What is Red Light Therapy (RLT)?

The potential of red light to treat various health and aesthetic issues is just beginning to be recognized thanks to the interest of researchers, universities, and hospitals, as well as home devices that make it more accessible.

"Red light therapy (RLT) is a form of photomedicine, which means 'the use of light to treat skin issues and other health problems,' says Dr. Jared Jagdeo, founder of the Photomedicine Center at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York."

History of red light phototherapy
"There is another term to designate phototherapy: photobiomodulation (abbreviated PBM), explains Praveen Arany, Doctor of Dentistry, Associate Professor at the University of Buffalo and Interim Director of the Photobiomodulation Center of Excellence at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown (West Virginia). Other terms used to refer to it are low-intensity laser therapy (LILT), photo-stimulation, and cold laser therapy," he explains.

Phototherapy has existed for more than 50 years. It was discovered by Hungarian physician Endre Mester in the 1960s, when scientific experiments with red laser on rats caused hair growth and wound healing, according to a research article published in December 2017 in the Journal of Biophotonics. Over the years, light therapy was largely considered a hoax. But with new research (some contradictory), the scientific community is beginning to take notice.
"Currently, red light therapy is still considered unconventional science in the United States. But there are more and more academic and clinical centers applying the technology and making it available to patients," says Dr. Arany.

Currently, there are centers, such as the one at Shepherd University, that are dedicated to training healthcare and scientific professionals on the legitimacy of PBM as a clinical treatment, as well as professional organizations, such as the North American Association of Photobiomodulation Therapy (NAALT) and the PBM Foundation. One of the most popular applications of red light phototherapy is skin care, and the availability of affordable home devices has increased its popularity.

How red light therapy works
Photobiomodulation uses light with a specific wavelength. This is between 400 nanometers (nm) (blue) and 1,200 nm (near-infrared), explains Arany. Red light has a wavelength between 620 and 750 nm, according to the National Center for Atmospheric Research[2]. It is visible light.
"Blue, green, and red light have been effectively used to treat PPE, it claims. Near-infrared light, a light with a longer wavelength (up to 1,200 nm), is also used in PPE and is available in infrared saunas. Although this light appears red, it is actually not visible to the skin. Although this light appears red, infrared light is not visible and heats the body from the inside to trigger physiological changes."

"Red light therapy, in particular, has gained popularity in recent years and is perhaps the most well-known and easily accessible. 'Red light devices are easier to produce and are available everywhere,' says Arany." 

How does it work?
"When photons (particles of light) are placed near the skin, they penetrate the tissue and activate the chromophores (part of a molecule that gives it its color), triggering changes in the cells, according to the American Society for Laser Medicine Surgery. Furthermore, red light therapy also affects the mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cells), generating ATP (energy) to promote healing, according to the PBM Foundation."

For red light phototherapy to work, specific protocols and doses must be used, depending on your health issue. If possible, seek this treatment at a hospital, university, or clinical center. Red light therapy is not recommended in beauty salons or spas.

"Devices with red light can be purchased and used at home for skin care, and they are usually safe if used as directed," says Dr. Jagdeo.

Types of red light therapy
Red light phototherapy devices have red LED lights that are used as portable devices, LED panels, or full-body beds, depending on the reason for treatment. Some devices use both red light and near-infrared light.

Enhance the youthful appearance of the skin
One of the most cited benefits of red light therapy is its effects on the skin. It can be used for:

• Skin reaffirmation (collagen production)
• Acne
• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Hair growth

Therapy for body redness
"Red light therapy reduces inflammation to combat redness, acne, and hair growth, making topical or oral treatments for these conditions even more effective," says Jagdeo. Furthermore, when it comes to eradicating pimples, "red phototherapy boosts our immune defenses against the bacteria associated with acne formation," he adds.

"For lines and wrinkles, these treatments target the enzymes related to collagen degradation and stimulate its production, according to the Cleveland Clinic."