What is red light therapy
Red light therapy (RLT) is a method of using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to treat medical and cosmetic diseases, also known as low-intensity laser therapy (LLLT), low-power laser therapy (LPLT), and photobiomodulation (PBM), and is a part of photodynamic therapy.
It penetrates low-intensity red light and near-infrared light into human cells to stimulate cells to help skin, muscle tissue, and other parts of the body heal. Low-intensity red light is visible light with a wavelength of 600-700nm; Near-infrared light is invisible light with a wavelength of 700-4000nm. This infrared therapy is non-invasive, painless, and does not require heating.
What does red light therapy do?
Mitochondria in cells are called the “dynamos” of cells. Under light or equipment with red light and near-infrared light, the mitochondria in cells absorb the red light the most.
After the red light is irradiated, the catalase activity of mitochondria increases, which can increase the metabolism of cells, improve the content of glycogen, increase the protein synthesis and increase the decomposition of adenosine triphosphate, thus strengthening the cell regeneration and promoting the healing of wounds and ulcers;
At the same time, it also increases the phagocytosis of white blood cells and improves the immune function of the body, which helps the cells repair themselves and become healthier.
Red light therapy benefits
Red light therapy is non-toxic, non-invasive, and considered safe for all skin types. It does not require the use of irritating external substances or heat that irritates or burns the skin. Red light therapy is easily available in medical or dental clinics, spas, tanning salons, or beauty clinics. Home red light therapy devices are also widely available.
Red light therapy may help to treat dementia, toothache, alopecia, arthritis, slow down skin aging, alleviate skin damage, etc.
Red light therapy side effects and risks
There are no fixed guidelines on how long to apply or strong red light treatment, so the possibility of adverse reactions is very small. In addition, the long-term safety of this procedure has yet to be determined.
If you use the red light treatment device incorrectly or frequently, your skin or eyes may be damaged. In some cases, immediate effects are possible, but it usually takes weeks or months to see improvements.
Household red light therapy devices are safe but not as powerful as professional instruments. The quality of equipment varies, and some machines may not produce the benefits you expect.
Clinical treatment by trained providers can better ensure efficacy. People with sensitive skin or diabetes should consult their healthcare provider before attempting this treatment. Pregnant women should also seek advice from their health providers.
