Red Light Therapy – What Is It?

If you are dealing with skin problems such as persistent wounds, scars, wrinkles and fine lines, a red light device is just what you are looking for. Improving skin health is one of the most prominent benefits of red light therapy. It can significantly promote the growth of new blood vessels and collagen production, which can lead to wrinkle reduction, scar healing and improvement in skin appearance.

What Is Red Light Therapy?

Red Light Therapy (RLT) is a treatment which utilizes wavelengths of red or near-infrared light to stimulate cellular activity and promote healing. It is commonly used to improve skin health, reduce wrinkling, promote wound healing, and relieve pain and inflammation. The light penetrates the skin and stimulates the cells to produce more energy and to function more effectively, resulting in a variety of health and cosmetic benefits.

• Red light: Visible to the human eye, red light has wavelengths between 600–700 nanometers (nm) and is most effective on the skin’s surface. Red light can improve skin health, collagen production, as well as help with hair growth.
• Near-infrared Light: Invisible to the human eye, near-infrared light has wavelengths between 700–1200 nm and can penetrate deeper into the body, acting on the muscles, joints and bone.

Red light therapy is also sometimes called low-level laser therapy, low-power laser therapy, low-power laser, or photobiomodulation.

Essentially, red light therapy works by interacting with mitochondria, our cells’ energy powerhouses. When absorbed, red light stimulates the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), cells’ primary energy source. This increased cellular energy facilitates a variety of processes that are critical to health and beauty.

The Science Behind Red Light

Grounded in scientific research, the use of red light therapy represents a remarkable convergence of technology and biology, offering a wealth of benefits once considered the realm of science fiction. Red light therapy is based on the principle of photo-biomodulation. When red light, which typically has a wavelength of 600 to 700 nanometers, passes through the skin, it is absorbed by cells, particularly the mitochondria. Oftentimes referred to as the “powerhouses” of cells, mitochondria use the energy from red light to increase the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This increase in cellular energy initiates a cascade of biological processes that enhance cell function, repair and regeneration.

Red light therapy has been studied and tested across thousands of peer-reviewed clinical trials, with overwhelmingly positive results for skin health, reducing pain & inflammation, physical performance & muscle recovery, sleep, and so much more.

What Are The Benefits of Red Light Therapy?

Studies into the effects of red light therapy are still ongoing. While more research needs to be done, there is some evidence to suggest that it may be useful for a variety of health and beauty concerns.

Red light therapy for dementia A research review published in 2021 found that in all 10 of the studies included in the review, red light therapy had benefits for people with dementia. In one of the trials, five people with dementia who had regular light therapy on their heads and through their noses for 12 weeks had better memory, better sleep and were less angry.

The review noted that many of these trials were small and had no controls, and that larger trials need to be done before any benefits can be verified.

Red Light Therapy for Pain

Research shows that red light therapy may help relieve some types of pain, particularly pain caused by inflammation (irritation and swelling of body tissue). A review of 11 studies on red light therapy’s effects on pain found mostly positive results, although the authors said more research is needed. In another study, people who had TMD experienced reduced pain, clicking, and sensitivity in the jaw after red light therapy.

Red Light Therapy for Arthritis

A review of studies found that red light therapy may be a helpful short-term treatment for pain and morning stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis. However, it doesn’t seem to be very helpful for other forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis.

Red Light Therapy for Tendinopathy

Tendinopathy is a condition that causes pain and loss of function in the tendons of the body. A review of 17 clinical trials investigating the effects of red light on tendinopathy found low-to-moderate quality evidence that red light can reduce pain or improve function.

Red Light Therapy for Hair Loss

A review of several studies found that red light therapy may be an effective treatment for androgenic alopecia, a genetic disorder that causes hair loss. Another review of 11 trials found similarly promising results. In some studies, both hair thickness and hair growth improved.

Red Light Therapy for Skin

Research shows that red light therapy may smooth your skin and help reduce wrinkles. Researchers think it works by stimulating collagen production, which improves elasticity. Research also shows that it helps reduce sun damage.

Red Light Therapy for Acne

Research has found that red light therapy can be effective in the treatment of acne. This may be related to its ability to reduce inflammation. Besides active acne lesions, red light lasers can also help treat old acne scars.

Red Light Therapy for Weight Loss

Some providers use red light therapy as a weight loss treatment. This is often referred to as body contouring, or body sculpting. Red light therapy can help reduce the circumference of your body in the treated area, but the effect is likely temporary and not from actual weight loss.

Potential Red Light Therapy Dangers

Red light therapy appears to be mostly safe when used properly, especially in the short term. Many forms of red light therapy are more effective in a doctor’s office than at home. That’s because doctors are able to use stronger lights.

However, there are some risks even in a doctor’s office. An early-stage clinical trial found that at high levels of exposure, red LED lights, such as those used in red light therapy, can cause blistering and redness of the skin. Red light therapy may also cause damage to the eyes in some cases, so it is best to wear protective goggles or glasses when using a red light therapy device.

Can It Cause Cancer?

There is no evidence to suggest that red light therapy can cause cancer. Red light therapy does not use ultraviolet rays, which is a form of radiation that is found in tanning beds and in sunlight and that can lead to skin cancer.

Red Light Therapy During Pregnancy

There is not a lot of research on the effects of red light therapy on people who are pregnant, but the limited research that does exist suggests that it is safe. One study examined 380 pregnant women who used laser light during pregnancy and found it safe for both parents and fetuses.

Where Can You Get Red Light Therapy?

There are a number of places, such as a doctor’s office or a spa, where you can get red light therapy. If you go to a doctor’s office for red light therapy, you will probably see a dermatologist, which is a doctor who specializes in the treatment of the skin. At a clinic or spa, you may see an aesthetician – a licensed skincare professional. You may also be able to invest in a red light therapy device for your home.

Red Light Treatment Costs

The cost of this therapy can vary greatly depending on whether you use a home device or are treated in a clinic. But in general, red light therapy is not cheap – treatments can cost as much as $80 or more per session.

Red Lighting at Home

If you decide to use a redlighting device at home, be aware that it may not be as powerful or effective as devices used by doctors or other professionals. When choosing a home device to purchase, you can check to see if it has been cleared by the U.S. FDA. This means that it is safe and equivalent to other devices already on the market. When using red light therapy at home, be sure to use proper eye protection and follow all device instructions.

Take Aways

Red light therapy is a non-invasive treatment that can help with a variety of health conditions, including wrinkles, acne, hair loss, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions that are still being studied. You can perform red light therapy at home using equipment such as masks and wands, but it may be more effective in a doctor’s office, where the lights are more powerful. Although expensive, it is generally regarded as safe.

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

Red light therapy involves exposing your skin to a lamp, machine, or laser with a red light. It uses an LED (Light Emitting Diode) that emits the correct spectrum of light. Red LED light penetrates deeper into the skin than blue LED light, which is sometimes used to treat conditions on the surface of the skin, such as acne. When the light enters your skin, your mitochondria absorb it.

Red light therapy uses very low levels of heat and doesn’t hurt or burn the skin. Unlike the light used in tanning booths, it doesn’t expose your skin to damaging UV rays.