Your health and wellness directly affect your ability to thrive. Of course, we all want to live our best lives! The wellness market has taken note, offering plenty of tools to help us get there. Some have focused on light therapy as a health modality. Dozens of personal light therapy products have become popular options, including light therapy wands, blankets, masks, and saunas, of course. Red Light therapy has become particularly popular as a wellness treatment. While each type of light therapy has varying levels of benefits, we’re here to share the 4 key benefits of Red Light therapy.
First, let’s define light therapy.
What Is Light Therapy?
Light therapy, also called bright light therapy or phototherapy, is a natural healing method for certain conditions and issues within the human body. One type of light therapy is sun exposure or similar light, like a sun lamp. The second type is more controlled and comes from a specifically designed heat source. This includes light panels, light wands, and even infrared saunas via specialized heaters.
Much like plants that use the sun’s energy for photosynthesis, humans use the energy of sunlight, or similar types of light to create energy. When skin is exposed to a certain light, it kickstarts cellular interactions within the body and causes positive changes. This includes increased circulation, wound healing, and enhanced appearance and mood.
Even though we can’t see what’s happening, internal interactions are working hard to help heal and repair. Lack of sunlight in particular can cause a host of cognitive issues and lead to other health problems.
So, let’s compare and contrast red light and infrared light therapy.
Red Light Therapy vs Infrared Light Therapy
Red light therapy, often called low-power laser therapy (LPLT), photobiomodulation (PBM), or low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is easily explained. According to Cleveland Medical Clinic it’s “a treatment that uses low wavelength red light to improve skin’s appearance. This includes reducing wrinkles, scars, redness, and acne. It’s also used to treat other medical conditions.”
Medical clinics frequently offer red light therapy, also referred to as near-infrared light, as a holistic, less invasive skin treatment. Be aware that tanning booths are not considered part of the red light grouping. Rather they emit UV rays that could damage the skin and the cells, while red light does not.
On the other hand, infrared light waves, unlike red light, are invisible to the naked eye. However, you can feel them via heat generated. Infrared light is also naturally generated by the sun. However, you can gain the benefits of infrared from saunas and other sources without risking skin damage that comes from the sun’s UV rays.
Infrared saunas are one option for light therapy and can provide near-, mid-, and far-infrared lighting. As one skin specialist puts it, “Using a sauna is essentially a form of exercise for your skin.” It’s important to know exactly what to look for in a sauna and whether it includes the entire spectrum of infrared lighting. Health Mate saunas feature low-emf, nonharmful infrared, and our full spectrum saunas include all 3 levels of infrared light, from near to far.
Mid and far-infrared light therapy are especially helpful if you experience acute or chronic pain, muscle issues, and circulation problems. Because it penetrates deep below the skin layers, it provides a greater range of healing from the inside. The penetration ultimately increases blood flow and stimulates cellular change, which helps to repair injuries or bodily trauma.
For now, let’s dive into the benefits of near-infrared or Red Light therapy.
4 Main Benefits Of Red Light
Both red light therapy and infrared light therapy offer valuable health benefits. While studies and clinical research are ongoing, reports continue to be released on the positive outcomes of these two kinds of therapies. Red Light is especially conducive to skin enhancements and healing.
Red light is helpful for:
- Reducing wrinkles – A study done over 4 months concluded that “RLT (red light therapy) and ELT (energizing light therapy) can extend the spectrum of anti-aging treatment options available to patients looking for mild and pleasant light-only skin rejuvenation.”
- Healing scars and wounds – Red light is a confirmed noninvasive treatment considered “a promising drug-free approach for promoting wound healing” as reported in a 2016 Photodermatology Society review. As mentioned in the report, this treatment may reduce the cost of hospitalization and help avoid more extreme medical procedures and complications.
- Increasing melatonin production – Melatonin is essential in signaling your body it’s time to sleep. This hormone can be affected by many outside influences, including diet, digital device exposure, and geography. However, small studies have been done under varied circumstances that show favorable results for red light’s positive influence on natural melatonin production.
- Enhancing eye health – The use of red light and near-infrared light is promising in treatments for myopia, including optic issues with retinal damage, cataracts, and macular degeneration, again with no side effects.
Chromotherapy or color therapy, emitted via LED panels can generate a high enough level of red light to produce multiple health benefits. Results will vary based on the amount of time and frequency spent with any type of treatment or exposure.
So, that brings us to our next topic, which is safety concerns.
Risks Or Side Effects
As with any type of procedure or treatment, complications can occur with overexposure or misuse. Ultimately, you should always follow any medical or product guidelines to ensure you are exposing yourself within proper timelines and at safe temperatures. Always be aware of potential medical reactions based on your existing health condition.
Studies and findings are still being reported, so we’re continually updating new outcomes in order to ensure the well-being of our customers and potential customers. Overall, we are learning that red light and light therapy in general are non-invasive and produce no side effects when used correctly.
The Bottom Line
Ultimately, using red light therapy, near-infrared, or chromotherapy is a safe, effective way to improve your complexion and more. If you follow your medical practitioner’s advice or product guidelines, the many benefits can be yours.
The great news? Health Mate offers saunas that provide both red light and infrared through its full-spectrum saunas. Health Mate has been the industry leader in manufacturing award-winning saunas for over 40 years. Feel free to contact us for details regarding pricing and how to order.