Red Light is a therapeutic wavelength that helps to heal a variety of conditions. Due to the high content of blood and water within the body, monochromatic wavelengths (like the red light) emitted by LEDs are readily absorbed into skin and tissue where they increase cellular energy, stimulate collagen and elastin synthesis, boost circulation, accelerate healing, kick start repair processes, drive more oxygen to the treated area, and much more.
Red light offers several benefits under a single umbrella. We will discuss here the most common uses of red light, exclusively those that will benefit you enhncaing your quality of life. It is a therapy that will provide you the much awaited cure with minimal side effects. Women’s World magazine, published an extensive article saying ‘The light that fights Ageing’ and not only this but enlists many more proven benefits of red light.
Of late, it has become a topic of interest for dermatologists and health freaks. You may think, Is it worth trusting?….. So here we bring to you scientifically backed, proven and testified by research, a bundle of benefits that therapeutic red light light has to offer!
Go on reading this to find some use for yourself, friends and family. Discover what this natural wavelength of light has in store.
1. Red light and Anti ageing :
Red light skin tightening as you might have heard, is a new trend.. but is it only a trend or there’s some truth behind the claim.?
As you get older the building blocks of your skin – collagen and elastin- deteriorate and degenerate causing your skin to show signs of aging. The breakdown of collagen and elastin is accelerated by sun exposure, gravity, pollution, harsh soaps, cigarette smoke, free radicals, and a poor diet. You and your skin are inundated with damaging factors day in and day out.
There has been a great deal of research done for over 40 years showing that LEDs (light emitting diodes) in red and infrared wavelengths deliver powerful therapeutic benefits to living tissue. Studies have shown LEDs affect at least 24 different positive changes at a cellular level promoting healthier skin cells that look and act younger.
Photo rejuvenation has been proven to effectively treat skin issues such as; fine lines, wrinkles, large pores, rough skin, and crow’s feet. LEDs effectively and gently make significant changes in the skin at a deep level repairing cells, collagen, and elastin.
Benefits of red light therapy
- Minimizes fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduces crow’s feet
- Speeds up the healing of blemishes
- Improves skin tone
- Stimulates collagen and elastin
- Repairs sun damaged skin
- Creates more natural skin moisture
- Increases circulation within the skin
- Lessens skin coarseness
- Reduces pore size
- Smoothes texture
- Slows down skin degradation
- Reduces overall redness, flushing, dilated capillaries
Not only hand held devices, but facial masks are available that can be used to rejuvenate facial skin!
2. Red light and Rosacea :
Rosacea is a disorder of the blood vessels and it is a common skin disorder.
The common symptom of rosacea is transformation of the skin color into red. The body portions most affected by rosacea are the cheeks, nose and forehead. At times, such redness and flushing of skin can also spread to the ears, scalp, chest or the neck.
As Rosacea progresses, the reddish tinge can turn into a permanent condition.
Red light therapy can also treat acne because it can improve circulation and inflammation through the heat transfer. Those who are not able to tolerate or do not want to expose their skin to high heat Lasers, can find a much better alternative in red light to treat rosaceae as well as acne. A combination of red and blue light can be used to treat acne in the most effective manner.
This wavelength helps because:
- Stimulates the formation of collagen to improve skin elasticity
- Promotes natural natural cleansing by cells (since it helps in activating the lymphatic system to dump out all waste products)
- Reduces inflammation so swollen spots become less visible
- Soothes facial tissues
- Blood circulation in the face is enhanced
- Diminished appearance of acne scars
Red therapy is a very safe and mild treatment for various skin conditions. It can be used for long term skin healing and regeneration. Sometimes topical creams are also of some help to treat rosacea and are recommended by dermatologists, but while using red light therapy you should consult with your doctor since some creams may be light sensitive.
The best approach is to use light therapy on a cleansed face, and not combine any topical application along with it. Creams an be used post treatment.
3. Red light for Cellulite :
Cellulite is the most unwanted and stubborn layer of fat which most oftenly affects women and (very rarely men) and destroys the look of your lean thighs! It may sometimes affect the arms and abdomen too, making them flabby. More commonly known as orange peel skin, lets first know, how doses it occur and how can red light be beneficial for it.
Although cellulite is structurally the same as regular fat (adipose tissue), it builds up in a very different way. For cellulite, fat is layered in globular pockets under the skin, held in place by rigid connective tissues. The lumpy pockets of fat give cellulite its unique appearance.
Cellulite is not broken down through diet or exercise the way normal fat deposits are. Sometimes we find that cellulite production is tied to hormones, specifically estrogen, so things that cause hormone fluctuations – like pregnancy, puberty, menopause, even stress – can cause cellulite. Where and at what rate cellulite is formed is different for every person.One theory holds that toxins and fluids are trapped in the pockets, which impair metabolism and keep the fat from being broken up.
- Blood vessels are dilated when exposed to red light. This widening of blood vessels reduces resistance to the blood flow, therefore improving the rate at which it can move around the body. So, you can very well understand that red light can help to release the trapped toxins and fluids. This helps in reducing he size of cellulite.
- One more facet to this problem is, weakened connective tissues! Here also red light may help in their restoration since it is known for stimulating the production of collagen. Hence, stronger connective tissue will push fat deposits away.
There is clinical evidence for the efficacy of LLLT (Low level light therapy) for reducing cellulite and overall thigh fat.
But, it is important to NOTE that, red light alone cannot completely eliminate cellulite. Since, the reasons are many; a healthy diet, proper exercise are needed in conjunction to see manifest changes. This will fight one of the most stubborn problem you might be facing! Any at home red light, or combined red and infra red light device will work wonders fro you, which you might not have seen after using any anti cellulite cream or gel!
4. Red light and Hair Regrowth :
Hair loss can be a very depressing problem for those who suddenly find large clumps of hair coming out of their head. Upon seeing the first signs of hair thinning, it is understandable that the first thing that comes into your mind is to seek a treatment for this condition. Baldness can be treated with a lot of different anti-hair loss medications and treatments offered in the market. Shampoos and pills often contain chemicals that are of no good to our bodies.
With technological advancements in leaps nad bounds, we get the opportunity of treating baldness in the most effective manner and that is by using light therapy.
Red light wavelength (approximately 655 nanometers) not only helps to reduce inflammation but also to accelerate the regeneration of damaged tissue. Further research has found that this same wavelength of light, when applied directly to the scalp, could increases the production of energy around the unhealthy follicle cells, promoting growth and production of thick and healthy hair.
The low level laser therapy (LLLT) works by switching Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) to Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP), which releases energy and causes changes in the metabolism of cells. The overall blood circulation increases in this process, wherein the scalp is provided with added oxygen and nutrients, while also supporting the normal chemical processes performed by the cells. When applied to the scalp and hair, lasers have been said to improve the hair’s overall quality, supporting hair growth, and increasing the diameter of the hair shaft.
According to a research published by NCBI, red light in the wavelength range of 635 to 650 nm has positive effect on hair regrowth.
So, the good news is that a lot of ‘at home’ use red light devices, hair caps are avilable that use the recommended therapeutic technology to restore the most wanted density in your hair!
4. Ease pain with Red Light:
LED light therapy relieves pain.
LEDs have been shown to be effective for the treatment of pain, relief of muscle and joint aches, sprains, and back pain. Red light and infrared light wavelengths penetrate deep into the body easing pain and repairing damaged tissue. Infrared light at 880nm penetrates to a depth of about 30-40 mm which makes it very effective for bones, joints, and deep muscle problems. Red light at 660nm penetrates to a depth of about 8-10mm which makes it beneficial for treating problems closer to the surface of the skin such as wounds, cuts, scars, and infection.
Red light is known to reduce inflammation. Moreover, it boosts circulation as you might have read above and thus help in healing wounds. Whatever the cause of your pain may be, be it injury or age related pain in muscles or bones irradiation with red light causes the pain perceiving nerves to be diminish their activity for sometime, making you feel relieved.
Vasodilation in lymph nodes causes lymphatic drainage, and we know that red light causes this not only in lymph nodes but in blood vessels too. Injuries are often repaired faster due to this effect. For best results you may use both red and infra red light, simultaneously.
You will find this therapy beneficial in treating, and healing:
- Back pain
- Arthritic pain
- Sciatica related pain
- Knee pain
- Post surgical healing
- Sports Injuries
- Pain in neck muscles
- Hamstring pulls
- Muscular stretches
- Plantar fascistis
- Fibromyalgia
- Pain caused to to extreme fatigue in muscles or bones
Most of the doctors and chiropractors are now using this therapy for pain management
5. Red light and Brain Health :
It is not wrong for you to call, red light ‘stroke light’ since it is known to evade ischemic stroke, treat traumatic brain injury, Alzhiemr’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Major depression and alos aid in cognitive enhancement. So now you do not need to depend on drugs called ‘nootropics’ to enhance mental acuity, attention, focus and memory. Light therapy is a sefer and better alternative to any drug taht might cause side effcets in the long run.
Research has recently affirmed that light therapy has the ability to improve cognitive function after traumatic brain injury…..
Now, how does this actually happen?
When red light is shined on the head, the mitochondria in the brain perceive it. It has been shown that there is a brief increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in the mitochondria when they absorb the photons delivered during PBM. CCO( cytochrome C oxidase) that is a respiratory chain enzyme in the mitochindria causes dissociation of NO (Nitric oxide).
The NO that is released by photodissociation acts as a vasodilator as well as a dilator of lymphatic flow. Most authors suggest that the beneficial effects of PBM (Photobiomodulation) on the brain can be explained by increases in cerebral blood flow, greater oxygen availability and oxygen consumption, improved ATP production and mitochondrial activity .
Both Red and infra red light are known to have such effecets. A combination of both should be used. Shining light on the head can be of much more significance that you might hae ever thought.
Any side effects to this therapy?
Red light therapy has virtually no side effects and those which may occur are very manageable and will not last for long.
It is not only extremely beneficial in the fight against aging but does not harm the skin like lasers can. It is safe for all skin types, non-invasive, non-ablative (skin damaging), no downtime, no pain, and simple. The wavelengths gently penetrate and promote healthy skin, tissue and cells without causing any harm. LED light therapy is one of the few non-invasive tools available that can actually reverse the signs of ageing.
To avoid any sort of eye strain or a headache by the glare of the intense light, you should use proper eye protection and avoid staring directly into the beam of light.
Treatment sessions can vary depending on what your goal is… The frequency of usage varies if it is for anti ageing, pain relief, hair regrowth or anything else. Most of the red light devices that are from trustworthy manufacturers come with detailed user manuals, that let you know the proper method of its use. You may talk to your doctor, if the condition you’re addressing is very severe.
And lastly, it is best to use moisturisers to keep your skin hydrated since a little dryness occurs while using repetitive light therapy sessions.
Red light therapy At Home!
There are lots of red light therapy devices that have been developed taking care of safety and ease of usage parameters, to provide professional grade results at home. They include red light masks, red light bulbs, or red light lamps. Each device has its own unique features and benefits that it can offer.
An important thing to note is that: ‘To obtain results with red light therapy, consistency and regular treatments are vital.’ So, you may incur a high cost by running to dermatologists and to saps very often. That brings into the picture, DIY (Do it Yourself) Red light therapy.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We suggest you to wisely choose from among the best at home ‘Red Light Therapy Devices’ that may suit your needs so that you can avail many benefits in the long run without incurring huge costs.
References:
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