LED technology has been used to address a number of skin issues, such as eczema, mild to moderate acne, psoriasis and sun damage in a medical setting.

But the at-home LED market is on the verge of becoming a massive industry - with masks and other devices retailing for anything from £40 to £1,500.

The technology harnesses the power of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which then stimulate skin cells when they are exposed to the skin repeatedly.

Mask developers make big claims that at-home LED masks can be used to treat acne scars, sun damage and fine lines - but does this stand up to scrutiny?

The LED market is set to be worth £600m globally by 2032 - which is nearly double what airflow technology like the Dyson Airwrap will be worth at the same point.

According to consultant dermatologist Dr Jonathan Kentley, LED technology works by causing the skin to absorb light energy, which then triggers cellular changes in a process known as photobiomodulation (PBM).

"This allows new blood vessels and skin cells to be formed, along with more collagen and elastin," he tells the BBC.

"PBM has also been used to treat acne as it has anti-inflammatory effects and reduces the amount of oil in the skin," he adds.

A recent comprehensive study of PBM stated that more clinical trials on humans need to take place to fully understand how it actually works.

US space agency Nasa first began studying the effect of LEDs in the 1990s to see if it could........

© BBC