Is a Red Light Shower Head the Cure to Seasonal Depression?

Winter is harsh, brutal, daunting, and every other word that means something similar. Every year I know it’s coming, and every year I struggle with it from a seasonal depression standpoint. Post holidays, the morale is low.

I know there are things that help. Exercise usually does the trick, and I love feeling the sun shine on my face when I’m brave enough to face the cold air. And yet, most of the time all I want to do is take a super hot shower and curl up. Maybe that’s the key to beating seasonal affective disorder after all? As long as red light is involved.

This winter, HigherDose released a red light shower head. (I’m sure more brands will follow suit soon.) Their offering, the Red Light Showerhead Filter, combines dual-wavelength light therapy with advanced water filtration, promising “glowing skin, healthier hair, and improved circulation.” It—or something like it—might have an effect on your winter mood, too.

How Red Light Works

The benefits of red light, from a beauty standpoint, have basically become common knowledge. How many red light masks do you think were opened up on Christmas morning this year?

“Red light increases circulation, decreases inflammation and stimulates collagen, improves fine lines and wrinkles. Red light may even help with hair loss, increasing hair growth and density, but there is limited evidence,” says Dr. Jodi Legorfo, a medical and cosmetic dermatologist at Orentreich Medical Group. “It is generally well-tolerated with minimal side effects. Slight redness is the most common side effect.”

And somehow, It does much more. Including potentially help you battle the SAD.

Red light therapy utilizes low wavelengths of red light (you need specific wavelengths, FYI, any old red lightbulb isn’t going to do the trick) that can penetrate our top layer of skin, targeting essential proteins in the dermis. Here, those red light photons are absorbed by our cells and converted into energy.

Dr. Zulia Frost, MD, DCMAc, explains that red light therapy has something called a non-specific effect on the body. Instead of tackling one issue, it has a broad effect on your physiology. It can improve blood circulation, pump up collagen, and support cartilage, muscular, nerve, and immune cell functions, to name but a few benefits.

Assisting in overall cellular energy might be its most impressive skill, though. Our hormones and every other structure in our bodies use that energy to do their jobs, making it possible for us to function and do ours.

Red Light Therapy and SAD

Dr. Frost founded the company Recharge Health, developers of the FlexBEAM targeted red-light therapy device, and knows all about how the science impacts our minds, bodies, and spirits.

“Since ancient times, people knew that red light is beneficial for you. Yogis were sitting and gazing at the sunrise as part of their ceremonies because they knew it was good for the body,” she tells Byrdie. Though evidence is mixed, some researchers believe red light aids in melatonin production. (Other forms of light suppress it.)

Melatonin, which is produced from serotonin, regulates your circadian rhythm, or internal clock. Your circadian rhythm times the release of the other hormones in your body. Do you see where we’re going here? SAD happens because less sunlight causes a messed up circadian rhythm and serotonin/melatonin disruption, which influences your brain chemistry. Hello, major connection.

If you can get your circadian rhythm get back on track, theoretically, you should feel those SAD symptoms lessening. I’m not positioning it as a direct treatment, but the indirect evidence is there.

And FYI: The best time to utilize red light therapy for this purpose is morning or night, when we’d naturally see that beautiful red light in the sky. Coincidentally, that’s when most people shower.

However, while Dr. LoGerfo loves red light for its skin benefits, she’s hesitant when it comes to mood-boosting claims. “There may be a connection, maybe indirect, but still possibly a connection,” she says. She adds that she would never recommend it as a treatment for depression or anxiety, but “as evening lighting or gentle therapy, it possibly could be calming and supportive for some people.”

The HigherDose Red Light Shower Head

Not all red light shower heads are created equally. Here, we’re going to focus on the new HigherDose version.

The brand’s filtration system sounds amazing (you can hear all about the selling points of filtered shower heads here), but let’s talk about those ruby rays. This setup, which you can use in 5, 10, or 15 minute sessions, features both red (650 nanometers) and near-infrared (850nm) wavelengths—each of which has its own benefits. It’s been said the therapeutic and cosmetic treatment sweet spot is between the mid-600s to 900 nanometers, so the brand is right on.

“This is full-body red light exposure built directly into the routine you already have. Staying consistent has never been easier. No added steps and no routine overhaul. Just turn on the water and step into the light. Low effort. High frequency,” shares HigherDose. “As water flows, the light surrounds your body from scalp to toe, supporting skin radiance, circulation, and an overall sense of calm—all during a routine you already do every day.”

And yes, you can use it daily.

Red Light and Scalp Health

Alongside a new lease on life, you might see some scalp love from your red light shower head. If you use it correctly, that is.

“Red light therapy can be helpful for the scalp when it’s used correctly, but how and where you use it really matters,” explains Kerry E Yates, a trichologist and founder of Colour Collective. “For red light to do anything meaningful, it needs consistent exposure for a set amount of time.”

The problem here, notes the expert, is that between the water, steam, and movement there’s no way to control duration or delivery. From a scalp perspective, you’re better of using red light therapy as a separate, intentional step in your hair care routine.

“The shower should stay focused on what it’s meant to do. This is the time to properly cleanse the hair and scalp, massage to encourage blood flow, and make sure all product is thoroughly rinsed away. Those steps alone play a huge role in scalp health,” Yates adds. “When treated as its own session, red light can complement a routine rather than distract from it.”

So, Does It Work?

No promises, fellow SAD warriors. But the concept is super promising.

As Yates mentioned, this setup is best for an overall take on red light therapy—not a specific skincare or injury-targeting situation like you’d get with a red light mask or the apply-anywhere FlexBeam. Think sauna, not wand. But also, think positive! These broad benefits wouldn’t hurt your melatonin.

“We have lots of FlexBeam users in Norway who tell me that they tolerate the sunless periods much, much better now,” Dr. Frost says.

Dr. LoGerfo is a red light therapy user, too.

“I wouldn’t call it a miracle, but I do think it makes my skin look a little better overall, brighter, calmer, maybe a bit more even, and just healthier when I’m consistent,” she says. “I like to do it before bed—I think it helps me sleep better. It’s kind of my 10 minutes of relaxation at the end of the day and helps me unwind.”

HigherDose’s lights do pop off the filter if you want to target a certain issue, but maybe you’ll be in such high spirits nothing else will be getting you down anyway?

Here’s hoping. At least we’re in it together.