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The Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Health | August 23, 2019

Usually, we think of something bad when it comes to red lights. They tell us to stop on the road, signal an emergency, and mean something is bad. However, the literal use of red lights has been shown to provide a number of benefits. On social media, you may have seen people standing in front of a bunch of red lights in a dark room. And in the real world, many places- from sports clubs to tanning salons- are now offering red light-based treatments. Which begs the question- does it really work?And what for, specifically? In case you’re not familiar with red light therapy, let this be your guide into the ins and outs of this new treatment, with everyone from bio-hackers to athletes using it as part of their personal care regimen.

The 101 on Red Light Therapy

The name itself is self-explanatory: red lights. B what makes it so special? Here’s how it works. The light emits low levels of concentrated wavelengths of both red and infrared light that pass through the skin and are absorbed by the cells. After that, several biochemical processes begin to take place. [1]

It’s important to note that red light therapy is notthe same as exposure to UV light from the sun, which is under a different spectrum. You will not be burning, let alone tanning, under red lights the same way that you do underneath the sun. Everything that occurs is done on a cellular level.

On top of that, the use of red lights as a therapy has been going on for decades- over 50 years to be exact. (Fun fact: NASA was on board with red lights well before social media sunk its teeth into it.) [2] In the early 1990s, scientists had successfully grow plants in outer space with red lights. Back on earth, the medical community has quietly gathered a body of research showing its potential. The company Joov has an advisory board of Ph.D. experts and clients that include NFL and Olympian athletes. On top of that, their website includes all of the research and claims relating to red light therapy, so they are very honest when it comes to their product. [3] For now, it’s only a matter of time before red lighter therapy becomes mainstream.

(By the way, it’s worth mentioning that there are other names for red light therapy, so you may already have known about it. These include photobiomodulation (PBM), light box therapy, low-level light therapy (LLLT), soft laser or cold laser therapy, biostimulation, photonic stimulation, and low-power laser therapy (LPLT). [4])

With the 101 out of the way, let’s get into the benefits that people are raving about!

Skin

Remember what I said before about red light passing through the skin? It’s here where the real magic begins. And believe it or not, it’s more than magic- it’s science. According to board-certified dermatologist Rhonda Klein, MD, red light therapy, “…stimulates the production of collagen, elastin, and fibroblasts. RLT also boosts circulation, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to your cells and tissues.” [5]

OK, what does she mean here? Think of it as preventing wrinkles, dullness, and poor complexion. You see, red light therapy is quite versatile when it comes to the skin. With acne or oily skin, it helps to balance oil production and fight off acne-causing bacteria. Outside of that, it’s been used to help rejuvenate the skin both outside and in. It enhances collagen production and circulation, creating a natural, healthy glow. Which is why the famous fountain of youth may actually be a type of light (aka, the “light” of youth!).[6] [7]

Muscle Recovery

If you want to play hard or continue working out for the long run, then proper recovery is a must. Thankfully, one of the ways you can improve recovery is with red light therapy. Research shows that it helps the body to produce more ATP, or cellular energy, while also lowering the oxidative stress that comes from breaking down muscle during exercise. In doing so, the body can repair the broken tissues and bounce back even quicker. (This is especially good news for those of you looking to build muscle, which takes quite a lot of time and effort!) For further proof, research out of the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation found that red light therapy helped to relieve both fatigue and injury, in addition to helping athletes increase muscle size and strength. (In the same study, patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy or muscle wasting disease were believed to benefit as well.) All in all, everyone from the everyday gym-goer to top-tier athletes could benefit from using red light therapy. [8]

Pain Relief

Before reaching for that bottle of Advil, consider the turning on some red lights. Right now, there’s promising research to show it’s abilities to reduce pain. Let’s start with arthritis, which is a pro-inflammatory condition relating to the joints. In 2018, Brazilian researchers showed that the use of red light therapy altered the inflammatory process in mammals with arthritis by influencing the body’s immune response. In other words, there was less immune reactivity, inflammation, and arthritic symptoms. [9] A year earlier in 2017, a publication in Lasers in Medical Science showed that red light therapy had a double-whammy effect of relieving knee pain and stimulating the regeneration of knee cartilage (at least in animal subjects). [10] But let’s switch over to humans. We all know that surgery often results in pain and swelling as a result of inflammation. Once again, early research shows that patients (in this case, human ones) who underwent red light therapy experienced significant reductions in post-op pain, soreness, and swelling, making it a great alternative to conventional pain relievers. [11]

Sleep

Not too long ago, my mind was blown after learning about the importance of balancing circadian rhythms for better sleep. I also learned about the harmful effects of artificial blue light from screens and how they disrupted our sleep. Well, it turns out, I barely scratched the surface. When it comes to improving the quality of our sleep, red light therapy is yet another useful tool. In one clinical trial from Brazil, red light was shown to lower headaches while improving a variety of sleep disorders. [12] This is not the first study out there- I could cite plenty more but allow me to summarize what the majority of the current research shows: Red light therapy encourages melatonin production, which encourages deep, restful sleep. With higher melatonin comes improvements in insomnia, sleep disorders, and general trouble falling asleep. (Even better is the fact that red light therapy may also help to increase brain function!) [13]

Other Benefits

Like I mentioned before, the benefits of red light therapy are continuing to grow by the year. These aren’t anecdotal claims or internet mumbo-jumbo. This is science. And because I don’t want this post to turn into a book, I’ll just run over the other potential benefits of red light therapy:

Hair Density and Growth
Cellulite Reduction (especially when combined with high-intensity exercise, according to the research)
Reduced body fat (just don’t call it a miracle treatment!)
Eye Health and Healing from Damage or Strain
Bone Healing and Strength
Wound, Scar, and Burn Recovery
Male Hormone Health (naturally increases testosterone)
Thyroid Health

[14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20]

Pros, Cons, and The Final Verdict

With so much potential, you may be wondering if red lights are too much of a good thing. Well, you’re not far off. While the research and uses are all legit, we’re still at the forefront of its potential. Many of the studies are still inconclusive, with many based on just a small number of people and animals. That’s not to say we should ignore red light therapy. After all, it’s non-invasive, requires zero downtime, and is safe for all ages. The downsides? Both procedures and quality, home-use devices are not cheap (I’m talking hundreds to thousands of dollars). Even though I cite the company Joov, I am not affiliated with them, and I have yet to try their product for myself. But I am interested in the benefits and would love any feedback from those of you who have tried it.

Final verdict? If you have the money, give it a shot! It might be worth the investment. And consider checking out Joov (as well as the research they provide on their website; some of which I’ve cited down in the sources below). Keep an eye out for more news relating to red light therapy, too, since the research is still growing!

Sources:

Comments Add Comment

Private Member | August 24, 2019 @ 11:26 am
uk

I bought red light couple of years ago. I have hand held device called red light mini. Its a spectrum of orange, red and deep red lights. Cute little thing. You can use it for anything. And yes plenty of science behind it. Interesting studies in Russia on hypothyroid people. If I remember correctly half of participants stopped taking thyroid medication completely and the rest reduced dose significantly. I think the red light can penetrate and heal or regenerate tissues and organs. Hopefully we will see more studies in the future.
Private Member | April 13, 2020 @ 2:21 am
new plymouth, taranaki, new zealand

Hi Zuz! I see ya posts on FB about your redlight – I have a redrush and it helped me so much with recovery from workouts and night shift – and it helped enormously with hormonal issues too! I just wanted to ask though – did you get glasses with your redlight? I think they can damage your eyes if you don’t wear them on front of it. With the redrush they told me different distances for different goals, you seem to be very close! I just wanted to put that out there cause I think you are the best and I want to to have a good experience X
- Private Member | April 13, 2020 @ 5:49 am
  lake tahoe, nv, usa
  
  I will look into it. In the manual I got for this device it says I don’t have to worry about my eyes, but it’s better to be safe than sorry, so I’ll get the goggles. I’m glad to hear from another person that it really does have healing effects.
Private Member | October 2, 2020 @ 3:20 pm
switzerland/, france

I have been looking for several years into this (for stretchmarks), and can’t figure out why some are sooo expensive and other rather affordable. What to look for if you want something trust worthy and that works (and doesn’t harm) ??