Article written by Brian Vaszily
How Red Light Therapy Works
Red light therapy makes use of an LED (light-emitting diode) device that emits red and near-infrared rays, typically in a range of 660-890 nm. Your body absorbs the red light via skin exposure and can start utilizing it almost immediately.
Once absorbed, the red light activates receptors in the mitochondria of your cells. Because mitochondria are essentially the energy producers for your cells (i.e., cell “batteries”), this helps the cells to function more effectively and efficiently.
Another benefit of mitochondria activation is the production of nitric oxide, which in turn improves blood flow. This is great for your entire body because good circulation ensures your tissues are getting a sufficient supply of oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood.
By enabling cells to operate at maximum productivity and boosting circulation, red light therapy has a unique restorative effect on your body that starts deep at the cellular level. This is exactly what gives it some highly impressive health benefits. Emerging Health Benefits of Red Light Therapy
- Reduces Inflammation and Pain
One specific benefit of improved cellular energy and blood flow is reduced inflammation. As you may know, inflammation isn’t always bad, but the chronic type is implicated in many serious (and often painful) diseases.
Multiple studies have demonstrated that utilizing red light therapy is one way to naturally calm inflammation. It has shown an ability to reduce many different types of inflammation, including in the brain, lungs, spinal cord, and wounded skin.
The even better news is that red light therapy can fight pain as well as inflammation.
A large meta-analysis determined that red light is particularly effective at reducing musculoskeletal pain. For example, it has shown promise for easing pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and possibly reducing stiffness.
Even more studies have documented pain relief from fibromyalgia, plantar fasciitis, and temporomandibular disorder (TMD)— all from simply using red light therapy consistently.
Light has become a well-known therapy for certain mood disorders. A prime example of this is the increasingly prevalent use of light boxes to help combat seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
It’s no surprise, then, that there are health benefits of red light therapy for your mood. It may even be superior to light boxes or other therapies that use blue light because although blue light can make you feel more alert during the day, it can also have a negative effect on your circadian rhythm.
Red light, on the other hand, appears to improve sleep quality, and early studies have shown it to be highly effective for easing symptoms of both depression and anxiety.
By energizing your cells and supporting your sleep cycle, red light therapy may also help you feel more energized over time— something many of us could use.
Mitochondria are incredibly important for healthy muscles. They play a key role in muscle cell metabolism and, of course, supply energy that is needed for normal muscle function as well as repair.
As you know, red light therapy works largely by activating mitochondria receptors, which could explain why it has demonstrated an ability to speed muscle recovery.
According to one research review, red light therapy can be beneficial for both muscle fatigue and muscle injury. It reduces inflammation and oxidative stress that may slow healing, which gives it benefits for better recovery post-workout and more serious muscle injuries.
In fact, one study that used red light therapy on injured athletes found that it helped with pain, inflammation, and tissue repair associated with sprains, strains, ligament damage, and tendonitis.
- May Aid Brain Function & Dementia
One of the pilot studies specifically found improvements in cognitive function, sleep, and anxiety as well as fewer outbursts and less wandering.
A separate study found better memory recall and executive functioning in dementia patients after they received the light therapy.
Other lab-based research also indicates that red light therapy may help prevent brain decline, potentially staving off Alzheimer’s disease.
Health Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Your Skin
- Boosts Collagen & Fights Multiple Signs of Aging
Red light therapy is surprisingly potent when it comes to healthy-, youthful-looking skin. In fact, it’s quickly becoming a non-damaging, non-chemical way to combat wrinkles and rejuvenate skin.
One of the biggest assets red light has is an ability to boost collagen production. Collagen is one of the most important proteins in your skin, and when it starts to disappear (which happens with age), wrinkles and fine lines are quick to move in.
Along with boosting collagen, red light therapy has been found to increase skin elasticity, reduce wrinkles, AND improve skin roughness.
It is important to note that these benefits took time and were seen after using red light consistently for at least 4-6 weeks. However, the end result is still very impressive and came about with no adverse effects.
- Helps Combat Acne & Other Inflammatory Skin Issues
Inflammation plays a big role in acne and numerous other skin disorders. By calming both internal and external (skin) inflammation, red light can help with breakouts and may calm other inflammatory skin ailments as well.
As far as acne is concerned, red light therapy works best for mild to moderate breakouts. Shorter wavelengths of around 630 nm appear to be the most effective, and one study found a significant decrease in acne lesions after 10 weeks of treatment.
The health benefits of red light therapy for acne seem to increase even more with the addition of blue light, which is thought to have antibacterial effects. The two together proved to be very safe and effective for mild-to-moderate acne in a different study.
Other research has also shown promising effects of red light therapy for treating psoriasis, including 60-100% clearance rates in one case!
- Promotes Wound Healing & May Fade Scars
Not only can red light therapy help smooth out wrinkles and calm inflamed-looking skin, it also promotes wound healing.
According to one small study, the use of red light improved the healing of both treated and untreated wounds when compared to a “sham device” group. Other studies have confirmed these results and suggest that red light therapy can be helpful for burns, skin grafts, and infected wounds as well.
But that’s not all.
Researchers have also discovered that red light therapy may be able to fade the appearance of scars, including those that form from acne and skin trauma.
Interestingly, red light appears to achieve scar reduction by down-regulating collagen, which can accumulate and contribute to scar formation. This would mean that it both boosts collagen production and down-regulates it, depending on what is needed— which is nothing short of incredible!
Debora Uses two types of Red Light Therapy with her clients. See Below Information:
