What if I told you there was a way to slow down aging, stimulate collagen, and heal acne scars naturally? Would you be jumping up and down? And the best part? It doesn’t cost a lot of money or take much time. You don’t even have to leave home. Here are 5 therapeutic red light therapy benefits.
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Does Red Light Therapy Work?
Also, called red lamp therapy or infrared light therapy, red lights are effective because of their ability to penetrate the skin up to a depth of 10 mm. Visible red light encompasses wavelengths in the range of 620-700 mm. All light in this range is healing.
When this therapeutic light is absorbed into the body, it is converted to energy every cell can use. This energy stimulates healing, improves circulation, and reduces inflammation. Not only does red light therapy increase energy production, it stimulates the lymphatics, boosting detoxification, which has never been more imperative than in today’s stress-crazed society with our harried lifestyles, and toxic environment.
Red lights are easy to use, last a long time, are environmentally friendly, and are convenient to take when traveling. Many studies have been conducted showing the beneficial effects of infrared light, and there are virtually no side effects. In fact, NASA has used this all-natural therapy for wound healing.
What Does A Red Light Therapy Session Look Like?
You’ll love how relaxing these sessions are. Shine the red light on your face for up to 15 to 20 minutes at a time. Do this daily until you see positive changes in your skin. You can then cut back to two to three times a week. You’ll start to notice significant changes after two to three months.
Position the light a few inches from your face, and use this time to relax. No down time is required after a treatment, and you can proceed with your regular skin care routine.
You can buy various fancy red light devices, including hand-held devices and masks, but the most cost effective bulbs are available at any hardware store. You can grab red lights here. You’ll also need a clamp lamp to use as a base for your bulb.
Red Light Therapy Benefits
Red light, not only benefits the skin, but also reduces pain, prevents hair loss, treats nasal congestion, and is even used in the treatment of diabetes and Alzheimer’s because of its ability to significantly increase blood flow to the brain and other tissues.
Check out this red light therapy panel
Ways red light is used cosmetically to benefit the skin:
1. Stimulates Collagen
When it comes to skin health and aging, collagen is key. And so are fibroblasts and elastin. Red light therapy stimulates all three. Collagen is what keeps you skin plump, firm, and young looking, elastin is a protein that gives resiliency to the skin, and fibroblasts are connective tissue cells that produce collagen.
This amazing, noninvasive, drug-free therapy stimulates the production of these connective tissue proteins that are responsible for keeping the skin healthy, vibrant, and wrinkle free. Red light is also responsible for releasing cytokines. These immune system chemicals further stimulate collagen.
2. Slows Down Aging
Red light therapy is anti-aging. It’s helps the skin to retain its moisture, giving the complexion a radiant, healthy glow. Infrared light is also great for smoothing and evening out skin tone and texture. The improved levels of collagen decrease eye bags, crow’s feet, laugh lines, and those pesky forehead wrinkles.
And as we’ll talk about in number 5, red light stimulates metabolism and ATP production, promoting a youthful look, while improving many other metabolic processes in the body that slow down aging.
Use red light consistently. You won’t notice a difference in just a couple of weeks, but you will notice beneficial changes over months of use. Red light therapy relieves stress, promoting relaxation and restoration, while slowing the aging process.
3. Healing Acne Scars Naturally
Red light prevents and treats acne, while accelerating the healing of scars left from acne flairs. Acne is caused by the acne vulgaris bacteria.
These bacterium are particularly sensitive to blue and red light as the increase in body temperature helps eliminate the bacteria responsible for acne. Light in the infrared wavelength reduces swelling, accelerating the healing window.
Light therapy is effective for healing acne scars because it stimulates the dermal layers in the skin, increasing collagen. The more collagen you have, the less noticeable the scarring will be.
Those with skin conditions like rosacea, eczema, and psoriasis will find enormous benefits from this type of therapy. These uncomfortable and irritating skin conditions are soothed and healed by the anti-inflammatory effects of infrared light, which greatly decrease the itching, burning, and stinging characterizing this condition. Red light also repairs damage caused by the sun, diminishing scars and stretch marks.
4. Chronic Wound Healing
Burns, bruises, bug bits, cuts, and scrapes can all be stimulated to heal quicker with red light. Infrared light, not only reduces pain, but the increased circulation delivers additional oxygen and life-giving nutrients to the cells of the skin.
Red light keeps the skin pliable, causing wounds to heal faster with less chance of scarring. Fibroblasts increase when exposed to red light, promoting wound healing through collagen production.
While gyms, spas, dermatologists and alternative medical practitioners offer red light therapy, it’s far more economical and more effective to perform it yourself at home because you’ll be more consistent, this type of therapy being cumulative in nature.
5. Mitochondria And ATP
If you remember high school biology, cellular mitochondria produce ATP. ATP is the energy currency of the human body. Cellular mitochondria are highly capable of absorbing red light, increasing metabolism and energy production throughout the entire body, but particularly in the skin. Energy is required for healing and detoxification to occur so more energy equates to enhanced repair and rejuvenation.
Red light fuels these mitochondrial energy powerhouses to produce more ATP, leading to a host of beneficial processes. This additional energy promotes the natural healing mechanisms inherent in the skin to carry out their functions more effectively. Infrared light is safe to use on babies and children.
Collagen Red Light Therapy
As you can see, red light therapy could accurately be referred to as collagen red light therapy because many of its advantageous effects are the result of collagen synthesis.
Key Points
I have used red light therapy for years. It’s proven to be safe and effective, and is FDA approved. It’s healing, soothing, and restorative.
Slow aging, boost collagen, and create more energy in the body with red light. You’ll love it! It’s convenient, inexpensive, and it works!
Have you used red light therapy? Would you like to try it? Let me know in the comments):
Hi! Oh, this sounds so good. It’s really the first time I read about the effect of red light on our body. And it’s so interesting!
I agree with you, better than going to a gym or a spa is to perform this red light therapy ourselves at home. It’s also nice to know that besides being effective it’s also safe. Thank you very much for this post!
Hi Henry,
The warmth that red light emits is very soothing. Not only is heat in the infrared wavelength comforting, but it’s also therapeutic. The best part is the lights are affordable and you can enjoy them in your own home. You can use single bulbs by themselves, construct a sauna out of several bulbs, or buy standing lights.
Thank you!
Hey Holly, excellent post. I never knew such a therapeutic solution existed, and it really gave me something to think about regarding natural healing. I like reading posts like this because I’ve always been invested in natural home healing remedies and things that don’t cost a lot of money to buy, especially if you can come across them naturally. If red light therapy slows down aging, that’s awesome. I look forward to your next article.
Thank you R.J.,
Red light therapy is one of my favorite therapies I can do from home. There are so many benefits, plus it just feels good. Give it a try! Thanks for reading!
Wow, I have to say I had no idea the therapeutic effects of using infrared light on the skin! Thank you for such an informative post on this because I believe it is beneficial to both men and women. Is the one infrared bulb enough, or is that just for the face? Would I need to get the whole infrared light panel?
Robert
Hi Robert,
Red light is pretty amazing, isn’t it? It helps a variety of conditions. You can use a single bulb for your face or for a sore joint, for instance. I’ve used it to heal an infection on my leg and for headaches. You don’t want to shine it on your head for longer than ten minutes, however.
If you can afford it, the red light panel would be very therapeutic, depending on what you’re treating. If you’re handy, you can also make an infrared sauna using several of the infrared bulbs. Start with one of the single bulbs to see how you like it. The light is warm and soothing!
WOW!!! I love this great article very educational. When this therapeutic light is absorbed into the body, it is converted to energy every cell can use. This energy stimulates healing, improves circulation, and reduces inflammation.
Great points, energy certainly does that. I was surprised to hear that red light causes wounds to heal faster with less chance of scarring. Red light sounds awesome. Thank you.
Hello,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, red light is therapeutic. I’ve used it to reduce inflammation from an infection on my leg. I also use it a few times a week cosmetically. Give it a try. It’s calming and soothing!
Thanks for providing this great option. This is a great opportunity for people looking for a way to bring back their self esteem by looking younger and growing their hair. For red light to cure Alzheimer’s, eczema, aging, or hair loss, it make it look like it’s a multi-purpose therapy. I hope it works as well as your claims. Do you have idea about the price?
Hi Stella.
Thanks for reading my post on red light therapy. It’s a great option for people suffering from a variety of conditions. I use it weekly to stimulate collagen and have used it for sore joints, headaches, and infections. It’s amazing at reducing inflammation.
Red light therapy is affordable and it only takes a few minutes a day. Prices range from the cost of an infrared bulb for under $20.00 up to several hundred dollars for free-standing lights.