In 1903, a Danish physician named Niels Ryberg Finsen discovered that exposure to concentrated red light can help sores heal faster. The physician was awarded the Nobel Prize for that discovery. Despite all the recognition, Finsen was reluctant to put his discovery into practice without understanding the science behind it.
Today, red light therapy is used extensively as a non-invasive treatment for various skin conditions, including acne, scars, wrinkles, redness, and other signs of aging. In fact, you can now buy a red light therapy lamp and use it at home to enjoy health benefits. But before you start using it on yourself, it is best to understand how it works.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
When you expose your skin to red light using a lamp, device, or laser, the light travels deeper into your skin. As the light enters your skin, your mitochondria soak it up and make more energy. This extra energy helps cells repair themselves quickly. The red light used in such therapy utilizes very low levels of heat and does not hurt or burn the skin.
Red light therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation, uses red and near-infrared light of specific wavelengths to penetrate the skin and stimulate cellular function. The wavelengths of light are typically kept between 600 and 1,000 nanometers. The absorption of light boosts the mitochondria’s ability to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which carries energy within cells.
What Are the Benefits of Red Light Therapy?
Besides helping your cells heal faster, red light therapy can offer several benefits to your health. The major benefits of this therapy include the following:
Improves Skin Health
Red light therapy enhances collagen production, helping your skin reduce the signs of aging, like fine lines and wrinkles. It also promotes the healing of wounds and minimizes scarring by boosting cellular repair processes. It can further help reduce acne symptoms by reducing inflammation and eliminating acne-causing bacteria.
Reduces Chronic Pain
This therapy has been shown to offer relief for chronic pain conditions, such as tendinitis, arthritis, and lower back pain. The light therapy decreases inflammation and accelerates tissue repair. Numerous athletes use this therapy for faster muscle recovery and to reduce soreness from intense workouts.
Promotes Blood Circulation
Red light therapy promotes nitric oxide production. This process helps dilate blood vessels and improve circulation. The improved blood flow helps deliver more oxygen and nutrients to tissues, allowing cells to heal and recover faster.
Stimulates Hair Growth
Red light therapy can increase blood flow to the scalp, which helps stimulate your hair follicles. This process can promote hair growth. This is considered particularly effective in individuals experiencing hair thinning or loss.
Improves Mental Health
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that has a major influence on an individual’s mood, potentially helping alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. You can stimulate the production of serotonin with exposure to red light.
Promotes Bone Recovery
As mentioned, red light therapy can stimulate blood vessels and the production of adenosine triphosphate. These processes aid in fracture healing and wound recovery.
Helps with Weight Loss
Some healthcare providers use red light therapy as a form of weight loss treatment. This technique is also sometimes referred to as body contouring or body sculpting. Red light therapy can potentially reduce the circumference of your body in the area that was treated. However, the effect will likely be temporary and not due to any real weight loss.
While the majority of these benefits are backed by research, it is always better to consult a physician or your healthcare practitioner before using such therapy on yourself.
Conclusion
Red light therapy can help with several health conditions, including acne, hair loss, arthritis, and others. Since this is a non-invasive treatment, many individuals prefer this over traditional treatment methods that require complicated procedures. You can consult a doctor and get red light therapy in the safe environment of a clinic. However, with the right devices and guidance, you can also get red light therapy at home.
