Top 10 Health Benefits of Red Light Therapy
You may have noticed your favorite fitness or health influencer, model, or even a professional American football or soccer player using a red light therapy device. However, you might not fully understand how red light therapy works or the main health benefits of using such a device.
In this article, we will discuss red light therapy, near-infrared light, the top 10 benefits of using red light therapy, potential side effects, my recommendations, and how to maximize the effectiveness of red light therapy.
What is Red Light Therapy?
Red Light Therapy (RLT) is an innovative and non-invasive treatment that utilizes specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared (NIR) light to promote cellular health and repair. These wavelengths occur naturally but are now enhanced to focus on specific beneficial parameters.
RLT targets the mitochondria, our cells' energy powerhouses. Doing so enhances the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), a crucial component for cellular energy and regeneration. This process produces metabolic byproducts such as water (which is depleted of deuterium) and carbon dioxide. As a result, RLT activates a cascade of benefits, including improved skin health, reduced inflammation, faster wound healing, and enhanced muscle recovery.
Whether you're looking to rejuvenate your skin, alleviate pain, or boost your overall wellness, RLT offers a natural and safe solution without downtime or side effects. It effectively addresses the challenges of our modern indoor lifestyles.
What is Infrared Light?
Infrared (IR) light has a longer wavelength than visible red light, enabling it to penetrate deeper into tissues, muscles, and even bones. While red light primarily offers superficial benefits such as skin rejuvenation and surface-level healing, near-infrared (NIR) light reaches deeper layers, promoting muscle recovery and joint health and reducing inflammation.
Near-infrared and Red light combined is best
Photobiomodulation uses both red and near-infrared light together for enhanced benefits. Devices that incorporate these two wavelengths maximize their effects: red light energizes surface-level tissues, improving skin texture and cellular repair, while near-infrared (NIR) light penetrates deeper layers to reduce inflammation, promote circulation, and support recovery in muscles and joints. This synergy makes such devices versatile tools for holistic healing and recovery.
Nutritional deficiencies Vs Light deficiencies
The benefits and growing popularity of red light therapy are significant, making it one of the most essential supplements for our health. Here's why:
A. Red light therapy provides vital wavelengths that are crucial for healing, regeneration, and energy production, which directly impacts mitochondrial health.
B. It addresses a major deficiency in our lives: the lack of time spent outdoors and exposure to full-spectrum sunlight, which naturally includes important wavelengths like red and near-infrared light.
While many people are concerned about common nutrient deficiencies—such as iron, vitamin C, vitamin B12, or vitamin D, they often overlook the fact that the most critical deficiency may actually be in red and near-infrared light.
Consider this: many individuals struggle with vitamin D deficiency and mistakenly believe that taking a vitamin D supplement is enough. In reality, about 95% of the vitamin D in our bodies should come from sunlight. Vitamin D serves as a reflection of our overall health and our commitment to our well-being. While we can easily measure our vitamin D levels, we lack the medical tools to assess our exposure to red light or the infrared spectrum. This gap highlights an important issue: poor mitochondrial health is likely a result of inadequate exposure to these essential light wavelengths.
Top 10 health benefits of Red Light Therapy
The top 10 benefits of red light therapy are reviewed in PubMed and by leading figures in photobiomodulation research, such as Dr. Hamblin.
1. Enhanced Mitochondrial Function
Red light therapy stimulates mitochondria, the "powerhouses" of cells, boosting ATP production. This provides energy for cellular repair and regeneration, which is foundational to its benefits across systems.
2. Skin Health and Collagen Production
Red light therapy promotes collagen synthesis, improves skin elasticity, and reduces wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks. It also enhances blood circulation to skin tissue, accelerating wound healing and reducing inflammation.
3. Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Red light therapy reduces inflammation at the cellular level, which can benefit conditions like arthritis, tendinitis, and chronic pain.
4. Photoreceptor Protection and Eye Health
Red light therapy helps protect retinal cells and may improve vision by repairing photoreceptor function, particularly in low-light conditions. This is especially true when we are exposed to artificial blue light around the clock.
5. Muscle Recovery and Athletic Performance
Red light therapy accelerates muscle recovery by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation in muscle tissues, making it popular among athletes.
6. Improved Hair Growth
Red light therapy can stimulate hair follicles and enhance hair regrowth in conditions like androgenic alopecia. Apply it directly to the scalp to improve oxygenation and blood flow to local hair cells.
7. Reduced Pain and Improved Joint Health
Red light therapy has shown promise in relieving pain and stiffness associated with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
8. Hormonal Regulation
Red light therapy may influence hormonal health, partly through its impact on mitochondrial function and circadian alignment. Improving mitochondrial health = better cortisol and melatonin activity, which in turn influences all hormone release from the brain.
9. Immune System Support
Red light therapy enhances immune resilience by reducing oxidative stress and boosting cellular energy. It may also help mitigate side effects of cancer treatments, like oral mucositis.
10. Cognitive and Mood Benefits
While more research is needed, red light therapy's role in reducing inflammation and supporting cellular energy suggests potential benefits for brain health and mood stabilization.
Side Effects of Red Light Therapy
Red Light Therapy (RLT) is a safe, non-invasive treatment with minimal side effects. However, misuse can lead to skin irritation, damage, or eye discomfort, especially if you don't follow the device's guidelines.
While RLT is not associated with the risks of UV light, it's still essential to exercise caution, particularly with at-home devices. The long-term effects of regular use of these devices are still being researched, so it's important to be mindful of your usage and consult a professional if needed.
The most common problem and side effect is using it too long and too close. Be mindful that there is a personal threshold for how much red light therapy you can absorb. More is not better.
Ensure you invest in a high quality red light therapy device that has all certifications and safety standards followed. Additionally, provides you with customer support, warranty if anything goes wrong. That is why I recommend EMR Tek Red light therapy devices - which you can save 20% off using my discount code LIVEVITAE20.
Conclusion: Health Benefits of Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy is a natural and scientifically backed method to support your overall health. Enhancing mitochondrial energy production fosters cellular repair, reduces inflammation, and promotes metabolic efficiency. Whether you're looking to improve skin health, accelerate recovery, or balance your circadian rhythm, this therapy offers a versatile and effective solution. While it cannot replace the full benefits of natural sunlight, integrating red light therapy into your routine can be transformative, particularly in mitigating the effects of modern, light-deprived lifestyles.
I highly recommend using EMR Tek Red Light Therapy devices, which I am an affiliate for. This recommendation comes from a place of pride and honesty. Supporting these products helps fund my work and allows me to continue providing valuable information for you to read. Recieve 20% off your order using my code LIVEVITAE20.
References:
Ari Whitten (2018). The ultimate guide to red light therapy. Archangel Ink.
Glass, G.E. (2021). Photobiomodulation: The Clinical Applications of Low-Level Light Therapy. Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 41(6). doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjab025.
Hamblin, M.R. and Huang, Y. (2013). Handbook of Photomedicine. Taylor & Francis.
Hamblin, M.R. and Huang, Y.-Y. (2019). Photobiomodulation in the Brain : Low-Level Laser (Light) Therapy in Neurology and Neuroscience. Cambridge, MA: Academic Press.
Herrera, M.A., Ribas, A.P., da Costa, P.E. and Baptista, M.S. (2024). Red-light photons on skin cells and the mechanism of photobiomodulation. Frontiers in Photonics, 5. doi:https://doi.org/10.3389/fphot.2024.1460722.
Maria Luisa Hernández-Bule, Naharro-Rodríguez, J., Bacci, S. and Montserrat Fernández-Guarino (2024). Unlocking the Power of Light on the Skin: A Comprehensive Review on Photobiomodulation. International journal of molecular sciences, 25(8), pp.4483–4483. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084483.
Sloan, M. (2020). Red Light Therapy: Miracle Medicine. Lulu.com.