While red light therapy is an excellent tool for treating external aesthetic issues such as aging skin, hair loss, and acne, near-infrared light therapy can benefit the entire body far beyond the deeper layers of the skin. Many people don't realize how effective infrared light therapy can be for treating painful injuries. Whether you suffer from arthritis pain, ankle sprains, muscle strains, or injuries to your knees, wrists, or back, infrared light therapy can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain. With 20% of adults in the U.S. suffering from chronic pain, pain can not only be debilitating, but also a nuisance in everyday life.
What is infrared (IR) light therapy?
Infrared (IR) light therapy is a treatment that helps the skin, muscle tissue and other parts of the body heal. It is thought to work by increasing the production of mitochondria, which are the energy source of cells. This may improve cell function and repair. Infrared light has been clinically proven to penetrate deep below the surface of the skin to link muscle and joint pain at its source, providing much needed pain relief for people suffering from inflammation, arthritis or other types of injury.
How does Red Light Therapy work?
In red light therapy, you expose your skin to a lamp, device or laser with a red light. It uses LEDs (light-emitting diodes) that emit the correct spectrum of light. Red LED light penetrates deeper into the skin than blue LED light, which is sometimes used to treat surface skin conditions such as acne. When light enters the skin, it increases circulation, accelerates tissue repair, relieves muscle pain, eases joint stiffness and enhances overall cellular performance on a microscopic level. Your mitochondria absorb the light and produce more energy, which helps your cells repair themselves. Just as a cell phone charger increases the power of your phone's battery, red light therapy increases cellular energy and promotes healing of muscles or injured tissue.
Red light therapy uses very low heat and will not harm or burn your skin. Unlike the light used in tanning booths, it does not expose your skin to harmful UV rays.
What are the benefits of red light therapy?
Research on the benefits of red light therapy is ongoing. While more research needs to be done, there is evidence that it may be useful for a wide range of health and beauty concerns.
Red light therapy for dementia
A review of studies in 2021 found that red light therapy was beneficial for people with dementia. In one of the studies, five people with dementia had better memories, slept better, and got angry less often after 12 weeks of regular light therapy on the head and nose.
Red light therapy for pain
Research suggests that red light therapy may help relieve certain types of pain, especially pain caused by inflammation. A study of 11 studies examining the effects of red light therapy on pain found that patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD) experienced a reduction in pain, clicking, and jaw pressure after receiving red light therapy.
Red Light Therapy for Arthritis
Red light therapy may help relieve pain and morning stiffness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and is an effective short-term treatment. However, it doesn't seem to help much with other forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis.
Red light therapy for hair loss
A review of several studies found that red light therapy can be an effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia, a genetic disorder that causes hair loss. Another review of 11 studies found similar encouraging results. In some studies, hair thickness and growth improved.