Red light therapy (RLT) is a treatment that uses low-wavelength red light to improve the skin’s appearance. It has shown great promise in treating wrinkles, redness, acne, scars, and other signs of aging. RLT is also considered by some experts to be an effective treatment for other medical conditions.

NASA originally began experimenting with red light to promote plant growth in space and later to help heal wounds in astronauts. Not surprisingly, other potential uses began to be theorized and investigated.

RLT is already widely accepted by the medical community for use in photodynamic therapy. In this application, low-power red laser light is used to activate a photosensitizer drug. The interaction creates a chemical reaction that destroys cells. It’s used to treat some skin conditions, including skin cancer, psoriasis, acne, warts, and other types of cancer.

How Does RLT Work?

RLT is thought to work by acting on mitochondria, which have been called “the power plant” in the body’s cells by some experts. With more energy, other cells can do their work more efficiently, such as repairing skin, boosting new cell growth, and enhancing skin rejuvenation. Interestingly, when cells absorb light wavelengths, they are stimulated to work.

Among the things RLT seems to do that promotes healthy skin are:

• Stimulating collagen production, which gives skin its structure, strength, and elasticity.
• Increasing fibroblast production, which makes collagen. Collagen is a component of connective tissue that builds skin.
• Increasing blood circulation to the tissue.
• Reducing inflammation in cells.

Skin Issues That RLT May Help

RLT is considered by some experts to be effective in the following ways:

• Improves wound healing.
• Reduces stretch marks.
• Reduces wrinkles, fine lines, and age spots.
• Improves facial texture.
• Improves psoriasis, rosacea, and eczema.
• Improves scars.
• Improves sun-damaged skin.
• Increases hair growth in people with androgenic alopecia.
• Improves acne.

While the effectiveness of RLT has not been proven beyond all question, many studies published to date have shown positive results. Additionally, RLT appears to be completely safe with no known adverse side effects, at least when used for relatively short durations and as directed. RLT is non-toxic, non-invasive, and not as harsh as some topical skin treatments. Furthermore, RLT doesn’t use cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) light, such as what comes from the sun or tanning booths, so it won’t harm people in similar ways.

Other potential medical uses being investigated include:

• To reduce side effects from cancer chemotherapy, including oral mucositis.
• To relieve pain and inflammation associated with ankle tendonitis, rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and osteoarthritis of the knee.
• To prevent cold sores associated with herpes simplex virus from recurring.

And while there’s little, if any, scientific evidence to support RLT use in weight loss, cellulite reduction, or mental health concerns, like depression or seasonal affective disorder (SAD), there are anecdotal accounts of people finding success using RLT in such treatments.

Factors to Weigh Prior to Treatment

There is a lot to consider when contemplating RLT. For example, treatment is rarely covered by health insurance, so if you’re planning to submit a claim, it’s best to call your health insurance company before seeking treatment. Furthermore, most RLT customers will need more than one treatment to find success. Often clients must use RLT one to three times a week for several weeks, or even months. Also, there may be a need for additional follow-up treatments, which can take time and add to out-of-pocket costs.

Everyone’s skin is different, so results can vary. Meanwhile, the wavelength of red-light sources varies, and that affects how deeply the light penetrates your skin. Therefore, the wavelength of the red-light device you use could affect results.

At the Larson Wellness Center, our red-light bed utilizes the 660-nanometer (nm) red wavelength and the 850 nm near-infrared (NIR) wavelength. These wavelengths are thought by many experts to be the ideal wavelengths for RLT.

To prove the point, we can reference a study conducted by researchers in the UK. They found that visible red wavelengths in the 610–670 nm range can absorb into the skin to a maximum depth of between 4 millimeters (mm) and 5 mm. The researchers also determined that NIR light in the 810–850 nm range can absorb into tissue to a maximum depth somewhat greater than 5 mm, or a little more than 2 inches. This absorption depth extends to the bone, muscle, blood vessels, organs, abdominal fat, lymph nodes, and other tissue and fluids well beneath the skin. In the end, these depths reached the ideal therapeutic window. The study concluded that light between 630–660 nm and 810–850 nm provided the most profound benefits, and we’re using both of those wavelengths in our equipment.

Is RLT Right for You?

If you’re dealing with an unwanted health condition, it’s always important to see your health care provider or a dermatologist for skin problems. They can diagnose the situation and discuss appropriate treatment options. If they fail to mention RLT, you can bring it up and see what they say.

It’s hard to imagine any well-informed doctor rejecting RLT treatment outright. There’s almost nothing to lose in trying RLT, other than a little time and money, but so much more to gain if it works. Drugs and topical treatments also cost money and often come with side effects. Do yourself a favor and exhaust all treatment options before opting to medicines.