + red (Dermalux, Omnilux)
Multi-wavelength panels that hit acne, inflammation and collagen in a single session.
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Kleresca biophotonic
A photoconverter gel activated by blue-orange LED. A structured 12-session course for moderate inflammatory acne.
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Post-procedure LED add-on
Ten to twenty minutes of red LED bolted onto a laser, microneedling or peel appointment to shorten downtime.
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At-home LED devices
CurrentBody, Omnilux and LightStim masks for maintenance. Lower irradiance than clinical panels - a top-up, not a substitute.
Safety and expectations
What to expect - honestly.
LED is one of the gentlest treatments in dermatology. The things worth planning are eye protection, the medication you are on, and the fact that the effect is cumulative and not permanent.
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Painless and no downtime
A gentle warmth, nothing more. You can wear makeup, sun cream and topicals immediately after and walk straight back to work.
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Non-thermal and non-ablative
Photobiomodulation, not a laser. The light triggers a biological response in the skin without heating or wounding it.
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Eye protection is essential
The panels are bright and prolonged exposure can affect the eyes. Opaque goggles are worn for every session - a mild transient headache is otherwise possible.
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Photosensitising medication matters
Isotretinoin, tetracyclines, St John’s Wort and some other drugs make skin reactive to light. Tell the clinic - some courses need delaying.
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Safe across all skin types
Unlike some lasers, LED does not carry the same pigmentation risk on darker skin tones. It suits Fitzpatrick I through VI.
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The effect is cumulative
One session is pleasant, not transformative. Real change needs a full course - usually two to three sessions a week for four to eight weeks.
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Results are temporary without maintenance
The biological effect is real but not permanent. Monthly top-ups, or a home mask between clinic visits, keep the gains.
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An adjunct, not a first-line for acne
NICE NG198 keeps LED as an add-on to a proper acne pathway - topicals, retinoids, oral treatment where indicated. Do not skip the pathway.
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More is not better
Extra sessions above the protocol do not add benefit. Overuse just wastes time and money.
Reading your treatment plan
Your treatment plan in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever device is used, the plan the clinician sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Wavelength, dose and course length are the boring words that matter.
If you would like us to talk you through the plan before your first session, just ask.
- 01 Header
Diagnosis and treatment plan
What is being treated - acne, rosacea, ageing, post-procedure - and the wavelength and course chosen for it.
- 02 Protocol
Device, wavelength and dose
Which panel (Dermalux, Kleresca, Omnilux), which wavelengths, session length and total sessions across the course.
- 03 Findings
Skin response and side effects
How the skin has responded so far - improvement, tolerance, any transient redness or headache - and any change to the plan.
- 04 Impression
Maintenance and next steps
Read this first: whether a maintenance schedule is needed, and whether an at-home device would extend the result at home.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for LED light therapy varies by insurer and by indication - occasionally funded for medical dermatology use, typically self-pay for aesthetic and maintenance courses.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about LED light therapy.
Quick answers on pain, cost, wavelengths, home devices and where LED fits alongside acne or ageing treatment.
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What does LED light therapy actually do?
It uses specific wavelengths of light - usually blue at 415nm, red at 633nm and near-infrared at 830nm - to trigger biological responses in the skin. Blue targets acne bacteria, red stimulates collagen and calms inflammation, near-infrared reaches deeper tissue for wound healing and joint pain. It is non-thermal, non-ablative and painless.
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Does LED light therapy hurt or have downtime?
No. You feel a gentle warmth under the panel and that is all. There is no numbing, no redness worth hiding, and you can put makeup, sun cream and daily topicals back on immediately. It is one of the few skin treatments you can walk into on a lunch break.
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How much does LED light therapy cost in London?
A single session on a medical-grade panel is typically £30–£90 for one wavelength, or £80–£200 for a combined Dermalux Tri-Wave. A full Kleresca acne course of 12 sessions runs £1,000–£2,000. Anti-ageing courses of six sessions cost £400–£900.
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How many sessions do I need to see a result?
The effect is cumulative. Most courses run two to three sessions a week for four to eight weeks. Acne usually needs the full course; anti-ageing and rosacea benefit from a course followed by monthly maintenance. A single session is pleasant but not transformative.
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Are at-home LED masks as good as clinical panels?
Not usually. Devices from CurrentBody, Omnilux and LightStim work at lower irradiance than a Dermalux or Kleresca panel, and evidence for the home masks is more variable. They are a reasonable maintenance option between clinic sessions - not a full substitute for a medical-grade course.
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Is LED light therapy safe for acne, and what about NICE guidance?
Blue and combined blue-red LED has moderate evidence in mild-to-moderate active acne. NICE NG198 keeps it as an adjunct to the standard acne pathway - topicals, retinoids and oral treatment where indicated - rather than a first-line treatment on its own. It is not a substitute for that pathway.
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Are there any side effects or risks?
They are minimal. Transient mild redness after a session is possible, and prolonged exposure without goggles can cause a mild headache - which is why eye protection is worn every time. Photosensitising medication such as isotretinoin, tetracyclines or St John’s Wort is the main reason to delay a course.
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Can I combine LED with lasers, peels or microneedling?
Yes - that is one of its best uses. Red LED added onto a laser resurfacing, microneedling or chemical peel appointment shortens the red-and-swollen window and calms the skin. It is safe alongside topical retinoids, azelaic acid and most daily prescriptions.
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