Have you ever wondered what draws people to red light therapy (RLT)? Surely, there has to be some benefit to it; otherwise, why would people do it? While RLT is still a relatively new treatment, growing evidence suggests that it may have some impressive benefits—especially when it comes to skin rejuvenation, relieving muscular pain, and treating acne. But how exactly does it do this?
Asking yourself whether the benefits are worth it is always a good idea, especially if you’re considering starting a new therapy like RLT. In this article, we’ll give you some extra insights into what red light therapy is, how it works and how it might just benefit you.
How does red light therapy work?
Also known as photobiomodulation, red light therapy (RLT) has been around since 1967. It’s a non-invasive treatment that uses low-level red wavelengths of light to address a variety of health and skin issues. Often used in spas and dermatology clinics, RLT works by penetrating the skin to stimulate cellular activity, promoting healing and rejuvenation.
In recent years, as technology has improved, red light therapy has gained popularity for its benefits in reducing wrinkles, improving skin tone, and accelerating the recovery of injuries. It doesn’t stop there, though. Research suggests that RLT is also an effective solution for pain relief, reducing inflammation, and enhancing muscle recovery, making it a great method for athletes looking for a speedy recovery.
Benefits of red light therapy
Let’s take a closer look at some of the benefits of red light therapy:
Promoting better skin health
Probably one of the most noticeable benefits of red light therapy is its anti-aging and skin health benefits. According to a study done in 2020, phototherapy is a great way of reducing the effects of aging on the skin, making an individual look younger and more rejuvenated. This is achieved by stimulating the production of fibroblasts, which play a significant role in the production of collagen, a protein in our bodies that’s essential for maintaining the strength and elasticity of our skin.
In addition to this, RLT has also been a popular treatment option for people with bad acne. Usually done alongside another acne treatment, exposing an individual’s skin to RLT has shown some promising results in acne patients.
It provides pain relief and reduces inflammation
Another benefit of RLT is how it reduces inflammation and alleviated pain on joints and muscles. Red light therapy is a great alternative to traditional inflammatory medication as it’s completely natural and free from side effects. RLT focuses on your cells, rejuvenates them and results in the speeding up of your healing. It’s been considered particularly helpful for people who suffer from chronic issues as it causes vasodilation, the widening of blood vessels so blood can flow more effectively.
This also contributes to soothing the muscles and relieving any joint pain in a person. By using a therapy called photobiomodulation, the light is focused on sore or injured areas to stimulate blood flow, allowing blood to flow more easily and more nutrients to get to the muscles to enable the healing process sooner.
According to doctors, exposing yourself to red light while injured can increase the process of respiration in cells. This in turn leads to the increased production of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which helps the body repair the damaged muscle tissue faster.
Potential health benefits
Some studies suggest that red light therapy is also an effective way to improve your mood or deal with certain seasonal affective disorders. Research shows that by exposing people to certain colours, you can activate their melanopsin, the receptor in their brain that’s sensitive to colours. As a result, this could increase serotonin and dopamine levels, thus improving your mood.
It can reduce scarring from acne
Acne can be a real issue for a lot of young people in the world. For some, it goes away as they mature. But for others, They’re required to look for treatment to resolve the issue. During this process, the skin is usually left scarred and damaged. However, there’s evidence that suggests red light therapy as a solution to influence certain cell features that lead to scarring by reducing the amount of collagen in scar tissue.
Supports weight loss
While there’s still much research to be done on the benefits of red light therapy for weight loss, there are some studies that suggest that red lights directly affect some of the cells that store fat in a person’s body, allowing those exposed to red light therapy on a regular basis to lose more weight during their workouts. As we said, though, more research needs to be done on this.
Hair growth stimulation
This might shock some people and even be the main selling point for others, but red light therapy has been proven to have positive effects on maintaining healthy hair. Red light therapy for hair loss works by improving the circulation to the scalp. As a result, this stimulates cell activity in the scalp and improves the nutrient supply in that area resulting in better hair health and growth.
Better circulation
As we said earlier, red light therapy vasodilates your blood vessels, allowing for your circulation system to work more efficiently in the transportation of blood. This results in several benefits, including faster healing, better energy levels, reduced inflammation, and improved skin health.
Side effects of red light therapy
What’s amazing about red light therapy is it statistically has no side effects. That said, some people might have a condition with photosensitivity, which is a skin condition where your skin reacts negatively when exposed to certain light sources. In this case, we’d suggest checking with your doctor before getting therapy.
Final Thoughts
So, are you after smoother, younger-looking skin? Why not try out some red light therapy and dial the clock back a few years? As you’ve seen, red light therapy has proven itself to be an effective anti-aging solution. In addition to that though, it’s aslo a great way to recuperate after an intense physical activity, helping your body heal and replensh itself faster.
