What is Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy (RLT) devices
use low-level wavelengths of visible red (600–700 nm) and invisible near-infrared (800–1000 nm) light to stimulate cellular healing. Unlike UV light, RLT is non-invasive and does not damage the skin or DNA.
How It Works: Cellular “Powerhouse” Boost
The core mechanism of RLT is photobiomodulation.
- Mitochondrial Stimulation: Light photons are absorbed by mitochondria (the cell’s “power plants”), specifically by a protein called cytochrome c oxidase.
- Energy Production: This absorption triggers a chemical reaction that increases the production of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy source for your cells.
- Faster Repair: With higher energy levels, cells can repair damage, regenerate tissue, and reduce oxidative stress more efficiently.
- Improved Circulation: The therapy stimulates the release of nitric oxide, which dilates blood vessels to improve blood flow and nutrient delivery.
Key Benefits
- Skin Health: Stimulates collagen and fibroblast production to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and acne.
- Pain & Muscle Recovery: Alleviates chronic joint pain (like arthritis) and speeds up muscle recovery by reducing inflammation.
- Wound Healing: Accelerates the body’s natural repair process for cuts, burns, and surgical incisions.
- Hair Growth: Increases blood flow to the scalp and energizes hair follicles to treat thinning hair
Does Red Light Therapy Work? A Look at the Science…
A 2018 review [2] of the research available at the time found that red light therapy was useful for treating a number of health issues, particularly skin conditions like edema (swelling), inflammation, and redness. It also had marked effects on accelerating wound healing and recovery from injuries.
Other benefits noted in the study included:
- Decreased synovitis (swelling in the synovial membranes in the joints)
- Decreased severity of oral mucositis (inflammation in the mucus membranes in the mouth)
- Reduced hemorrhage and edema following snakebite venom injection
- Improved bone density in teeth following a tooth extraction
- Faster nerve regeneration
- Reduced inflammation and accelerated healing following burn injuries
- Faster healing of oral ulcers
- Stimulation of angiogenesis in response to wounds on the skin
- Decreased skin tissue deformation
- Reducing swelling and pain caused by arthritis
- Accelerated healing of damaged tendons
- Enhanced collagen synthesis
- Decreased pain post-surgery
- Decreased post-exercise (a marker of tissue damage)