The Light Benefits of Red and Near Infrared Rays

You’ve probably heard of light therapy, also known as Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) in biohacking and anti-aging circles and you might be wondering, “what the heck is this, and should  I be doing it?” The answer, quite simply, is YES. 

I am excited to jump into the subject and explain a few key things that red and near-infrared rays do for slowing the aging process, relieving pain, and repairing strained muscle and other body tissues. 

At the highest end of the visible light spectrum is red light, which falls between 600nm to 700nm. Above the visible light spectrum is near-infrared light, which ranges from about 700nm to a little over 1,100nm. And just below red light is yellow light, encompassing the range of wavelengths from 570nm to 620nm. Researchers have found that different colors of light projected onto the body can bring immense health benefits in a safe and painless way. 

What Is Red Light Therapy?

LED Light Therapy (also called photobiomodulation) is essential photosynthesis for the human body and it is pretty straightforward, as far as it’s the mechanism of action is concerned. It’s a painless, non-invasive treatment that involves the use of concentrated red LED light that shines on the skin, stimulating cellular mitochondria and bringing a host of healing benefits. The light comes from a box-shaped panel that can be placed on a desktop or hung conveniently on a door or wall. You sit in front of the panel as if you are in front of a desktop computer for a period of up to 20 minutes. In addition to red light therapy, there is a therapeutic benefit to green, blue, and yellow light as well.

How Does LLLT Therapy Work?

To understand this type of therapy and energy, it’s important to understand a photon, the basic unit of light. Photons are stable, weightless packets of light energy. They are absorbed by mitochondrial chromophores in skin cells when the human body is exposed to red light photons. Remember back to cell biology (hello high school!) that the mitochondria are the cell’s little energy-producing powerhouses. They’re important if you’re looking to slow the aging process and improve overall cellular function.

The Photon energy in red light activates several important processes in the body: 

• electron transport increases in the mitochondria (you might just feel an increase in energy levels!)

• increase in ATP from the Krebs Cycle which is responsible for synthesizing fatty acids,   cholesterol, amino acids, and the purines found in DNA

• increases nitric oxide (NO), which opens up arteries

• blood circulation increases

• anti-inflammatory effects

• activation of stem cells, which will speed up the healing of wounds and hair growth

The benefits of light therapy may be seen and felt immediately or over time, depending on the person’s age, the severity of the injury or condition, and what is needed in the body for healing. Effects on swellings, inflammation, and joint pain may be felt within a few days whereas improved mood or increased energy could be felt after one session!?!

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What Conditions Are Treated by Red Light Therapy?

The types of conditions that generally respond well to light therapy include the following:

1. Chronic Pain

Pain reduction has been verified in scientific studies for temporomandibular dysfunction syndrome (joint pain, tender muscles, and clicking in the jaw), pain after cosmetic eyelid surgery, dental pain, and joint pain. 

In one compelling study, Russian doctors in Moscow tested 55 patients who had suffered a stroke and had a considerable amount of shoulder joint pain. The patients were given 10 sessions of red light therapy for 10 to 20 minutes per session. The doctors reported a significant reduction in the severity of the pain, an increase in the shoulder range of motion, a decrease of the severity of anxiety and depression, and improvement of blood circulation in the shoulder. They were impressed with the results!

Pain reduction using light therapy can be attributed to an increase in circulation which supports cellular regeneration- reducing inflammation and repairing wounds and injuries. Promising research is also showing that nerve cells respond very well to the medical application of infrared light.

2. Skin Rejuvenation and Wrinkle Reduction

When many people read about the possibility of reducing wrinkles with red light therapy, they want to know how much reduction and in what period of time. One study on skin rejuvenation from red-light found that 52% of patients showed a 25-50% improvement in photoaging scores by week 12. Eighty-one percent of the patients reported a significant improvement in wrinkles around the mouth when the doctors did their follow-up consultation.

How exactly does red light therapy work to improve skin?

In addition to its anti-inflammatory effects, red light therapy stimulates collagen production and allows for vasodilation (opening of blood vessels) which moves stagnant blood, improves complexion, encourages a more radiant and even skin tone, and studies show a reduction in fine lines and wrinkles. People who use light therapy are biologically younger on a cellular level.

3. Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is an often-overlooked system that is so important for removing cellular waste products. The lymph nodes can be seen as a communication hub where immune cells sample cellular information like pathogens that come into the body. Thus, it’s a key factor in total body detoxification. Swollen lymph nodes are something I check regularly in my patients, as they often indicate some type of systemic infection or a compromised immune system.

By increasing vasodilation and circulation in the tissues, red and near-infrared light therapy activates the body’s lymphatic system, removing cellular waste products, reducing inflammation,  and stimulating healthy immune function. 

4. Muscle and Wound Repair

Light therapy works similarly on muscle tissue, enhancing mitochondrial function, reducing inflammation, increasing blood flow, and stimulating cell regeneration. So when you get injured, the application of therapeutic red light helps your body recover faster. Red light increases angiogenesis and stimulates the production of cells necessary for healing and recovery. And by positively affecting the muscle’s mitochondria, red light therapy helps with the formation of stem cells, which will develop into new, healthy muscle cells. Elite athletes utilize LLLT therapy to optimize their performance and recover faster.

Reducing inflammation is also a key factor in red light therapy and its ability to speed up the process in wound healing. Studies show the red light to be responsible for the cellular proliferation of fibroblasts, collagen, blood vessels, and new tissue formation. A 2004 study also showed less visible scarring in burn patients who utilized red light therapy. The Austrian scientists in this study concluded that low-level light therapy positively affects wound healing by reducing the rate of necrosis.

5. Acne

Although blue light therapy is indicated more so in treating patients with acne vulgaris, red and infrared light therapy are also showing promising results. One Chinese study found that red light therapy in conjunction with a topical agent to absorb the light better made all acne rosacea sores disappear completely within six months. Another study proved that the red light suppressed the production of sebum in the skin, and thus had a beneficial effect on acne.

In dermatology, red light therapy is also used for the healing of burns and scars that are called hypertrophic (instead of shrinking, the scars get larger and thicker). Red light therapy can reduce UV damage both as a treatment and as a preventative measure. In pigment disorders such as vitiligo, red light therapy can increase pigmentation by stimulating melanocytes and reducing depigmentation by inhibiting autoimmunity. Inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis may also respond to red light therapy. 

What Do I Use at Home and in the Office?

I am frequently asked which device I use in my daily routine and at the clinic for skin rejuvenation, collagen production, and cellular healing. There are so many units on the market that it’s sometimes difficult to know which to trust! I use TrueLight Energy devices. They are engineered to emit Yellow, Red, and Near-Infrared light wavelengths and are the only of its kind to offer four different types of wavelengths. I like that in addition to being able to choose the color of the light emitted, the panel is also uniquely designed to direct either a pulsed or steady light, depending on the type of healing desired. 

Red Light Therapy

Involves using low-power red light wavelengths emitted directly onto the skin to heal the body.

Speaking of mitochondria, who doesn’t want more energy? If you liked the information in this post and are looking for novel ways to cure poor energy levels, you can sign up for my FREE natural energy minibook here.

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