Madeleine Finlay

In the late 60s, a scientist was shining lasers on mice, as they do, and it was to see if it would cause cancer.

But in fact, it did something else.

So yes, slightly hairier mice.

But another accidental example of this was in the 90s when NASA scientists researching how to grow plants in space discovered

noticed that scratches on their hands tended to heal up quicker when they worked under red light.

And I don't know why, Ian, NASA scientists are so scratched up, but that's another mystery that needs solving.

The theory goes like this.

The red light penetrates the skin and it's absorbed by cells.

In those cells are chromophores.

These are molecules that absorb light.

And one of these is called cytochrome C oxidase.

That's a really good question because that's ultimately the claim that these masks and red light therapy products are making.

They are attempting to make use of this biological effect.

You know, they're marketed as a way to stay looking younger for longer, using these LEDs that they have in them to produce this red light.

Now, one change to our skin as we get older is that it produces less collagen.

And that makes it saggier, thinner and more wrinkled.

There are other factors that affect our skin as we age.

So think sun exposure, pollution, smoking and drinking.

Maybe you lose a bit of the fat in your face, which would otherwise kind of plump it up and maybe fill out some of those wrinkles.

And maybe you get a bit of an uneven skin tone because, you know, you spend years out in the sunshine.