Red light therapy has become an increasingly popular treatment in skincare and chronic pain management, and can have a broad range of applications in cancer treatments, wound healing and anti-ageing treatments, to name a few.
As the name suggests, red light therapy involves applying low levels of red light to parts of the body.
Red light, which has a longer wavelength and lower amount of energy than natural daylight, can travel deep into the skin and stimulate mitochondria, the “powerhouses of the cell”.
Research suggests that red light is absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase, a protein inside the mitochondria, which then goes on to stimulate cellular energy production.
Enhanced energy production can improve cell function, and in turn promote healing and blood circulation.
Red light can also be used to treat inflammation, as it reduces inflammatory cytokines, or small proteins that promote inflammation, said Dr Amol Patwardhan, the medical director of the multidisciplinary pain clinic at UT Southwestern in Texas, United States.
Red light therapy’s myriad benefits mean it has a broad range of applications in the wellness and healthcare industries.
Studies dating back to the 1960s have shown that red light therapy can boost hair growth by stimulating hair follicles and bringing more nutrients and oxygen to the scalp through increased blood flow.
A 2013 study from the journal Lasers in Surgery and Medicine showed a 35% increase in hair growth among male patients using a red light therapy helmet every other day for 16 weeks.
The treatment is also popular among skin care aficionados.
According to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, the treatment can increase the production of collagen, a protein that gives skin its plumpness and elasticity.
Red light therapy can also be used to help heal wounds, and reduce redness and inflammation caused by conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis.
It is also a low-cost and accessible treatment option for chronic pain management.
Its anti-inflammatory effects, coupled with increased energy production and blood flow, can make red light therapy an effective treatment for neck and back pain, as well as conditions like arthritis, Dr Patwardhan said.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association, many at-home red light therapy treatments have been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as safe to use.
LED options are considered safer, however, Dr Patwardhan said, as they can reduce the risk of side effects like burns. – By Niamh Ordner/The Dallas Morning News/Tribune News Service
