What is red light therapy?

What is red light therapy?

What is red light therapy?

The human body is very sensitive to light. Red light therapy refers to low-level visible and near-infrared (NIR) photons in the red spectrum. These photons are absorbed through the skin, stimulating positive biological processes in the body.

Hundreds of studies have shown that red light wavelengths of 620 to 650 nanometers (nm) and near-infrared wavelengths of 810 to 850 nm are within the "therapeutic window" with significant benefits and no known side effects.

Complete Guide to Red Light therapy

Red light therapy is a powerful stimulator of mitochondria and is a natural, non-invasive, non-drug therapy for many skin conditions.
 
This guide to red light therapy will help you fully understand what red light therapy is, how it works, its uses, safety considerations, and how to treat a variety of ailments on your own in the comfort of your own home.

Various names for red light therapy

Red light therapy goes by many names. Let’s take a look at why this is the case and the differences between some of the most commonly used terms.

Infrared therapy

Infrared therapy can refer to near-infrared or far-infrared therapy. Infrared saunas are characterized by far-infrared wavelengths.It differs from red light therapy in that light with wavelengths over 1000 nm heats water molecules in cells, stimulating the production of "heat shock proteins" as part of the therapy process. Near-infrared light has a very similar effect on the human body as red light, but does not produce heat.

LED light therapy

LED light therapy is light therapy that uses LED devices rather than lasers. LEDs are very safe because they generate very little heat and there is no risk of burns. 

Medical-grade LED devices can deliver professional results in the comfort of your home, making them convenient and cost-effective when treating chronic conditions or large areas of the body.

Low intensity light therapy

Low-intensity light therapy or low-level laser therapy (LLLT) refers to laser intensity that will not harm tissue when used correctly. It is also known as "cold" laser therapy. High-powered lasers are used in surgery to kill certain cells or remove tissue, but cold lasers are used in dermatology clinics to improve skin tone and reduce signs of aging. Both LEDs and lasers can effectively emit red/near-infrared light.

Earlier studies used lasers, which provide a more focused beam with slightly higher tissue penetration. However, LED devices offer a larger therapy area, which makes them more suitable for a wide range of conditions. Many contemporary studies now use LEDs, which means results can be reproduced at home using powerful medical-grade equipment.

Near infrared light therapy

Near-infrared light therapy uses light with a wavelength of 810-850 nm, which is absorbed deeper into the body than red light wavelengths. Near-infrared light therapy can be used to treat systemic inflammation, nerve damage, deep muscle repair, joint pain, low back pain, and even the brain. Red light can be used to regrow hair and treat signs of aging, acne and chronic skin conditions.

Photobiomodulation

Photobiomodulation refers to forms of light therapy that utilize non-ionizing light sources in the visible and infrared spectrum, including lasers, LEDs, and broadband light. 

This non-thermal process triggers photophysical and photochemical events at various biological scales. All wavelengths of light affect the body in unique ways, and all are beneficial in some way. Understanding the pros and cons of each wavelength helps us use the right wavelength for the right purpose.

How does red light therapy work?

Visible red wavelengths treat every layer of skin tissue, while near-infrared wavelengths penetrate deeper into the skin.
 
This allows many well-bing problems, such as arthritis, muscle overtraining, and inflammatory skin conditions, to be treated with red light therapy.

Increase cellular energy production

Supporting optimal cell performance is one of the keys to healing. The trillions of cells in the body have specialized functions, but certain factors can interfere with their performance.

Tiny organelles called mitochondria, found inside every cell, produce energy by converting glucose into adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the cell's primary fuel. When mitochondria cannot produce enough ATP, the cell cannot effectively repair itself, defend itself against pathogens, or fully function.

This is called mitochondrial dysfunction, and it's thought to be at the heart of most major diseases. You can see it in rapidly aging skin, autoimmune diseases, and other conditions.

When red and near-infrared photons are absorbed by the skin, they come into contact with light-sensitive molecules called chromophores. This stimulates mitochondria and stimulates ATP production. 

As cells produce more energy, they shift from self-preservation to function.
When all the cells in the treated area are "renewed," their renewed vitality quickly manifests itself in better well-bing.

Hormesis

The following main mechanisms of action work together to support healing in a process called hormesis.

The term "hormesis" refers to a dose-response relationship in which low doses of a stress stimulus activate adaptive responses that enhance cellular or organismal resistance.
In red light therapy, the increased stimulation comes from radiation levels. In appropriate doses, this can effectively stimulate healing.
Exercise is an example of hormesis. Moderate exercise is beneficial. Exercise temporarily increases free radicals in muscles as they are broken down during exercise, stimulating a healing response that makes muscles stronger and larger. However, exercising too fast and hard can cause lasting muscle damage.
Red light therapy activates many of the same biological effects as moderate exercise.

Reduce inflammation

Chronic swelling is one of the main causes of mitochondrial dysfunction. Acute short-term inflammation is a temporary immune response to injury or infection and is a natural part of the healing process. But if the inflammatory process continues, even if it's not dangerous, inflammation can begin to damage cells.

Chronic inflammation is linked to Alzheimer's disease, cancer, asthma, acne, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions.
Red light therapy has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Some of the benefits of red light therapy may be due to the effect of red light on the gut biota (by application to the abdomen), which can reduce chronic inflammation and support well-bing gut bacteria that are critical to the immune response.

Improve blood circulation

Good blood and lymph flow are vital to well-bing and recovery. Blood carries oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells to the damaged area. Lymph removes waste products and toxins that hinder cell function.

Red/Near Infrared light acts as a vasodilator and is used to treat vascular dysfunction in diabetic patients and increase blood circulation in diabetic patients with chronic leg wounds.
Red light therapy also stimulates the production of endothelial cells, which form the walls of blood vessels and lymphatic capillaries.

Increase collagen and elastin production

Collagen is typically associated with youthful skin (the protein makes up about 80% of skin), but it's also found in muscles, joints, and connective tissue. Collagen production may be altered by aging, chronic inflammation, and other factors.

Red light therapy stimulates collagen synthesis, which helps with anti-aging, wound healing and joint pain relief. It may even slow the progression of osteoarthritis by stimulating the production of type 3 collagen in cartilage.

Red light therapy also stimulates the production of elastin and hyaluronic acid. Elastin is a protein that allows skin to recover after stretching. Hyaluronic acid also helps the skin stretch and promotes skin wound healing.

In a study involving 113 participants, the red light therapy therapy group experienced significant improvement in skin tone, smoother skin, and increased intradermal collagen density.

Reduce inflammatory cytokines

Phototherapy researcher Dr. Michael Hamblin reported in a 2013 paper that a single red light therapy therapy reduced inflammatory cytokines within 24 hours of therapy. Cytokines are proteins involved in transmitting pain signals, so reducing inflammatory cytokines can reduce pain sensations.

Stem cell activation

Red and near-infrared light therapy activates stem cell production in the bone marrow. These "chief cells," or unspecialized cells, lie dormant and are found throughout the body. When the body suffers an injury or infection, the blood transports stem cells to the affected area. There, they develop into whatever type of cells the body needs.

Benefits of red light therapy

Red light therapy achieves true healing by addressing the root cause rather than simply treating the symptoms.In this section, we describe the most common uses for this safe and non-invasive therapy. You can find more detailed information about the many applications of red light therapy in the Learning Center.

Anti-aging

Red light therapy has been clinically proven to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, sun damage, skin laxity, and smooth skin tone. Results can be seen after three weeks of daily use. Consistent maintenance can keep your skin looking youthful and vibrant.

Arthritis and joint well-bing

Red light therapy can relieve pain and restore mobility caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sacroiliac joint disease, and other joint problems.
 
Most arthritis is classified as osteoarthritis (OA), a degenerative arthritis caused by overuse, not aging. A small percentage of people suffer from inflammatory arthritis, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PA). Regardless of the type of arthritis, red light therapy can help restore mobility and relieve pain.

Red light therapy can supplement traditional physical therapy and may delay the need for joint replacement surgery. One study showed that patients experienced increased synovial and femoral cartilage thickness after red light therapy. It can also significantly reduce arthritis pain, reduce morning stiffness, and reduce inflammation.

Bone Well-Bing

Red light therapy can help speed up fracture healing. It improves blood vessel formation, increases bone growth factors, and increases mineralization to rebuild bone density more quickly after a fracture.

NIR Light

NIR light can treat brain diseases. Transcranial light therapy shines NIR wavelengths onto the forehead. Transnasal light therapy involves shining light through the nose into the central area of the brain.

Light therapy helps damaged neurons replenish and repair by stimulating mitochondria, reducing inflammation and increasing circulation.

Numerous studies, including this one, have shown that transcranial red light therapy can improve cognitive function in people with dementia, help heal traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and strokes, alleviate mental and mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, and slow down or Reverse age-related cognitive decline and relieve symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.

Age-Related Cognitive Decline Neurodegenerative Diseases NIR light therapy has high potential value in treating dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and Parkinson's disease (PD)
Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), affects approximately 7 million U.S. adults, and this number is expected to rise as the baby boom generation ages.

Patients with mild to moderate dementia received 12 weeks of therapy consisting of weekly transcranial/transnasal therapy in the clinic and daily intranasal phototherapy at home. The second phase was a 4-week therapy-free period.

After 12 weeks, there were significant improvements in memory recall, visual attention, task switching, executive brain function, and other measures of cognitive performance. After therapy, the patient also slept better, had fewer outbursts of anger and anxiety, and had less mind wandering. Because patients' sleep quality significantly decreased during the untreated period, the authors believe that continued therapy is critical to controlling dementia and AD.

Parkinson's disease is characterized by the slow degeneration of neurons related to motor and non-motor functions. A study of age-related cognitive decline also noted reduced tremors and improved balance in patients with Parkinson's disease-related dementia.

Parkinson's disease is caused by the death of neurons in the midbrain. The authors suggest that near-infrared light therapy can stabilize dying neurons, potentially slowing the progression of the disease.

Traumatic brain injury and stroke

People who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke may suffer from mental illness and cognitive impairment, including mood swings, anxiety, depression, memory and concentration problems.
 
NIR light therapy can reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, stimulate ATP production, initiate neurogenesis (the formation of new neurons and glial cells), and initiate synaptogenesis (the formation of communication channels between brain cells called synapses ).

This helps repair and restore damaged brain tissue and improve executive function, verbal learning, and other cognitive markers.

Fertility

Red light therapy can increase male and female fertility by boosting natural testosterone production in men and improving egg quality in women.

Fibromyalgia

Red light therapy can relieve fibromyalgia and muscle weakness. This therapy targets the entire mechanism involved in the origin and regulation of pain.

Hair regrowth

Red light therapy promotes new hair growth in people with male and female pattern hair loss, also known as androgenic alopecia. The therapy works by stimulating the anagen and telogen phases in the hair follicles and inhibiting the catagen (regression into the dormant phase), thus keeping the hair follicles in the anagen phase longer.

Hashimoto's hypothyroidism

The thyroid regulates the body's metabolic processes. Hypothyroidism causes body systems to drastically slow down, leading to fatigue, weight gain, depression, cognitive impairment, cold sensitivity, and muscle weakness.
 
From 2006 to 2009, study subjects with hypothyroidism were treated with 830 nm light, and many were able to significantly reduce their levothyroxine use, suggesting that red light therapy is effective in improving thyroid function.

Although research is sparse, since inflammation is the primary cause of autoimmune hypothyroidism, and red light therapy has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, it holds great promise.

Anti-inflammatory response

Chronic inflammation is considered the root cause of most diseases; reducing chronic inflammation is an important part of therapy. Red light therapy has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. In addition to therapy, this therapy preventatively eliminates inflammation, thereby eliminating the root cause of major well-bing problems.

Immune function

Acute inflammation is a beneficial function of the immune system,But chronic inflammation inhibits the body’s ability to protect itself. Dr. Hamblin’s 2017 paper discusses temporarily boosting inflammation to promote healing; once the inflammatory response is no longer needed, red light inhibits inflammation. This ability to downregulate the inflammatory process is important for joint disease, injury, and other well-bing challenges.

Muscle Recovery

For weekend warriors and elite athletes, red light therapy can improve athletic performance, prevent delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and repair and regenerate damaged muscle tissue.
 
Using red/NIR light therapy before and after exercise can improve athletic performance, reduce recovery time, increase muscle mass, and reduce inflammation. Some even suggest that red light therapy may be an unfair competitive advantage!

Oral Well-Bing

Oral pain is distressing. Red light therapy can reduce dentin hypersensitivity and relieve pain in temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).

Neuropathy and Nerve Well-Bing

A 2017 study concluded that nerve cells respond well to the biostimulatory effects of NIR light therapy. First, the therapy reduces inflammation, giving nerve cells a chance to heal and regenerate. It then promotes nerve regeneration, which is essential for restoring nervous system function.

Red light therapy stimulates the production of Schwann cells, which form the protective myelin sheath around nerves. It also stimulates fibroblasts to produce collagen, which supports normal nerve cell function. Schwann cells and fibroblasts work together to form "cords" that reconnect damaged nerve cells to well-bing nerve cells.

Pain Relief

Whether your pain is acute from an injury or chronic pain in your back or knees, red light therapy has been shown to effectively relieve many types of pain:
Pinched Nerves
Frozen Shoulder
Back Pain
Ankylosing Spondylitis Degenerative Knee Osteoarthritis
Respiratory well-bing
Inflammation can cause a variety of respiratory complications. Red light therapy can reduce inflammation in patients with pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bronchial asthma, and allergic rhinitis.

Skin Well-Bing

Red light therapy is best known for its skin regeneration benefits. It can also treat chronic inflammatory skin conditions, including psoriasis, eczema, acne, and rosacea. Regular, ongoing therapy can alleviate skin conditions.
 
Many studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of red and near-infrared light on the skin, including this landmark study.
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