5 Reasons to Consider Trying Red Light Therapy

A woman holding a red light device up to her face

You might’ve recently heard of red light therapy (RLT) and all of the potential benefits that come with it. You might’ve thought it sounded too good to be true. I mean, treating multiple cosmetic and medical issues all with the flick of a switch and some relaxation time? That would get anyone’s alarm bells ringing. Not to mention the apparent lack of any downside. So it is all true? Or is it another health fad with little evidence to show for it?

Red light therapy is legit and there’s evidence to back it up. 

For those who haven’t heard of this incredible therapy, here’s how red light therapy works. Its a near-infrared light that stimulates your cells to become more efficient and productive, allowing for more production of collagen, elastin, and fibroblasts. It even increases the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which in the source of energy for all the cells in your body. When the red light is exposed to your body’s cells, various regenerative effects synchronize to provide a slew of health benefits. 

If learning all of that didn’t make you want to try out RLT, here are 5 reasons why you should try red light therapy:

1. Muscle Repair and Recovery

If you’re an athlete, or maybe just someone who knows their way around a gym, you can probably benefit from RLT. Evidence shows that sessions both before and after workouts can be beneficial. A study found that red light therapy gave athletes less strength loss, less soreness, and fewer range-of-motion impairments. Another study found that the treatment reduces knee muscle fatigue.

2. Healthier Skin

One of its most well known benefits, RLT can help to improve various skin issues, like acne. You wouldn’t want to completely replace your skincare routine or dermatologist prescribed creams but red light therapy can be a great addition to your existing acne treatment regimen. RLT’s anti-inflammatory, decreased oil production and bacterial levels allow for its skin-clearing effects.

3. Pain Relief

One of the most noticeable effects for those who try RLT is the reduction of inflammation and pain. Researchers have found that red light therapy can help with knee pain, back pain, arthritis, and osteoarthritis. This form of treatment is even approved by the FDA for treating minors pains and arthritis.

4. Anti-aging

If you put some of the effects we’ve already talked about together, it’s no wonder that RLT is seen to have anti-aging effects. A study found that red light therapy patients experienced a significant improve in the complexion of their skin and saw an increase in the production of collagen. 

5. No Side Effects

This may be one of the biggest benefits of RLT. Its a 100% safe, non-invasive treatment that doesn’t leave any negative effects on the skin or within the cells of your tissue. Unlike other forms of treatment, red light therapy uses completely harmless near-infrared light.