Red light therapy has been associated with improving fat loss, anti-ageing and skin health benefits. Furthermore, red light therapy has also been noted to heal wounds, treat acne and boost hair growth.
At first glance, this non-invasive treatment may seem miraculous; but its groundbreaking science may surprise and amaze you.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy is a safe, non-invasive solution to help with fat loss, skin anti-ageing, muscle recovery and athletic performance. Studies have also proven its efficacy against depression and psychiatric disorders by increasing serotonin and dopamine production; plus it may improve vision by decreasing edema, bleeding metamorphosia scotoma dyschromatopsia1.
Red and near-infrared light (commonly referred to as photobiomodulation or PBM) offers numerous health advantages. According to research, PBM promotes cell growth, reduces inflammation, increases blood circulation and enhances healing processes – as well as increasing energy levels, improving healing processes and diminishing stretch marks, scars and wrinkles.
According to science, this occurs because your mitochondria work in tandem to generate adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy source for your cells. ATP provides energy needed for all essential bodily functions; then it’s stored away until needed; when your cellular energy drops too low, metabolism slows and you become fatigued or lethargic.
One of the more innovative applications of red light therapy is through hormesis. Hormesis refers to transient stressors such as exercise or exposure to sunlight that cause the body to adapt positively, such as reduced free radicals, improved muscle recovery, or decreased inflammatory responses. Red light therapy utilizes this concept of hormesis.
Hormesis can also be utilized with red and near-infrared light by stimulating the pituitary gland’s release of growth hormones that help create more collagen and elastin for healthier, vibrant, and youthful looking skin. This process known as collagen induction may reduce psoriasis, rosacea, acne side effects; reduce burn scars; stretch marks; wrinkles as well as provide an even skin tone and texture by creating more even collagen levels in skin tissues – creating healthier looking, youthful- looking skin tone and texture thanks to increasing levels of collagen production in skin cells – leaving behind healthier looking and vibrant looking complexions thanks to increased collagen induction!
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
Red light therapy (PBM) has been extensively researched in over 3,000 peer-reviewed studies to address numerous health conditions. Red light therapy has been found effective against improving skin conditions, healing wounds, increasing fertility, speeding metabolism and relieving pain; its benefits also extend to anti-ageing effects and weight loss; no drugs or chemicals are needed and it doesn’t use harmful UV rays, making it safe for anyone – including pregnant women and those with sensitive skin!
Light therapy works simply: light is absorbed by your cells’ mitochondria and used to improve their performance, giving them more energy that allows for faster healing and reduced inflammation. Furthermore, increased production of ATP fueling your body cells means higher production overall – as well as an increase in cell life span and energy usage!
Light therapy has also been proven to activate certain genes and proteins that promote collagen and elastin production – both essential components in helping your skin recover after injuries and reduce scarring – as well as having anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce symptoms associated with fibromyalgia or chronic pain conditions.
As with any treatment, seeing optimal results takes time. But unlike some short-term solutions like physical therapy or injections, red light therapy actually rejuvenates cells and your entire body over the longer run.
There are various ways in which red light therapy can be achieved at home, but selecting an effective device is crucial to its success. Make sure it uses wavelengths and powers density that align with what your area of treatment needs – this will determine its success rate.
If the light intensity is too weak to have any noticeable impact, while too intense could result in itching or burning sensations. Therefore, it’s essential to follow all instructions provided with your device, starting out with short sessions before gradually increasing as soon as you become comfortable with this form of therapy.
What are the Benefits of Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy has grown increasingly popular due to its ability to heal wounds quickly and alleviate discomfort while offering anti-ageing benefits. Long used by dermatologists for treating skin conditions, portable LED devices now make red light therapy available at home as well.
Many of the benefits of PBMT are short-term, such as decreasing inflammation and increasing collagen production to enhance your skin’s appearance or slowing muscle fatigue during workouts to boost performance. But some long-term advantages can also arise, such as alleviating nerve pain caused by diabetes or improving sleep quality by increasing melatonin production – with results dependent on which condition is being treated, device type used and individual settings chosen.
Red light therapy differs from other treatment options like physical therapy or cortisol injections in that it’s completely noninvasive and painless, making PBMT enjoyable without feeling anxious or fearful of its treatments.
As with any new treatment, there are always risks involved in trying something new. Without using the appropriate settings, burns or tissue damage could occur; to stay safe it’s advisable to wear protective eyewear during sessions; people with darker skin tones may be more prone to hyper- or hypopigmentation than others.
However, as long as you follow the recommended usage guidelines and use PBMT responsibly there should be few risks associated with it. According to Cleveland Clinic research LLLT can prevent apoptosis (the destruction of healthy cells), reduce inflammatory chemicals, increase blood flow and stimulate production of growth factors.
Studies have also demonstrated the power of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to relieve symptoms associated with diabetes or fibromyalgia. By stimulating collagen production and decreasing inflammation, this therapy helps alleviate arthritic and rheumatic pain. Your mitochondria absorb near-infrared and red light which induces an increase in production of ATP energy for use by your cells resulting in an increase in production of this vital energy source for bodily functioning.
Though PBMT holds many benefits, more research needs to be conducted into its various applications. While this area of medical discovery can be very exciting, it is always advisable to speak to your physician prior to adding it or any new treatments into your health regimen.
How to Get Started with Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy is a safe, non-invasive, and easy way to boost your health at home. Red light therapy can be added into any wellness routine to rejuvenate skin, aid muscle recovery, reduce inflammation and increase energy levels while being an affordable and eco-friendly way of improving overall wellness.
Red and near-infrared (NIR) light therapy, also referred to as photobiomodulation or PBM, uses low-level laser light directly into your body to positively affect cells. Unlike traditional saunas which generate heat that has some health benefits, NIR devices use NIR light absorbed by surface cells on your body in order to stimulate and heal them.
Although many products on the market claim to be effective, it’s crucial that you research wavelength and intensity carefully to find one suitable for you. For instance, many smaller devices only emit 660nm red light which does not penetrate skin deeply enough to influence cells underneath, providing only some or none of the benefits listed below.
When shopping for red light therapy devices, wavelengths between 660nm and 850nm should be optimal. A large LED panel that emits red and near-infrared light could provide optimal treatment of multiple areas at the same time, and will enable you to fully benefit from red light therapy.
Keep in mind that red light therapy sessions may take several weeks before seeing its full benefits. Schedule sessions several times each week and be consistent in your usage – eventually you should experience smoother skin or increased energy.
Red light therapy should be avoided if you suffer from photosensitive conditions like Lupus or are pregnant; otherwise it should generally be safe. As always, please consult with your physician prior to trying any new treatments or supplements. Ari Whitten, author of The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy provides excellent insight.
