Uses and Benefits
Red light therapy has been studied and tested across hundreds of peer-reviewed clinical trials, with overwhelmingly positive results for skin health, collagen production, weight loss, physical performance & muscle recovery, sleep, pain management, inflammation, and a lot more. And that’s without drugs, radiation, chemicals, UV rays, invasive procedures, or other common side effects to other common procedures.
Background
Red light therapy, and research into its anti-aging effects, was first carried out by NASA. In the early 1990’s a NASA sponsored research at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. They worked to develop a plant growth chamber using Near Infrared Light Technology experiments on the space shuttle missions. They found that while testing red light the astronauts benefited vastly by being exposed to this light also. Clinical trials into red light therapy soon followed in the USA and across Europe to try and uncover the the extant of its therapeutic value. See NASA Light Technology Successfully Reduces Cancer Patients Painful Side Effects from Radiation and Chemotherapy
Over the years, the red light therapy, in spectrums ranging from 635nm to 850nm, has been demonstrated to promote a variety of health benefits.
Basics of a Light Therapy
Red light therapy devices use medical grade lights to deliver concentrated wavelengths of natural light to your skin and into your cells, without the presence of UV rays or excess heat. The concentration of light used during treatment depends on the area being treated and its location within the body. Natural light is a wide spectrum encompassing many wavelengths and colors and a few of these frequencies have been found to have therapeutic value. Leading photomedicine research has established that a narrow band of red and near infrared light is the clinical sweet spot for therapeutic value and safety.
Light Therapy for Skincare
Light Therapy is 100% natural, chemical-free and drug-free and can be used to minimize the physical signs of aging. Unlike chemical solutions or toners, red and infrared light emitted by LED lamps are all natural light. This light penetrates the skin to activate cellular activity.
Research has shown that skin cells grow 150-200% faster when exposed to certain light wavelengths and collagen production is increased as well. With red light therapy treatments your skin is being nourished by your own body naturally.
Applications
Because light therapy can help speed up the skin’s ability to heal, it can be used to address numerous problems including the following:
- Wrinkles. Because of loss of collagen, wrinkles start to creep up on our face (or neck). Light therapy helps boost collagen and fibroblasts production to help correct these signs of aging. It works on undereye wrinkles, forehead wrinkles, laugh lines, and crow’s feet.
- Scars and Stretch Marks. Stretch marks are brought about by saggy skin either from weight loss or aging. Collagen depletion from the body results in having loose, stretchy, and saggy skin. Light therapy helps stimulate collagen production thus preventing further development of stretch marks. It also helps lighten and diminish scars and even overall skin tone.
- Acne and Inflamed Acne Marks. Although red light is not used to kill acne causing bacteria, it will help reduce the inflammation brought about by acne. Red and Infrared lights penetrate the skin at different depths and power the cells to repair the skin from within. It repairs the skin tissues that acne has destroyed. This leads to faster healing of the acne and prevents further tissue damage that may lead to pitting acne scars.
- Sun Damage. Red light therapy works great for correcting sun damage. UV-free LED bulbs are used to deliver red light therapy safely and effectively. The red light wavelength spurs cellular activity to help reverse sun damage. It can lighten age spots.
Light Therapy for Weight Loss
Researchers have demonstrated that red and infrared light therapy affects adipocytes, cells that store fat, causing the lipids to disperse over time. A separate study found that red light therapy helped control levels of the hunger-related hormones leptin and ghrelin in sleep deprived participants.
Although red light therapy will not provide any significant immediate weight loss research indicates that red light therapy used in conjunction with normal exercise promotes a significant increase in the amount of weight participants lost over a two week period.
Light Therapy for Weight Loss
Treatment for Arthritis and Joint Pain
Light therapy speeds up the healing of wounds and injuries to the body and reduces inflammation too. It can improve the range of motion of joints which is a common problem for those who are experiencing arthritis, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and other forms of joint pains. It helps reduce pain for those who suffer fibromyalgia too.
The reason for this is natural light enhances activity within the lymphatic system, which has been shown to reduce swelling and inflammation.
Light therapy’s positive effects on arthritis, joint pain, and inflammation have been well- documented across hundreds of clinical trials over the last three decades. Emerging laboratory research is showing that red light therapy has the potential to treat arthritis at a cellular level and address the root causes.
Photomedicine researchers in Brazil published a study in late 2018 showing that red light therapy decreased all cytokine levels after therapy and increased immune cell populations in mammals. Researchers concluded: “Our results indicate that light therapy could change the inflammatory course of arthritis,…”.
General Wellness: In addition to treating the conditions mentioned above, light therapy sessions may also provide the following benefits:
- Improved sleep patterns
- Sustained daily energy
- Improved mood
- Improved libido
Dosage, Treatment Times, and Duration
The light therapy beds used by Triveda Wellness are built to allow the optimal dose of red and infrared light to be absorbed by your skin. The devices used by many other clinics and other home use devices can often be ineffective due to low grade equipment or incorrect placement over body. Triveda is among the only Asheville providers that offer a powerful, bed-style red light therapy option, and therefore can assure clients that optimal dosing guidelines are being used during every treatment.
Recommended Exposure Frequency for maximum benefit:
Weeks 1-4: 2-4 sessions/week
Weeks 5-8: 1-3 sessions/week
Weeks 13+: As needed for maintenance
Treatment Duration – Generally speaking, 1-3 months. Some individuals may react quicker, and some may take longer to see the full effects of treatment.
