Skin care, skin regeneration, muscle repair, fighting seasonal depression: we hear more and more about red light phototherapy and its possible beneficial effects.
But what is really going on? What are the real effects of red light therapy? How does it work? Let's take a closer look!
Red light, near-infrared light, infrared: what's the difference?
A quick reminder about natural light and the different colors that make it up: each color corresponds to a wavelength in the visible and non-visible spectrum.
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👾 Ultraviolet: between 100 and 380 nanometers, they are part of the non-visible spectrum
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🔵 Blue: between 380 and 500 nm. This is the famous blue light which actually consists of several shades, more or less harmful
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🟢 Green: between 510 and 560 nm
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🟡 Yellow: between 560 and 610 nm
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🟠 Orange: between 610 and 660 nm
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🔴 Red: between 660 and 780 nm
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🚨 Infrared: between 800 and 1200 nm. We are at the end of the spectrum, where light becomes non-visible again.
Thus, each type of light is linked to a very precise intensity: the shortest rays are more “charged” with energy while the longest ones are less so. Red or blue light can have completely different effects on our body.
Red light therapy: how does it work?
First, we need to clarify: red light therapy, the one that makes a lot of noise on social media and that you can do at home, is different from certain phototherapies (based on UV or red light, but in a very different context!) used medically.
Difference between red light therapy, photodynamic therapy, and UV therapy
Phototherapies, photodynamic therapy: advanced medical treatments
The use of light in medicine is not a new idea, and a number of cutting-edge treatments use UV, blue light, or red light.
Photodynamic therapy combines a specific light (often blue or red) with a photosensitizing agent to destroy so-called pathological cells. It is often used to treat acne or for precancerous lesions, under medical supervision, of course.
The UV-based phototherapies mainly use the short wavelengths of UV: UVB (280-320 nm) and UVA (320-400 nm), depending on the desired effect. They are mainly used for skin conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo, and eczema. To be done under a dermatologist's supervision, of course!
Red light therapy: a simple and less controlled process
The therapy we are interested in in this article is more homemade. You can also find a whole lot of red light therapy lamps on the internet!
It uses red and near-infrared wavelengths (600-1000 nm). To be able to use this famous red and near-infrared light, professionals use a process called photobiomodulation. It is low-intensity LED or laser therapy (also called NIR for Near Infra Red) that uses low-intensity wavelengths (red light and near-infrared).
Depending on the desired effects, a very precise portion of light wavelengths will be applied to the area to be treated. Red light penetrates the epidermis and stimulates the mitochondria, essential cellular components for providing energy. This energy will notably be used for the regeneration and repair of cells.
How does a session go?
Concretely, there are two ways to perform red light therapy: in a clinic, with a professional, or at home.
- 🩺 In a clinic: devices such as near-infrared LED panels or lasers are used to target specific areas (body or face), with adapted durations and intensities. A session lasts 10 to 30 minutes, because the devices are more powerful than those you can use at home.
- 🎭 At home: you may have seen them on social media, red light masks are increasingly used for skin care. Strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions and do not hesitate to ask a healthcare professional for their opinion before any use.
You probably guess that we lean towards the first option for safety reasons. Finally, know that to be effective, sessions must be regular: several times a week, whatever method is chosen.
In short, talk to your doctor!
The benefits of red light therapy: promising but uncertain
We warn you, throughout this section, we will use the conditional tense. Indeed, even though it has been shown that red light would (you see, we're starting) have many benefits, some are still at the study stage.
Science is a process that takes time, and an encouraging study must be followed by others to become an established fact.
Cell regeneration, skin health
The main use of red LED light therapy is skin care. It is also the field where science has revealed the most proven positive results, through studies on the subject. Indeed, red light therapy can help the skin regenerate more easily and improve its texture.
Red LED light therapy could help to:
- Increase collagen production: by penetrating deep into the skin, red light stimulates collagen production, the protein responsible for skin elasticity. The use of red light could therefore reduce scars and stretch marks, improve the regeneration of skin cells, tighten pores, giving the skin a smoother appearance.
- Fight inflammation: red light is also known for its anti-inflammatory action. It would be useful for reducing pain and inflammation.
Regarding LED masks or LED lamps to use at home, we recommend seeking advice from a specialist before any use.
Indeed, there are contraindications for red light therapy: it is not recommended in case of blood clotting problems, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, or atopic skin with conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. Likewise, there is not yet enough evidence on this technology to use it during pregnancy.
Effects on sleep and mood
While the beneficial effects of red LEDs on the skin have been the subject of many studies, their benefits on sleep and mood are still at the assumption stage.
In reality, it is mainly the absence of blue and purple light from red light that does not hinder sleep.
This is why we advise using rather warm lighting in the evening before going to sleep: to best respect your circadian rhythm with dimmed red-orange lights. We were talking about it in our article on the best color of light to fall asleep!
Finally, no need to panic: you can reduce the effects of blue light on your sleep without opting for a carmine lighting that would make Dracula jealous: wearing anti-blue light glasses that will filter the problematic waves for sleep, it's effective.
Benefits on muscle regeneration
Another effect highlighted is muscle recovery. While several scientists have looked into the subject, what we know for now is that there seems to be a link, but that the effects are not significant enough to clearly demonstrate it.
Final word: red light therapy, does it really work?
Red light therapy is therefore a simple and light treatment, that you can even do at home (even though we necessarily recommend medical supervision), and which offers quite a few promises, especially for different skin problems.
It could also promote muscle recovery, and might even have an effect on sleep.
But there is no real scientific consensus: some studies are promising, but it will take time for our friends in white coats to confirm or refute these results. Science takes time, but that's also why it's reliable.
The question of whether red light therapy really works, is therefore maybe yes, maybe no.
Your doctor will probably be able to guide you. And if you decide to take the plunge to get a lamp, use it with caution by carefully following the instructions.
