Red light therapy is an innovative medical care technology that is painless and has no side effects. It has changed the way we deal with pain, reduce inflammation, and improve health. In recent years, many clinics, health centers, spas, and gymnasiums around the world have introduced different red light therapy devices.
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What is Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation (PBM), uses low energy light emitting diodes (LEDs) or lasers as an alternative therapy, involves the use of LED red or near-infrared light to stimulate cellular function and promote healing.
The red light therapy is based on the idea that certain wavelengths of light can penetrate the skin and have beneficial effects on cells and tissues.
The principle of red light therapy can be thought of as a human version of the way plants photosynthesize. It is thought that certain wavelengths of light can enhance the functioning of mitochondria, which are the organelles in a cell that take in nutrients and break them down to create energy molecules for the cell.
By enhancing the cellular respiration, it will improve the functioning of the whole cell.
How Red Light Therapy Works?
Cellular Absorption of Photons
Red and near-infrared light has wavelengths between 600 and 1000 nanometers, which can penetrate the skin and reach cells and tissues. When these light waves come into contact with cells, they are absorbed by the cells’ mitochondria, the energy-producing organelles.
Stimulation of Mitochondrial Function
The absorbed light energy enhances the function of mitochondria, specifically by increasing the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is a molecule that stores and transports energy within cells. With increased ATP production, cells have more energy available for various cellular processes.
Promotion of Cellular Function and Repair
The enhanced mitochondrial function and increased ATP production positively influence cellular activities. Red light therapy is believed to stimulate various cellular processes, including increased DNA and RNA synthesis, protein synthesis, and the release of growth factors.
Is Red Light Therapy Effective?
The efficacy of red light was verified by NASA as early as the 1990s. At first, it was aimed at the study that red light could lock collagen. Later, astronauts found that wounds that were not easy to heal after injury would accelerate healing as long as they were irradiated by red light emitted by LED. Since then, scientists have conducted hundreds of clinical studies and thousands of laboratory studies to prove the medical benefits of LED light therapy.
Health Benefits of Red Light Therapy
Anti-Inflammatory Effects
Red light therapy has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects by modulating the activity of inflammatory mediators and reducing oxidative stress. This can be beneficial in reducing inflammation associated with various conditions, such as arthritis or injuries.
Enhancement of Circulation
Red light therapy may promote vasodilation, leading to increased blood flow in the treated area. Improved circulation can enhance the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to cells and facilitate the removal of waste products.
Tissue Repair and Healing
The combination of improved cellular function, increased ATP production, anti-inflammatory effects, and enhanced circulation contributes to tissue repair and healing. Red light therapy is used for a variety of applications, including wound healing, tissue regeneration, and reducing pain and inflammation.
Neuroprotection
Some studies suggest that red light therapy may have neuroprotective effects, influencing neural cells and potentially providing benefits in conditions affecting the nervous system.
Improving Sleep Condition
Due to the constant use of electronic products in modern life, its screen will emit blue light, which inhibits melatonin (a hormone that makes us sleepy). On the contrary, red light therapy helps to calm the mood and relax, and there is evidence that red light therapy can also increase the level of melatonin and increase the energy in the body by increasing the level of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This can offset many effects of lack of sleep, such as drowsiness and inattention.
A sleep study on 20 athletes pointed out that red light therapy has significant benefits for sleep quality and sports ability. After receiving 30 minutes of red light treatment every day for two weeks, athletes can improve sleep quality, increase melatonin levels, and better endurance performance.
Improving Skin Health
Red light effects include improving skin color, reducing signs of aging (anti-aging), improving collagen proliferation, improving psoriasis and eczema, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reducing orange peel lines and fat cell formation, reducing skin roughness and treating chronic skin diseases.
Red light can also reduce the damage caused by sunlight, fade the sun spots, and smooth the overall skin color. A study published in Photomedicine and Laser Surgery in 2014 shows that red light therapy is effective and safe in promoting anti-aging skin regeneration and intradermal collagen proliferation.
The researchers found that the collagen density of subjects treated with red light was significantly increased, the skin color was significantly improved, the skin became more elastic, the skin roughness was reduced, and wrinkles and fine lines were reduced.
Promoting Hair Growth
Red light therapy can increase the blood flow of the scalp and stimulate the metabolism of hair follicles to stimulate hair growth, to “wake up” hair follicles from the dormant state to an active hair growth state, and to accelerate hair growth.
Red light and near-infrared (NIR) penetrate the scalp and reach the bottom of the hair follicle, which stimulates cells to produce ATP, increases cell activation, and then promotes hair follicle regeneration. In addition, the study pointed out that red light therapy can stimulate hair follicles and help restore hair growth after chemotherapy.
Summary
It’s important to note that while there is evidence supporting the positive effects of red light therapy for certain conditions, more research is needed to fully understand its mechanisms and optimal applications. Red light therapy is used in various forms, including LED light devices and laser devices, and it is employed in clinical settings as well as for home use. If you are interested in red light therapy, you can contact ShineNova, which is the Top manufacturer of LED red light therapy devices in China!
