Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy is taking the health community by storm. Though the topic is a bit controversial, the positive reviews, life-changing experiences, and the benefits of red light therapy that people are getting continue to spread.

With every new experiment, a new benefit is brought to the surface. If you look on the web you will find lots of health benefits of red light therapy.

Red light is basically a near-infrared light used to treat skin problems, muscle tissue, body pain, inflammation, and other health problems.

Ready to start taking the benefits of Red Light Therapy? Then check out my favorite handheld device!

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

A red light is exposed to skin with the help of a lamp, device, or laser. A part of your cells called mitochondria, sometimes called the “power generators” of your cells, soak it up and make more energy.

We will talk more about the benefits of red light therapy in the article. For now, just understand that red light is a magic light or energy that can do wonders for your health.

Red light therapy uses very low levels of heat and doesn’t hurt or burn the skin. It’s not the type of light used in tanning booths and nor does it expose your skin to damaging UV rays.

Now let’s talk about the benefits of red light therapy in detail.

Amazing Health Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Different wavelengths of red light create different effects on the body. Light in the range from 600nm to 900nm has been shown to create the biggest biological response.

1. Decreases Inflammation

Photobiomodulation (PBM) is widely used to lower inflammation levels in the body. It can be used to treat problems like osteoarthritis, joint injuries, and excessive swelling without any of the side effects that are commonly associated with inflammation-reducing non-prescription drugs such as NSAIDs.

Inflammation is one important issue related to most modern diseases such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and even cancer. Near-infrared light helps to decrease elevated inflammation levels to more healthy levels. You can also try cold therapy to reduce systemic inflammation.

2. Improve Thyroid Functioning

When you let your thyroid soak the red light for a longer period of time it can actually improve hypothyroidism conditions. Many users have experienced measurable differences within a week of daily applications.

Here are some more benefits of red light therapy on thyroid functioning.

• • It Improves the Level of Thyroid Hormones: A combination of exercise and low-level wavelengths helps to lose weight caused by thyroid hormone fluctuations.
  • Might help improve hypothyroidism caused by CAT: A recent experiment done on albino male mice concluded that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may affect the level of thyroid hormones in humans.

3. Can Help With Fat Loss

Weight loss can also be included in the benefits of red light therapy. If you are particularly struggling with your waist, hips, and thighs, photobiomodulation (PBM) might be the best choice for you.

But remember red light is not a magic pill. Instead, it’s a support to any already effective fat loss routine. For best results, you need to combine red light therapy, a healthy diet, and regular exercise.

How does low-level light therapy (LLLT) help lose weight? When you are exposed to red light it triggers the formation of pores in fat cells which releases fatty acids known as lipids. Exposing yourself just for 4 minutes releases 80% of lipids from fat cells.

Red light also controls your appetite-regulating hormones known as leptin and ghrelin making you want to eat less. My favorite device for this is the body panel.

4. Helps to Increased Performance in the Gym

If you are a gym lover you should not miss the benefits of red light therapy. For gym owners installing red light might be a good option to provide maximum benefits during the workout.

A recent study in Korea concluded that soft laser therapy reduces an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the muscles through changes in mitochondrial metabolic energy processes resulting in longer, faster and harder workouts.

Adding light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to the gym will not only help you perform better but will also help increase tissue oxygenation, increase blood flow and increase muscle growth.

5. RLT Speeds Up Recovery Process

Want to read more on the benefits of red light therapy, bodybuilding, and its recovery process? Great! Here we go.

All the energy that your body generates depends on the amount of oxygen you’re supplying to your body. Biostimulation helps your red blood cells to carry more oxygen. When you get enough oxygen your circulatory system is enhanced which leads to faster recovery.

6. Helps to Boost Testosterone Levels

Boosting testosterone with the help of light therapy is another benefits of red light therapy. Healthy testosterone levels are important for healthy living. If you are experiencing low sex drive, insomnia, mood swing, depression, mental fog, and low energy you might have low testosterone levels.

There are different ways to boost your testosterone level including photonic stimulation also known as red light therapy. Using low-power laser therapy (LPLT) directly on the testosterone-generating organs can boost your testosterone levels.

Red or near-infrared red wavelengths can penetrate deep into the body and stimulate energy production within cells responsible for producing testosterone. If you have high testosterone already, then I would suggest reading this article.

7. Enhances Blood Circulation in Diabetic Patients

Infrared light can penetrate a couple of inches into your body, meaning it can reach your blood vessels. Blood circulation matters a lot for diabetic patients, because the better the circulation, the lower the diabetic level.

Blood circulation helps flush out toxic waste products making the nutrients delivery process easier. When there is a lack of good circulation there is a lack of oxygen in the body.

The benefits of red light therapy on blood circulation are that it helps create new blood vessels, and improves microcirculation which in turn helps diabetic patients.

8. Boosts Fertility

One of the major causes of infertility in men is erectile dysfunction. Adapting red light therapy can increase the amount of Co2 in your blood. By the way, Co2 is not just a waste product.

Our body needs Co2 to carry more oxygen to the blood and to open up blood vessels. Open blood vessels often lead to more blood flow in a man’s reproductive system and also improves sperm motility.

When it comes to female fertility soft laser therapy can improve egg quality which means women can have children even at a later age.

9. Red Light Therapy May Boost Your Immune System

There are lots of glands and cells in our body that help in the proper functioning of the immune system. As we get older the gland and cells start to degenerate. The thymus gland is one such essential gland to the immune system.

Red light therapy can slow down the degeneration process keeping your immune system stable. It also increases the activity of macrophages and several other immune system cells. Macrophages are cells that clean up dead cells and respond to infections.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) also increases Mast cells which is a specific type of white blood cells. The function of Mast cells is to create fibrous material in wound healing.

Other than that, low-level light therapy (LLLT) also improves “leukocytes” and “lymph” cells. Leukocytes are white blood cells that protect your blood from invaders whereas lymph cells play the role of a detoxifier. More on lymphatic detox here.

Red Light Therapy for Skin and Overall Beauty

We talk about the amazing benefits of red light therapy on health. I am sure you are also keen to know how soft laser therapy works on the skin. Let’s dig in!

1. Boosts your Skin Health

One of the top benefits of red light therapy for the skin is it boosts your overall skin health. Nowadays, many people have skin issues and try to cover such issues up with cosmetics or use other invasive treatments that commonly have serious side effects. The use of biostimulation will make your skin a radiant look without resulting in any known side effects.

• Red Light Therapy for Skin Rejuvenation: As we age we start seeing pigmentation, telangiectasia, and loss of elasticity caused by reduction in collagen, elastotic degeneration, and many other factors. With the help of photonic stimulation, you can reverse the degeneration process, improve wrinkles, skin laxity, and increased collagen.

• Photobiomodulation (PBM) for Acne: Compared to any other acne-treating method or product, red light therapy proves to improve acne with fewer side effects. Red light penetrates deeper into the sebum secretion of the sebaceous gland and can change keratinocyte behavior reducing inflammation.

• Low-level light therapy (LLLT) for Vitiligo: Vitiligo is a pigmentary disorder where a person experiences depigmentation of skin and hair. When the affected area is exposed to red light it actually reverses the process. Though the process might take time, it definitely works.

• For Hypertrophic Scars and Keloids: The main cause of hypertrophic scars and keloids is usually due to surgery, trauma, acne, or excess collagen. The use of NIR-LED can significantly improve the scars and Keloids.

• Photonic Stimulation for Psoriasis: The use of red light on psoriasis has no side effects. Though more experiments are needed, we can be sure that Photobiomodulation (PBM) can treat psoriasis.

When it comes to matters of the face, there are luckily products created just for that purpose. If you are looking for more skin, face, and beauty benefits, then check out the Look Book red light device below.

These were the benefits of red light therapy on the skin. Other than the skin it also touches different aspects of skin-related problems. Keep reading to discover more benefits of red light therapy.

2. Speed Up Wound Healing

Low-power laser therapy (LPLT) can also be used for wound healing or healing damaged skin. One of the best benefits of red light therapy is it enhances the wound healing process even after surgery. Red light not only heals wounds but also reduces scar tissue formation.

3. Treats Sunburn Damage/ UV Skin Damage

If you have fair Irish skin like myself, you pray to not burn when you step outside. Did you know you can use photobiomodulation (PBM) for both sunburn prevention and to lower the intensity of your sunburn? Expose yourself to red light before your step into the sun to prevent sunburn or use it after a sunbath. Both ways will protect your skin from UV rays.

4. Improves Oral Health

Does red light therapy really work on oral health? The simple answer is yes. It can heal wounds and gum damage, ulcers, and bacterial infections of the mouth. Also helps in teeth whitening, tooth movement, and toothache.

When the red light is applied to the teeth it reduces hypersensitivity of the teeth and increases bone remodeling after teeth damage. Add a few minutes of red light therapy after brushing your teeth every day for healthy oral health. I recommend the oral care red light below.

5. Helps to Treat Hair Loss

Red light therapy can reverse hair loss in both men and women. Light therapy might not be a universal solution to hair loss but trying it out before you seek medical advice could be a good decision. Most prescription drugs often come with side effects.

It is worth trying the therapy before you start any medication. Who knows it might work more than expected for you.

The benefits of red light therapy go on and on. There are so many benefits that I can’t get them all in here and keep you awake, so here are some more of my favorite benefits of red light therapy.

Red LED Light Therapy for Overall Well Being

Still not convinced that you need one to live your best life? Then here are some more overall benefits of red light therapy.

1. Red Light Helps You Sleep Deeper At Night

Exposing your body to red light increases the secretion of a hormone called melatonin. These hormones help you sleep deeper, longer and fall asleep quicker. Take a good 5-minute therapy before you go to bed for sound sleep.

2. Improves Mood, Stress, and Depression

Get a red light panel or visit a nearby red light therapy spa and ask them to apply it to your skull and let it penetrate to your brain. Within a minute or two you’ll experience a decrease in anxiety and depression.

3. Fight Cell Stress

If you are experiencing lots of stress due to heavy physical work or jet lag after some long travel try photobiomodulation (PBM) to reduce these negative effects. These effects have (currently) only been proven in animal studies. it’s expected that for humans the effects will be roughly similar.

4. Red Light Clears Your Nose & Helps You Breathe Properly

Low-level light therapy (LLLT) can be used to clear your nasal passages especially for people who have hay fever. You’ll need a red light device that specifically targets treating the nose, a device that can be put in your nose.

5. Helps to Diminish Pain

Are you dealing with pain such as back pain, osteoarthritis, joining disorders, nerve pain, or even headaches? If yes, you should grab the benefits of red light therapy. It is a promising modality to treat different types of pain at different locations of the body. If you have joint pain or hard to reach areas, then try getting a red light pad (similar to a heating pad) to help stop the pain.

These were the simple but yet effective benefits of red light therapy for overall well-being. There are lots of red light products available online. Place an order and try it for yourself and experience the benefits.

More Benefits of Infrared Light for Modern Diseases

Last but not least. Here are some more benefits of red light therapy for modern diseases.

1. May Counteract Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Parkinson’s Disease.

When a person suffers from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease the brain area related to reasoning capacity and brain area related to memory is severely shrunk.

Although red light can’t completely treat dementia, Alzheimer and Parkinson’s disease, it can treat certain symptoms.

For example, beta-amyloid which is characteristic of Alzheimer can be reduced through red light therapy. These beta-amyloid plaques prevent proper communication in your nervous system.

If you want to treat your brain, you’ll want to rely on infrared light in your device more than red light. Infrared light penetrates much deeper which is necessary to correctly get the light through your skull.

2. Helps You Recover Better and Quicker From a Stroke

Many experiments and researches also link the benefits of red light therapy to modern diseases. It can help recover better and quicker from stokes related issues.

It can reduce cognitive deficits caused after a stroke. When red light therapy is applied 24 hours after a stroke, the overall recovery is significantly better compared to the absence of red light therapy. It can help with improving the recovery of your language ability.

3. Lowers Your Chances of Getting Cold Sores

Cold sores are caused by a virus–not by cold temperatures as many people think. Viruses transfer more easily in cold weather. One of the common treatments for this virus is tablets, but red light therapy works just as well without any side effects.

Cold sores can recur over time, especially when you’re stressed or when your immune system is compromised. In both of those cases, fortunately, red light therapy helps out as well.

4. Oppose Diabetes

If you’re healthy, insulin will help your body move sugars into your body’s cells. If you have insulin resistance, however, the body’s cells do not respond to insulin anymore. As a consequence of insulin resistance, sugars in the blood will no longer be taken up properly in the body’s cells, and you’ll end up with high blood sugar.

If you combine exercise with red light therapy, you’ll decrease what is called “insulin” resistance more than by just using exercise alone. Red light therapy can also help you deal with the side-effects of diabetes: pain and wounds often associated with diabetes can be prevented.

5. Help Prevent a Decline in How Well Your Brain Functions with Age

The best way to combat a cognitive decline as you age is to use red light therapy that’s specifically targeted at your brain as it slows that process.

Red light also increases Alpha, Beta, and Delta Brain Waves activity and the brain’s prefrontal cortex.

Beta brainwaves are associated with normal awake/alert brain function that’s necessary for focused attention. Alpha brain waves are associated with relaxed attention and Theta brain waves are associated with daydreaming, intuition, and creativity.

Here we go with the complete overall benefits of red light therapy. By now you might have known how beneficial the use of red light therapy is in our daily life. In this article, I have covered almost all the benefits of red light therapy.

FAQs on Red Light Benefits

• How many times a week should I do red light therapy?
  • It is recommended to start with a commitment of 15 minutes at least 3-5 times per week for the first 1-4 weeks. Then you should use the Red Light Therapy at least 2-3 times per week for the following 4-12 weeks, and finally 1-2 times per week to maintain your desired results.

• Can red light therapy reverse gray hair?
  • Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for hair loss using red light lasers has also been reported to darken gray hairs by increasing natural melanin production in the hair follicles.

• Will red light therapy tighten skin?
  • Blue light is generally used to kill the bacteria that cause acne, providing effective treatment for blackheads and whiteheads, whereas wavelengths of red light are normally used to speed up healing and stimulate collagen production, simultaneously shrinking enlarged pores and tightening the skin.

Have you tried it? If yes, What were the benefits you received?

Have you tried red light therapy? If yes, share your experience in the comment section. If you haven’t tried, what are you waiting for? I have given you an almost intimidating list of benefits of red light therapy for countering disease at many levels. You don’t have any excuses why you shouldn’t use it.

I have not included many diseases on the list, such as bacterial and fungal infections, cancer, and additional types of pain. Nevertheless, I hope you yourself conclude that red light therapy is at least very promising.

I do think that because red light therapy offers so many benefits for so many diseases, that in the coming decade, many households will have a red light therapy device in their homes. Just like computers and smartphones took the world by storm, red light therapy devices will be no different.

Be a thought leader in health, and be the first who experiments with red light therapy in your community. It only takes a few years to completely change the world into something unrecognizable.