Red Light Therapy
Humans have relied on light for our entire existence. We have always and will always need the sun to provide light, warmth, an ability to grow crops, and to regulate our circadian rhythms. Human development has brought us fire, oil and gas lamps, electric light bulbs, lasers, and LED lights, eventually bringing us to red light therapy as we know it today.
Light therapy was first noted in 1896 when Dr. Niels Finsen successfully used 15x concentrated electric light to clear lesions on patients who were suffering from lupus vulgaris. In 1917, we saw a growing interest in lasers as Albert Einstein theorized on their ability to heal, but it wasn’t until 1967 that we saw the first low-level laser therapy device, which proved successful in treating skin cancer and healing wounds. Red light therapy was popularized after NASA began experimenting with its ability to grow plants in space, eventually finding efficacy in its ability to heal wounds in astronauts.
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy uses a red colored near infrared light to promote healing on a cellular level. The red light wavelengths are usually between 620 and 1440 nanometers, which are able to penetrate the skin and reach the cells in deeper tissues of the body like muscles and even bones! The idea is that the red light causes the mitochondria in our cells to generate more energy or ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This in turn promotes cellular regeneration and reduces inflammation.
What are the benefits?
Research on the effectiveness of red light therapy is still ongoing, but is already showing a slew of benefits to be reaped from regular usage. For the skin, red light therapy is shown to stimulate fibroblast and collagen production. Collagen is the connective tissue that gives skin its firmness and elasticity, and our collagen production starts to decline in our mid 20s. Red light therapy is beneficial to our tissue overall, and is most commonly used to treat skin conditions such as aging skin, stretch marks, sun damage, scarring, eczema, acne, psoriasis, rosacea, and alopecia.
On a deeper level, red light therapy can serve the whole body. Through improved cellular function, red light can tackle inflammation and improve the immune system. Red light therapy also increases blood flow and circulation, which delivers more oxygen and nutrients to your organs (as well as any damaged tissue), and helps to release waste products from the body.
Red light therapy is completely safe and side-effect free. It’s a non-toxic, non-invasive treatment and it does not use cancer-causing ultraviolet light like a tanning bed would. As long as you are shielding and protecting your eyes from the bright light with something like tanning goggles, you shouldn’t run into any issues.
How can I get started?
For those who want to give red light therapy a try, there are a few options for treatment. Red light therapy is extremely popular as of late, and there are tons of products on the market right now. For at home use, you can find a slew of devices available for purchase on the internet, typically being sold for $50-$600. If you choose to buy a red light product online, know that while it is considered safe for use, it may not be as effective as the medical-grade devices used by dermatologists and other skin professionals. If you choose to leave it to the professionals in your pursuit of this treatment, cost typically sits at around $25 per session.
When will I see results?
Results from red light therapy are contingent on duration and frequency of treatments, as well as the quality of the device. Experts are generally recommending 15-20 minute sessions about 3-5 times per week. Results will also vary depending on the individual- factors such as skin type, lifestyle, diet, hydration, severity of the concern at hand, and device strength will heavily influence the timing and intensity of results. After one session, it’s likely that you will feel a sense of relaxation and relief as you experience increased blood flow and the release of endorphins. For those utilizing the treatment to improve skin health, you may begin to see a visible difference after only a few weeks. For larger, more long term issues like chronic pain or deeper skin troubles, most folks begin to find resolve in 4-12 weeks.