How Does Red Light Therapy Work?: What You Need to Know
If you’re asking “how does red light therapy work,” you’re not alone. Red light therapy is exploding in popularity, but it’s so new, you have a lot of questions.
Didi you know that red light therapy can clear acne, reduce wrinkles, and reduce pain? All from a device that you can use at home, without a prescription from a doctor.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
Red light therapy works by supplying the cells with energy from specific wavelengths of light. The cells use tha energy to make biological batteries (ATP or adenosine triphosphate); releasing nitric oxide (that opens blood vessels); and signaling the immune system to stop chronic inflammation.
- The light travels through the skin to the cells
- The mitochondria in the cells absorb the light
- The electron transport chains in the mitochondria use the light energy to create adenosine triphosphate (ATP). The cells use ATP for:
- autophagy (cellular cleanup)
- mitophagy (mitochondria cleanup)
- synaptogenesis (creation of new connections between cells)
- neurogenesis (creation of new brain cells)
- cell turnover (production of new skin cells)
- The electron transport chain releases nitric oxide that:
- dilates the blood vessels
- triggering more blood flow to injured areas
- bringing oxygen and nutrition to those areas
- the blood along with ATP allows the tissue to self-repair
- The mitochondria signal the immune system to stop sending inflammatory chemicals, which lowers inflammation and pain
Types of Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy is really much more than red light. Potential benefits come from lots of colors including red, green, blue, and yellow, as well as the mostly-invisible infrared.
Devices come in panels, wands, pads, hats, and many more designs The type of light you get to use red light therapy will depend on the potential benefits you seek.
For instance, you might use a panel for exercise recovery and soft tissue injury; a pad for fat loss therapy; or a face mask for acne or wrinkles reduction.
The Potential Benefits of Red Light Therapy
Potential benefits if you use red light therapy (also known as low-level laser light therapy) include:
- reduced acne
- reduced fine lines and wrinkles
- less skin roughness
- reduced melasma (pigment disorder
- more hair
- less fat
- better vision
- reduced pain and inflammation
- faster wound healing
- reduced symptoms of brain injury and dementia (this is what I’m writing the book about)
LED red light is used in clinical settings where it is known as low level laser therapy, low-level light therapy, low-power red light, or photobiomodulation.
Dermatologists and hair clinics use red or near-infrared light to grow hair and reduce wrinkles. They use blue, infrared, and red light wavelengths to reduce acne.
The same red light therapy used in clinical settings is now available for you to do red light therapy at home.
Studies on red light therapy show that potential benefits last for months or even years.
The Side Effects of Red Light Therapy
According to thousands of studies, red light therapy has no side effects. As of November, 2022, Dr. Vladimir Heiskanen documented journal papers about red light therapy. He found 6,380 papers, and in my own searching, I’ve found over 9,000 papers:
- 2,180 human studies
- 1,980 animal studies
- 1,220 in vitro studies
- 640 narrative reviews
- 360 systematic reviews
Mention of side effect is almost completely missing from these papers, but there are a few exceptions.
In a couple of studies I’ve read, subjects had mild headaches and reddened skin from using red and and infrared light.
Certainly the safety profile is superior to acetomeniphen, with side effects including rash, itching, swelling, and difficulty breathing.
I’ve read hundreds of studies and have never seen anything close to the severity of something “safe”) (Tylenol), which is more likely to cause side effects.
The use of red and near-infrared light (as well as green, blue, and yellow light) is noninvasive, drug-free, and has next-to-zero risks or side effects.
It cannot burn the skin, or even cause damage to the skin. None of the painful side effects from drug remedies happen when you undergo red light therapy.
Of course, people on light-sensitive medications and epileptics should avoid red light-emitting devices, but that is a special and very small subset of potential users.
Mention of side effect is almost completely missing from these papers, but there are a few exceptions.
Red light helps:
Using the right kind of light the right way is safe. It has no side effects. As of November, 2022, Dr. Vladimir Heiskanen documented journal papers about red light therapy. He found 6,380 papers, and in my own searching, I’ve found over 9,000:
- 2,180 human studies
- 1,980 animal studies
- 1,220 in vitro studies
- 640 narrative reviews
- 360 systematic reviews
Mention of side effect is almost completely missing from these papers, but there are a few exceptions.
Is Red Light Therapy Too Good to be True?
If you have seen the claims and thought, “How is this even possible, is this a scam?” you are not alone.
Infrared, red, blue, green, and yellow lights are remarkably powerful when used correctly.
How did we not know about this before?
Lasers.
Up until recently, only doctors could get these results from red light because they used lasers that are off-limits to home users.
Now that we know that cheaper LEDs work as well as lasers, the positive effects are now available as at-home red light devices.
Lasers are dangerous, they can burn and blind you, so you can’t just get a class IV laser light to treat skin.
A researcher accidentally discovered he could get the same results with LED lights as he got with lasers. This was in 1967, so what took so long?
Scientists have tested this theory over 5,000 times and published results in scientific papers.
An important paper came out in the year 2000 in which NASA verified that LEDs worked well as therapy for wound healing in Navy SEAL volunteers.
This is when the possible benefits of red light at home became a reality.
LEDs don’t hurt the eyes, which means there is now a consumer market for the healing energy of red, blue, and yellow light.
The market is now reaching critical mass, which is probably why you’re reading my blog!
How You Absorb Light When You Use Red Light Therapy
The skin is better at absorbing some wavelengths of light. The good news is that even when the absorption is not perfect, you can still get a great effect.
Some of the light will get lost to reflection, or turn into heat.
But the light that heals will travel to the cells inside your body (and brain).
Inside those cells are mitochondria, which are responsible for making the biological batteries that run the body.
The photons lend energy to the battery-making process, and that kicks off twenty or 30 biological events that have healing effects.
The light kicks the self-healing mechanisms into high gear.
It causes the mitochondria to message the cell to stop chronic inflammation, to get rid of old cells, and to make the blood flow better.
This all happens inside the mitochondria, which sends messages and chemicals throughout the body to create the healing responses.
If you have seen the red light therapy claims and thought, “How is this even possible, is this a scam?” you are not alone.
Red, blue, and yellow lights are remarkably powerful when used correctly.
How did we not know about this before?
Lasers.
Up until recently, only doctors could perform light therapy, and they could use lasers.
Because these tools can blind you, medical laws prevent mortals from buying or using lasers.
Then something wonderful happened.
A researcher discovered he could get the same results with LED lights as he got with lasers.
Scientists have tested this theory over 5,000 times and published results in scientific papers.
LED light works just as well as lasers at healing the body.
Light always could do these marvelous feats of healing.
But only doctors were allowed to use the lasers.
LEDs don’t hurt the eyes, which means there is now a consumer market for the healing energy of red, blue, and yellow light.
If You Get Nothing Else, Understand This
- Light heals if you get the right kind of light in the right amount.
- The amount of light is like your “dose” of red light energy.
- If a lamp is too weak, or you spend too light time with the light, or you spend too much time with the light, you are not going to get a healing result.
- Get the right kind of light (the right wavelengths)
- Get enough power (the lamp can’t be too weak)
- Get enough energy (spend enough time per session)
- Don’t get too much energy (it’s hard to do with home devices, but don’t spend too much time per session)
Can I Use a Light Bulb Instead of a Therapy Device?
It is unlikely a light bulb would give you enough of the right kind of light to help you heal.
You are welcome to try, though, if you want to experiment.
You need two things to make a therapeutic lamp:
- the right amount of energy
- the right wavelength of light
Household light bulbs are very low-power devices.
There is no assurance that a red light bulb emits the right kind of red light.
There is no science saying you can, and no science saying you cannot.
There is no harm in trying.
How Does Light Therapy Help So Many Issues?
The secret to the scientifically cited benefits of red light lies in the electron transport chain, the mitochondria, and the cell.
Researchers believe they are getting these amazing results because red light lends massive amounts of energy to the mitochondria.
After light penetrates the layers of the skin, it energy helps open blood vessels, take out toxic garbage, and supply energy for self-healing.
On top of the energy production, light therapy triggers at least four other health responses.
Healthy red light wakes up the body’s messaging systems.
The messengers ultimately reach the DNA, where powerful healing is possible.
Scientists speculate that the DNA kicks off a protein creation. This means that the light triggers the body to put together the building blocks of life.
That, in turn, reduces inflammation, prevents protein cell death, and turns on the anti-oxidants to protect the body from rusting out. (source)
How Does Light Heal?
The body absorbs certain types of light. It uses the energy from the light to repair your body’s tissues. Just as if plants use light to grow, humans accept light to heal.
The body has about five responses to healing light. The best understood is the energy creation response.
Our skin has wavelength-specific light receptors. The receptors grab the light’s energy and hold onto it. The energy accumulates until it reaches a boiling point. All at once, the energy factories start cranking out the chemicals the body uses to function. That energy brings blood, oxygen, and nutrients to wounds. It wakes up hair follicles to start making hair again. It induces fat cells to let go of their contents.
How is Red Light Such a Powerful Treatment?
Researchers believe they are getting these amazing results because red light wakes up the body’s energy factories.
When the body receives enough of the right kind of light, it starts pumping out energy chemicals all over the place.
The energy takes the form of blood and oxygen reaching and repairing damaged areas.
On top of the energy production, light therapy has triggered at least four other health responses.
Healthy red light wakes up the body’s messaging systems.
The messengers ultimately reach the DNA, where powerful healing is possible.
Scientists speculate that the DNA kicks off a protein creation. This means that the light triggers the body to put together the building blocks of life.
That, in turn, reduces inflammation, prevents protein cell death, and turns on the anti-oxidants to protect the body from rusting out. (source)
What Does Red Light Heal?
Red light has an amazing record of accomplishment in the lab.
It heals wounds, fractured bones, and wrinkled skin.
It grows hair on bald men and women.
Red light can reduce pain, improve eyesight, and melt fat.
Red Light Heals Acne
While blue light is best for acne, red light can help clear the face as well.
In one study, researchers treated acne patients with two wavelengths of red light: 635 nm and 670 nm.
The patients got a very low dose of energy per session, but they got 112 treatments over a 2-month period (2 times a day for 8 weeks).
At the end of the study, the acne blemish count fell by 51%. (source) (source)
In the next study, patients got much energy per treatment, but fewer (16) treatments overall (2 times a week for 8 weeks).
The patients received red light in the 630 nm to 700 nm range.
Once again, the red light significantly reduced the patients’ acne. (source) (source)
Red Light Grows Hair
In one study, researchers gave balding patients high doses of red light.
The patients received a high-energy dose of 630 nm, 650 nm, and 660 nm light per treatment.
After 168 treatments (1x day for 24 weeks), the patients’ hair was growing again.
The hair was thicker and denser than when the study started.
Another study treated balding women with 655 nm light.
The patients got a relatively low dose of energy each session.
They got light treatment every other day for 16 weeks (60 treatments).
On average, they grew 37% more hair than the untreated women in the control group.
(source) (source) (source) (source)
Red Light Melts Fat
Red light really can melt fat. Over and over, studies show that red light triggers fat cells to get rid of their contents.
Before I tell you more, you must understand how this works to take advantage of it.
First, do not eat two hours before a fat-burning treatment.
Next, use the light on the area of fat you want to lose.
Third, exercise right after the light treatment.
You can do 10 minutes of rigorous work or 30 minutes of light work.
If your gym has a vibration machine, you can use that instead of exercising.
You have to shake the released fat cells out of the area.
If you don’t exercise, the fat cells will just reabsorb the fat.
In one study, researchers treated patients with 635 nm light.
The patients received light from LED lamps embedded in wraps around their arms.
They received relatively low-energy doses of light.
After two weeks of 3 sessions per week, the patients’ arm size reduced from losing fat.
Their arm sizes fell an average of 3.7 cm, which is 1.4 inches.
That was just from a light wrap they used 6 times in two weeks.
In another study, researchers looked at the treated fat cells under an electron microscope.
They took pictures of the deflated fat cells that had just let go of the contents.
A relatively low energy dose of 635 nm (red) light-induced the fat release after only one treatment.
Red Light Increases Sight in Aging Eyes
Older eyes can lose the ability to see color.
This is not a disease like macular degeneration or cataracts.
Vision loss is a normal part of aging. The eyes tire out.
The part of the eye that perceives the color blue loses its strength as we age.
In fact, it loses the very energy-making machinery that red light knows how to trigger.
Researchers used red light (670 nm) to treat the dominant eye of both younger and older patients.
The red light did not make any difference in the younger subjects’ vision.
In the people over 40 years old, it did make a difference.
They gained back their ability to distinguish blue that they had lost due to aging.
Red Light Reduces Pain
Researchers tested red light’s ability to reduce pain. They tested the light on breast augmentation patients.
While the patients were still on the operating table, the doctors shined a 635 nm red light at the incision areas.
The total energy absorbed was a relatively low dose.
24 hours after surgery, patients took self-assessment questionnaires.
76% of the patients who had received the red light treatment reported at least 30% less pain than the control group.
These patients asked for and took less pain control medication as they healed.
Conclusion
- Red light therapy employs different colors of light (red, infrared, blue, yellow, and green) to provide various health benefits including clearing acne, triggering collagen production, wound healing, bone repair, and reducing Alzheimer’s symptoms.
- Thousands of studies validate the therapeutic benefits for skin issues, chronic pain, and faster healing.
- The therapy was initially exclusive to the medical profession due to the potential harm lasers could cause to eyes. With the discovery of LED lights offering the same benefits, it’s now accessible to consumers.
- The effectiveness of therapy depends on the type and amount of light used – too much or too little can impact the healing process.
- Ordinary light bulbs are unlikely to provide the same healing benefits as they may not provide the right kind and amount of energy.
- The human body can absorb certain types of light to aid in tissue repair, much like how plants use light for growth.
- The absorption of light energy in the body can stimulate energy factories to produce healing chemicals, which can also enhance blood flow and nutrient delivery to wounds.
- Therapy can stimulate the body’s internal messaging system, reaching the DNA level, where the creation of proteins can aid in healing, inflammation reduction, and antioxidant production.
- Therapy has shown positive results in treating conditions like wounds, bone fractures, wrinkles, hair loss, and obesity. It can also improve vision and relieve pain.
- Red light therapy can improve color vision in aging eyes by triggering the energy-making machinery of the eye.
- Red light therapy has been tested and proven to reduce post-operative pain in breast augmentation patients.
