Red Light Therapy-What's All The Hype About?

Contributed by: Kelley Rast, Physical Therapist and Hive Overland Park member

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Red Light Therapy (RLT) has gained popularity in recent years as a non-invasive treatment for various conditions. This therapy, also known as photobiomodulation, involves exposing your skin to low-level red and near-infrared light to promote healing and reduce inflammation.

There are multiple types of red light therapy:

LED: Has the shortest wavelength so it is used for treating the surface of the skin.

Near-infrared: Penetrates deeper into tissues than red light and can reach joints, muscles, and bones. 

(There are other types of full- spectrum infrared therapies which contain deeper penetrating wavelengths - I'll leave this discussion for another blog post.)

A few key benefits of RLT:

• Skin Health: RLT can penetrate your skin at the cellular level to stimulate collagen production, which gives skin its structure, strength and elasticity. It can also increase blood circulation to the tissue and reduce inflammation in skin cells making RLT a popular treatment for acne, fine lines, psoriasis, pigmentation and other skin conditions.

• Mood Enhancement: RLT has been shown to have mood enhancing effects by reducing symptoms of depression and seasonal affective disorders. It can also improve sleep quality and duration.

• Muscle Recovery: RLT can improve sports performance and speed up recovery from muscle strain. It has also been found to reduce joint pain due to inflammation and enhance blood flow to damaged tissues.

As the popularity of RLT has grown, so has the commercial industry that provides RLT as a therapy service or a product you can buy for use at home. RLT treatment centers typically offer red light beds that you lay in for 12-20 minutes (several times a week) and are generally recommended for more powerful treatments than at-home options.

However, if you want to experience RLT in the comfort of your own home, there are many affordable options to choose from in the form of mats, stands and masks. When using these products it is recommended that your skin is clean and you are positioned 6-12” from the light source. Masks are designed to be placed right on the skin. Using these devices 3 to 5 times a week will lend to best results and it may take up to a month to see results.

As for any personnel at-home product it's best to do your research and follow instructions on any product purchased. When being treated for any medical conditions or concerns it is best to consult with a medical professional too. Happy Red Lighting!!