Therapeutic Benefits Of Red Light Therapy Bed
Red Light Therapy works as as a full body treatment as it penetrates deep into your skin cells and mitochondria, jump-starting the regeneration process. By using Red Light Therapy, you can biohack your body to look and feel younger. The benefits of Red Light Therapy are many, but here are some of our favorites:
- Improves health at cellular level
- Improves wound healing & facial skin texture
- Improves sun-damaged skin
- Prevents hair loss & improves hair growth
- Improves melatonin & collagen production
- Reduces stretch marks and scars
- Reduces wrinkles, fine lines and age spots
- Reduces inflammation & acne
- Reduces psoriasis, rosacea and eczema
- Has a relaxing effect
Improves Elasticity Of Collagen Fibres
Red light therapy at certain wavelengths is thought to stimulate the productions of collagen and elastin fibers, as well as the creation of new capillaries. A greater number of capillaries within the skin will improve blood flow to the skin tissues and therefore the transportation of oxygen and nutrients to the cells, while the extra collagen and elastin will smooth and plump-out the skin. This can slow and reduce the effects of aging on the skin, giving a more youthful appearance.
How Red Light Therapy Works
Photobiomodulation utilizes light within specific wavelengths. This is between 400 nanometers up to 1,200 nm , says Arany. Red light has wavelengths between 620 to 750 nm, according to the National Center for Atmospheric Research. This is visible light.
Blue, green, and red light have all been effectively used for PBM treatment, he says. Near-infrared light, which is a longer wavelength light , is also used in PBM and is available in infrared saunas. While this light may appear red, in reality infrared light is not visible, and instead heats the body from within to drive physiological changes.
Red light therapy, in particular, has grown in popularity in recent years and is perhaps the best known and easiest to access. Red light devices are easier to manufacture and are widely available, Arany says.
So how does it work? When photons are placed near the skin they enter tissues and activate chromophores , which triggers changes in cells, according to the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery. In addition, red light therapy also affects the mitochondria , generating ATP to promote healing, notes the PBM Foundation.
For red light therapy to work, specific protocols and dosages have to be used, depending on your health issue, which is why a knowledgeable practitioner is so important, says Arany. If possible, seek out this treatment from a hospital, university, or clinical setting. He recommends against red light therapy from salons or spas.
Also Check: Is Proton Therapy Better Than Radiation
Who May Want To Try Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy is designed as a supportive treatment. Meaning: Its unlikely that red light therapy will be the only treatment you use to address a health or skin-care problem. For instance, along with red light, you may also use a topical for acne or fine lines, notes Jagdeo.
If you are pregnant, you should avoid red light therapy, says Arany. And if you are treating a specific medical condition, get the okay from your doctor first.
Are Red Light Therapy Beds Worth It
Regular use of a red light therapy bed improves the look, feel and quality of your skin. However, because this therapy requires frequent use to be effective, visiting a tanning salon multiple times a week might not fit your budget or your schedule.
If youre primarily interested in treating only your face, undergoing sessions at a dermatologist or purchasing your own panel for at-home use may be more cost-effective than using a full-body bed.
Recommended Reading: Language Goals For Speech Therapy
Are These Benefits Backed By Science
Diverse studies have firmly established the healing potential of specific wavelengths of light.
Light that falls within the wavelength range of 650850 nm is particularly beneficial, with this range referred to as the therapeutic window. LED red light therapy beds emit light within this wavelength range.
In one scientific study, researchers found that LED red light therapy offered therapeutic benefits from head to toe, improving skin tone and reducing the appearance of wrinkles.
Another study on light therapy demonstrated outcomes of decreased pain and enhanced wound healing.
Researchers have also found that red LED light can be used to significantly accelerate patient healing following blepharoplasty and ablative laser resurfacing.
Concerns Of Red Light Therapy
But what, if any, are the concerns you should be aware of when seeking anti-agingskin benefits or other health improvements from RLT? While many researchers have known about the incredible effects of red light therapy for quite some time, in-depth studies are still limited. With an impressive list of health benefits from use, there are still on-going studies comparing RLT to alternative methods in each instance.
There is also a lack of concrete guidelines to follow. Some professionals suggest five minutes per session, while others prefer twenty minutes or more. A common suggestion of three days a week is a typical practice, while other recommendations vary. You may find tips of use from eight to twelve weeks, while many studies follow a twenty-four-week guideline.
Its important to note that too much red light may irritate or damage skin tissue, while not enough may not yield the results you desire. You must also use care when under an in-home red light. Relaxing it may be, but falling asleep leads to too much exposure and the risk of burns.
Its hard to deny the incredible list of benefits red light therapy has to offer our bodies, both inside and out. With proper research and careful use, red light therapy may just be a worthwhile addition to your health and beauty routine. Find out more on how tofight inflammation, create healthy habits, and reward yourself with anti-agingskin benefits.
Keep Positive and Stay Healthy!
Recommended Reading: How Do I Know If My Insurance Covers Therapy
Benefits Of Red Light Therapy For Meth Addiction
Red light therapy produces multiple advantages for individuals living with a meth addiction by enhancing cellular performance. These advantages include:
- Rejuvenated Skin: Red light therapy helps make skin healthier and look better by providing skin cells with more energy. This can boost meth users self-confidence and make them feel and even look better than ever.
Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Opioid Addiction
- Increase in Cellular Energy: Red light therapy sessions aid in increasing cellular energy by penetrating the skin. As skin cell energy increases, those who partake in red light therapy notice an increase in their overall energy. A higher energy level might help those battling opioid addictions maintain their sobriety, as well.
- Better Rest: Many individuals in recovery who find it difficult to fall asleep suffer from sleep deprivation. Red light therapy, on the other hand, can help reinforce the brains association between waking hours and non-waking hours, aiding many who engage in it to sleep at night and getting better sleep.
Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Cocaine Addiction
Benefits of Red Light Therapy for PTSD
Although talk therapy or drugs are usually used to treat mental health issues like PTSD, other effective methods and therapies exist. Red light therapy is one of the most unusual but effective options when it comes to treating PTSD.
Benefits of Red Light Therapy for Anxiety and Depression
Non-Addiction Related Benefits of RLT:
Holistic Benefits Of Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy may be an amazing complementary modality for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and a tool to improve sports performance, but the therapeutic benefits for overall wellness are many.
Oxidative stress is the primary imbalance in the bodys inability to detoxify against the harmful effects of free radicals. It is the underlying factor in aging and most disease and degenerative conditions. With collagen as the main component of the skin, the non-toxic therapy stimulates collagen production and increases antioxidants, thereby assisting in regenerative wound healing, skin elasticity, and the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as psoriasis.
LightStim is FDA cleared to treat wrinkles on your forehead, crows feet, cheeks, nasolabial folds, jawline and lips to nourish the skin from the inside to maintain your skins youthful appearance.
The beneficial effects of red light therapy can also enhance cognitive processes. Studies have indicated that it helps to release certain brain compounds that positively improve the mood. Research has also shown that photobiomodulation can activate melatonin to improve sleep quality and duration.
Overall, Photobiomodulation Red Light Therapy displaces the oxidative stress and triggers a positive downstream cascading effect to activate to the bodys natural cellular repair to normalize its capacity to heal.
Don’t Miss: Physical Therapy Exercises For Tmj
Red Light Therapy Beds: A Beginners Guide
The use of light treatments like red light therapy beds to aid healing has been employed in a variety of forms since the late 1800s. In 1896, Danish physician Niels Rhyberg Finsen developed the first light therapy for a particular type of skin tuberculosis as well as smallpox.
Then, red light therapy was used in the 1990s to help scientists grow plants in outer space. Researchers found that intense light emitted by red light-emitting diodes helped promote plant growth as well as photosynthesis. After this discovery, red light was studied for its potential application in medicine, specifically to see if red light therapy could increase energy inside human cells. Scientists hoped that red light could be an effective way to treat the muscle atrophy muscle deterioration due to lack of movement whether due to injury or lack of physical activity as well as to slow wound healing and help with bone density issues caused by weightlessness during space travel.
Researchers have since found many used for red light therapy. Stretch marks and wrinkles are said to be reduced by red light beds found at beauty salons. Red light therapy used in a medical office may be utilized to treat psoriasis, slow-healing wounds, and even some of the side effects of chemotherapy.
Are There Any Side Effects Or Drawbacks To It
As with any beauty or wellness program, its best to do your homework and check in with your doctor to make sure RLT is safe and effective for you. But generally speaking, there are little to no known risks tied to it. Red light therapy is relatively safe to use, as it does not contain any UV rays, said Vanessa Coppola, FNP-BC, a board-certified nurse practitioner, aesthetic specialist, and Owner of Bare Aesthetic Medical Spa. Although many studies have indicated the potential for benefits of red light therapy, the current literature is lacking in conclusive evidence for its benefits. Bottom line, it appears relatively safe to use, it may help, but there is no current hard evidence that it actually does.
Danaher added that people on Accutane and other medications that can make the skin photosensitive should avoid RLT. Additionally, RLT should not be used in the case of pregnancy, heart disease, melasma, or hyperpigmentation.
Recommended Reading: What Is Monoclonal Antibody Therapy
Is Pulsed Light Legit
Some LED therapy beds feature pulsed light. This is absolutely unnecessary and, in fact, it reduces therapy time by decreasing the number of light photons that can reach your cells.
Pulsed light is only useful in the case of certain types of lasers which need the off-time to prevent heating tissue to the point of damaging it.
LEDs do not generate tissue-damaging heat, and therefore pulsed light in red light therapy beds is unfortunately a marketing gimmick.
Types Of Red Light Therapy
There are a few different ways that you can treat yourself with red light therapy. Some salons offer a tanning bed-style red light therapy machine, which looks very similar to a sunbed. However, the red light therapy beds do not release dangerous ultraviolet radiation as sunbeds do.
The most convenient way to treat yourself with red light therapy though is at home. Many kits can be bought for home use. Some kits are designed for use specifically on the face and come in the form of a facial mask, while others are hand-held devices that you hold onto your body, and others are larger screens that can treat larger areas such as the back or chest.
Another way that red light therapy can differ is the actual light used. Often nowadays, LEDs are used, but low-energy lasers can also be used. The light produced can vary between machines, with different wavelengths being emitted, such as infrared light. Different wavelengths can affect different symptoms differently, so it is good to find out which wavelength is best suited to treat your condition.
Is It Safe To Use Red Light Therapy Every Day? Click here to learn more.
Also Check: Pennsylvania Board Of Physical Therapy
What Is Red Light Therapy Used For
Red light therapy is used to treat injuries, reduce pain, relax muscles/joints, and increase blood circulation. It is typically used by doctors, physical therapists, and pain clinics as a highly effective non-invasive treatment with no known side effects. It also used by professional athletes to improve performance and reduce the incidence of injuries.
Convenient Size For An Rlt Panel
Panels are smaller than a light therapy bed. You can easily slide a panel under a bed or put it in a closet when not in use. The smallest panel in the lineup, the BIOMAX 300, is perfect for facial rejuvenation, targeted conditions like hair regrowth and carpal tunnel syndrome, and best of all, its small enough for travel.
Also Check: Joico K Pak Color Therapy
Assists Sports Injury Rehabilitation
Being sidelined by an injury is extremely tough mentally and physically, but red light therapy may help you get back on your feet. Red light can be used to improve skeletal muscle performance, reduce pain, and improve recovery from injury, says Arany. The authors of a review published in December 2021 in the journal Life noted that PBM might be used in both rehab of sports injuries, and to enhance sports performance, though more research is needed.
The Benefits Of Near Infrared Light
Near-infrared waves between 810 and 850 nm are used to address conditions deeper in the body including joint pain, neuropathy, and muscle recovery after exercise.
Most notably, NIR is used to reduce inflammation deeper in the body which could be causing poor collagen production as well as a variety of skin diseases.
If you use an LED bed for skin rejuvenation, you could get therapeutic results with red light alone. However, since inflammation is the main cause of skin disorders ranging from accelerated signs of aging to rosacea, red and NIR light could prove a better therapeutic combination.
The boosted collagen production caused by Red light treatment invigorates the skin with increased blood circulation, while NIR waves address underlying inflammation, supporting the bodys healing process.
When using LED bed treatment for muscle recovery or for widespread healing, patients often supplement this with near-infrared treatment for deeper absorption.
Read Also: Elena Is Attending Mandatory Therapy Sessions
Quality Of The Product
Quality is not something to overlook when it comes to tools, supplements, and devices designed for the human body.
As such, the rise of trying red light therapy at home made the market vulnerable to products that were produced for the sole purpose of cashing in on the trend. To prevent buying a fake or unsafe red light therapy device, always be on the lookout for standards or certificates that attest to the devices authenticity and safety.
Standards to look out for include those relating to the safety of the parts used and those that refer to light calibration.
Risks And Side Effects
Is red light therapy dangerous? Although low-level laser light therapy seems to be very well-tolerated and unlikely to cause side effects, it still remains controversial whether it can help all patients. One difficulty that researchers have had gathering results from studies on red light therapy is pinpointing which light ranges are optimal for treating different health conditions and different patients.
Certain published study results have found that RLT can cause negative reactions when an inappropriate choice of light source or an inappropriate dosage is used. There is an optimal dose of light for any particular application, and in the case of red light therapy, often lower doses are found to be more effective than higher doses.
What are the side effects of red light therapy? These can possibly include burning, swelling, dizziness, muscle weakness or nausea.
Keep in mind that seeing results from red light treatments might take patience and that responsiveness is expected to vary. Be sure to work with a qualified PBM practitioner whenever receiving treatments and report any side effects.
Don’t Miss: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Certificate Course 3 Day Intensive Training
Types Of Red Light Therapy Beds
There are a lot of different quality and price ranges for red light therapy beds on the market. They are not considered medical devices and anyone may purchase them for commercial or home use.
Knoxville Recovery Center Can Help
Fortunately, help is available for those battling addiction and/or mental health issues. Knoxville Recovery Center offers various services, including red light bed therapy, to those struggling in any stage of addiction or mental illness.
Services offered:
Detox Our on-site detox clinic accommodates and supports clients as the body sheds all residual traces of addictive substances. Clients are under medical supervision during the detox process to ensure that they remain safe and comfortable.
Addiction Treatment During our addiction treatment program, clients will engage in introductory therapies and exercises that work to preparethem for continued, more intensive treatment outside of our facility. The goal of our addiction treatment track is to stabilize clients so that they are treatment-ready.
Mental Health Treatment Our mental health treatment program introduces behavioral therapies rooted in self-expression and holistic exercise. Art therapy, music therapy, and yoga are just a few forms of therapy we offer at the center. Our goal is to help the client reclaim their voice and expose them to treatment within a professional facility.
If you feel that you or a loved one is struggling and needs help, our specialists are on standby and ready to help. Call Knoxville Recovery Centerand speak with an expert today.
Also Check: I Can’t Afford Therapy