What is Red Light Therapy?

Introduction

Red light therapy is a popular form of natural light therapy that uses a particular wavelength of light to have medicinal effects, both medical and cosmetic. It is a light-emitting diode (LED) that emits infrared light as well as heat.

When it comes to wavelengths of light, dermatologist Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, states a continuum extending from ultraviolet (UV) rays and infrared to visible light. Low wavelengths of red light are used as a drug of red light therapy since they are called bio-active in human cells and can immediately and precisely affect and increase cellular activity.

Note that this form of light is not the same as UV rays from the sun or tanning beds, and there is no increased chance of skin cancer or UV damage.

Red light can infiltrate our top layer of skin and the skin's deeper layers, known as the dermis. It is where collagen, elastin, and other essential proteins are found. Photons of red light are absorbed by our cells and converted to electricity. This energy will also promote the synthesis of collagen, elastin, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It results in more power for the cells to use. It enhances circulation and increases oxygenation to the skin while also restoring weakened tissue—this treatment results in better skin quality due to increased collagen synthesis and oxygenation.

According to Zubritsky, red light has the remarkable capacity to reduce inflammation and infection, as well as heal precancerous lesions. Scarring and aging symptoms, such as wrinkles, can be improved by the red LED illumination. It may accomplish this by acting on fibroblasts, which are skin cells responsible for collagen production.

Collagen is found in connective tissues and the scalp. It aids in the healing of the skin. As humans age, the body develops less collagen, causing the skin to exhibit aging symptoms.

Red light also helps to minimize skin inflammation. Red light therapy (RLT) uses low wavelength red light to treat skin problems. Many doctors agree it can assist with skin conditions, scarring, and aging symptoms such as wrinkles and age spots.

Many of these assertions are supported by proof, but RLT is not a miracle cure. Anyone thinking about getting the medication should also take other measures to improve their skin's health. Improper RLT use can also result in specific side effects.

Anyone unsure if RLT is correct for them should consult with their doctor.

RLT is a simple process that involves exposing the body to low wavelength red light. The procedure is also known as low-level laser light therapy, but RLT is more often used.

This red light is normal and can reach deep into the skin, where it can be absorbed and used by the cells. A study published that skin cells' mitochondria can absorb these light particles. It will assist in the production of adenosine triphosphate, the energy supply for all cells. Many experts attribute RLT's possible positive effects to this feature. With this extra energy, the cells will react to damage and rejuvenate themselves more effectively.

While there have been preliminary studies into RLT, there is no definitive proof that it is a beneficial therapy. Many experiments indicate that the treatment has promise, but more rigorous clinical trials in humans would be required to assess RLT's future applications. There are several possible advantages of RLT, which we will discuss in the sections below.

The Dangers

Red light therapy is widely regarded as safe, even though experts remain unsure how and why it operates. Know that currently, there are no hard and fast guidelines for how much light to use. Too much light can be harmful to skin cells, but too few can be ineffective.

The Benefits

Many of the more common red light therapy advantages include treating symptoms of aging in the skin. Treatments of red light have been seen to help minimize the appearance of:

Wrinkles
Feet of the crow
Spots in darkness

Furthermore, red light energy can aid in the healing of wounds and the appearance of scars. Red light therapy, when combined with blue light therapy, can help minimize acne and blemishes. Red light treatment may also be used to regenerate muscle tissue, gum tissue, and other body parts.

The Purpose

Red light therapy is popularly known as an anti-aging treatment because it reduces wrinkles and other aging symptoms. Red light treatment can help to reduce wounds by reducing detail and promoting tissue regeneration. The combination of red and LED light therapy is a necessary, natural means of pain relief for nerve and muscle pain people.

As with infrared light therapy, red light therapy can help athletes, weekend warriors, and everyone in-between speed up muscle recovery and stimulate healing after exercise. Red light therapy benefits oral health by preventing gum disease, relieving pain, whitening teeth, and combating oral microbes and bacteria that cause bad breath.