Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy is an emerging treatment that offers various health benefits, like treating health conditions and promoting skin rejuvenation. While it’s a relatively new treatment, it’s gaining popularity and a following for its health benefits.

While we know it’s important to remain mindful and protect ourselves from extended exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light sources like the sun and tanning beds, which can cause burns, blindness or cancer, how does red light therapy compare?

What Is Red Light Therapy and How Does it Work?

Red light therapy harnesses the power of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecule for cellular renewal, promoting rejuvenation, boosting immunity, easing muscle fatigue and defying signs of aging. There are several places to receive this treatment, including a licensed dermatologist, your primary care provider, health spas and even some gyms.

According to the National Library of Medicine, red light therapy (RLT) promotes wound healing, tissue repair and prevention of tissue damage, among other benefits. It utilizes low levels of red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that penetrate your skin and enhance your cells’ mitochondria production. Since the mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, enhancing their functions greatly improves your cells’ overall function and ability to repair themselves.

RLT works by penetrating red light into your skin. Red light is used because it can penetrate your skin at the deepest level compared to other light therapies. When the light enters your cells, your mitochondria absorb it and use it as an enhanced energy source, boosting their efficiency.

Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy can help rejuvenate your skin by treating wrinkles, acne scars, hypertrophic scars, healing burns and reducing signs of aging, like sagging skin.

Other benefits of RLT include:

Helping treat nonmelanoma skin cancers
Improving psoriasis
Pain relief from tendonitis, rheumatoid arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome
Promoting hair growth
Reducing cancer treatment side effects, like oral mucositis
Reducing inflammation
Stimulating collagen production
Tissue repair

Red light therapy can help rejuvenate your skin by treating wrinkles, acne scars, hypertrophic scars, healing burns and reducing signs of aging, like sagging skin.