Understanding Red Light Therapy: A Beginner’s Guide

You’ve seen it all over social media, but does it actually work, or is it just another trendy wellness product? Let’s find out.

Is there a worse way to start your day than waking up to another acne outbreak or finding yet another new wrinkle or age spot? Even with extensive nighttime skin-care routines and cabinets spilling over with creams, scrubs, lotions, moisturizers, face masks, and chemical peels, those pesky spots still seem to find their way to ruin our complexion and ruin our day. And forget the expensive laser treatments that leave our skin feeling dry, swollen, tender, and red for days after. It seems no matter what we try, those blemishes still manage to appear, seemingly at the most inopportune times.

But there is a better solution than overflowing medicine cabinets and painful laser treatments– Red Light Therapy. You’ve probably seen it on TikTok or your favorite celeb’s Instagram feed, and you might’ve thought it’s just another pseudo-science, wellness fad, but it actually works, and it has a legitimate scientific explanation. In fact, having been supported by numerous research studies, it’s already been in regular use for the last decade by dermatologists and aestheticians across the world. Its effectiveness on skin healing has even led to it being tested for other ailments and has been linked to several other health and wellness benefits such as pain relief, hair growth, exercise recovery, and psychological treatment. If you’re new to red light therapy, but still not sure what it’s all about, here’s the rundown.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red Light Therapy is a type of Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) or may also be referred to as LED light therapy. It is a painless, noninvasive treatment that utilizes a cellular reaction known as Photo-biomodulation (PBM) that involves the use of low-level light energy to stimulate and repair the body’s cells, most prominently the skin cells. While other forms of light energy are used in various types of photomedicine, Red Light Therapy is particularly used to treat skin and tissue ailments. Due to its longer wavelength, red light is able to penetrate deeper into the body, so it has been linked to other health benefits including psychological and mood enhancement, pain relief, and even weight loss.

Red Light Therapy has been a known phenomenon as far back as 1903 when a Nobel Prize-winning Danish scientist first discovered the healing power of concentrated red light, but without fully understanding how it worked, it wasn’t yet put into practice. It wouldn’t be until 1995 when red light was used in a space experiment involving the stimulation of photosynthesis with potatoes, that red light as a therapy would begin receiving research funding and attention. When the scientists discovered that the cuts and scrapes from their hands appeared to be healing more quickly than usual, an unlikely feat in the vacuum of space, Red Light Therapy found its beginnings. Today, Red Light Therapy is common in Medi-Spa facilities, Dermatology clinics, and even in easy-to-use at-home devices in the form of wands, masks, and lamps.

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

Photo-biomodulation (PMB) is a concept that refers to the biological effects of light on living organisms. Red Light Therapy is a specific type of PMB that involves directing red or near-infrared light at targeted areas of the body. The light is then absorbed in the mitochondria of the body’s cells by molecules called chromophores. The mitochondria, I’m sure you remember from high school Biology class, is known as the powerhouse of the cell because of its ability to produce energy called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). When red light is absorbed, a process is triggered that boosts the cellular energy delivering several positive effects such as improved cellular function and metabolism, tissue repair and regeneration, and increased production of reactive oxygen species which further stimulate cellular responses.

What are the Benefits of Red Light Therapy?

Overall, the increased production of ATP helps the body’s cells function more efficiently promoting tissue repair and regeneration. The benefits of this process extend to increases in collagen production which is crucial to maintaining skin elasticity, firmness, and structural integrity, improving skin tone, reducing wrinkles and fine lines, and the skin’s overall appearance. Red light therapy has also been shown to have anti-inflammatory benefits helping with various skin conditions like acne, eczema, and psoriasis while also proving useful in wound healing, sun damage, and even scarring.

Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, red light therapy has also been linked to pain reduction, having been studied for its effects on conditions like arthritis, joint pain, muscle strains, and chronic back pain. Red light therapy is even gaining traction in the sports world being used by athletes for injuries, pain relief, and recovery. Other research suggests that red light therapy could even be beneficial for neuropathic pain conditions like diabetic neuropathy and nerve injuries. 

Are There Safety Concerns or Side Effects from Red Light Therapy?

In general, there are no serious side effects related to red light therapy. While there’s still room for long-term effects to be studied, the medical community views red light therapy as a safe, non-invasive treatment. Doctors do warn, however, that red light should never be intentionally exposed to the eyes, so you should always wear eye protection when receiving red light therapy. It’s also recommended to avoid extensive sunlight within the 48 hours that follow a red light therapy session, and that people with photosensitive conditions like Lupus or those who take medications with photosensitive side effects should not receive red light therapy.

Where Can You Get Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy has been a mainstay in Dermatology and aesthetician clinics for years now where you can receive more intensive treatments. However, these treatments can be on the more costly side, so many have found solace in at-home devices like masks, lamps, and wands that are more cost-effective and convenient than stopping in for weekly or monthly treatments at the clinic.

When looking for a red light therapy device, be sure to seek medical advice and look for FDA-approved products, and always follow the directions from the manufacturer as these devices can vary greatly in strength and targeted areas may require different settings and treatment intervals. While some offerings include multiple light wave settings with various colors, it’s recommended to opt for single-color devices as the effects of multiple wavelengths have not been heavily studied.

Final Thoughts

Red Light Therapy may seem like just another health and wellness trend, and it might seem a silly notion to simply point a light at your body to heal it. But red light therapy’s widespread use and scientific backing point to this being a highly effective and highly versatile treatment that’s here to stay. It’s non-invasive, painless, and cost-effective to do from the comfort of your own home. Reclaim all that shelf space in your bathroom cabinets and try red light therapy today.

Sources

Avci, P., Gupta, A., Sadasivam, M., Vecchio, D., Pam, Z., Pam, N., & Hamblin, M. R. (2013). Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring. Seminars in cutaneous medicine and surgery, 32(1), 41–52.

Blundell, Danielle. “Turns out Red Light Therapy Is a Pretty Legit Way to Fight Acne and Wrinkles.” Women’s Health, 29 Nov. 2023, www.womenshealthmag.com/beauty/a41409429/red-light-therapy/. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

“NASA Research Illuminates Medical Uses of Light | NASA Spinoff.” Spinoff.nasa.gov, 19 May 2022, spinoff.nasa.gov/NASA-Research-Illuminates-Medical-Uses-of-Light.

Neumann, Kimberly Dawn. “Red Light Therapy: Benefits, Side Effects and Uses.” Forbes Health, 12 Jan. 2024, www.forbes.com/health/wellness/red-light-therapy/. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Pagan, Camille Noe. “What Is Red Light Therapy?” WebMD, 29 Nov. 2021, www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/red-light-therapy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Paris, Calin Van. “Red Light Therapy May Not Be a Skincare Cure-All—but It’s Pretty Close.” Vogue, 24 Nov. 2023, www.vogue.com/article/red-light-therapy. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Wunsch, A., & Matuschka, K. (2014). A controlled trial to determine the efficacy of red and near-infrared light treatment in patient satisfaction, reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, skin roughness, and intradermal collagen density increase. Photomedicine and laser surgery, 32(2), 93–100. https://doi.org/10.1089/pho.2013.3616