The Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Melissa Martin, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Certified Pilates Instructor |

You may have noticed therapeutic red-light devices popping up in the health, wellness, and beauty spaces, and even some people investing in units for their home. As an avid user myself, I find that everyone I talk to who uses one does so for different reasons. You may be skeptical and think it’s the next gimmick or fad, but it may be just the relief you’ve been looking for.

I first learned about red light therapy from my naturopath in Phoenix, Arizona. She specializes in this therapy after seeing many success stories in her busy clinic. I purchased a medical grade red light device for my home, and she told me to use it for 15 minutes every other day, that based on the research, this was the most effective way to use it. I started noticing that pain flares were immediately tamed and was even getting better relief than with over-the-counter medications. The results were there after just 15 minutes of use. I also started seeing red light therapy being offered when I got a facial and my esthetician raving about how amazing it was for skin health and anti-aging. And most recently, I used the red light again while healing from a c-section. I found out a lot of people use red light therapy post-op to help their body and tissues heal.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy is a type of light therapy called photobiomodulation or low-level laser therapy. It uses the same wavelengths of light you would get from the sun, only without the heat or UV rays that can cause skin damage. It also helps to mitigate and off-set the blue light we are overly exposed to during the day, which in turn helps us sleep better at night and regulate our day-night wake cycles. Red light stimulates our mitochondria, the powerhouse of our cells, which results in an increase of energy, from the cellular level, cellular repair and healing, as well as reducing oxidative stress. Due to this effect, red light users can experience a wide variety of benefits.

Some users report the following benefits:

  • Skin health for various conditions, such as rosacea and eczema.
  • Anti-aging
  • Wound healing
  • Tissue healing 
  • Resetting circadian rhythm
  • Improved sleep
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Chronic and acute pain
  • Workout recovery
  • Healing from injuries and surgery
  • Improved athletic performance and recovery (even used by professional athletes, such as the San Francisco 49ers).

 

If you are interested in experiencing the benefits of red-light therapy for yourself, whether for health or beauty purposes, you can find a health or wellness location near you that offers this service or purchase a medical grade device like I did, my personal favorite being Joovv. As always, this is not medical advice, and it is always advised to consult with your doctor about your personal situation. Happy red lighting!