Giving Red Light Therapy the Green Light

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While I am a strong believer in experimental health and wellness “fads”, I am an even stronger believer in science. This, coupled with an interest in wellness consumer products, led me to explore the benefits of red light therapy (RLT), a treatment taking the medical community (and soon consumers) by storm.

To say I am thrilled with the outcome would be an understatement.

What is Red Light?

Thinking back to grade school science classes, the electromagnetic spectrum is the range of electromagnetic energy that exists at different frequencies and wavelengths, encompassing all forms of radiation — from radio (longest wavelengths and lowest energy) to gamma-rays (shortest wavelength and highest energy). In between those extremes lay other crucial forms of radiation such as microwave radiation, which keeps our leftovers delicious, X-ray, which keeps our bodies intact, and most importantly, the visible spectrum, which makes our world colorful.

The visible spectrum includes energy within a very small wavelength range of ~400–700 nanometers. Specifically, red light emits the lowest energy level (and longest wavelengths) ranging from ~600 to 700 nanometers. According to Dr. Michael Hamblin, a pioneer in light therapy known as “photobiomodulation”, red light is the color in the visible spectrum that most easily penetrates the body, but there are also biological benefits from other color lights¹. Near-infrared radiation (from~750–1,200 nanometers) also has many similar healing properties, but typically targets deeper cells and organs in the body and is invisible to the naked eye.

The medical community has known for ages the benefits of sunlight — from stress relief to sleep improvement. Now, exploring the therapeutic benefits of light, the narrative continues: Can we use targeted parts of the visible spectrum to exploit these benefits (and more)? Red light therapy has proven exactly this.

If you are interested in a more in-depth history of the origin of red light therapy, I suggest checking out this article from Joovv, “Where Did Red Light Therapy Come From.” Joovv is a thought leader in the red light therapy space, as well as a manufacturer of high-quality at-home red light therapy devices.

What is Red Light Therapy (RLT)?

I like to think of red light as an “energizer” — as the red light acts upon our cells, it reaches the mitochondria. Channeling grade school science classes again, the mitochondria are considered to be the “powerhouse” of the cell, developing the chemical energy needed to power a cell’s various biochemical reactions². Think of the mitochondria as a warehouse — in comes food, water, oxygen, and nutrients; out goes adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is a high-energy bond that, when broken, produces chemicals that fuel the cell’s metabolic activities.

To make a complex process simple, think of the following analogy:

• For humans, when we have energy, we can take care of things that we have been meaning to do. Maybe it’s going on a run, running to the grocery store, taking a shower, or catching up on a good book — anything to give ourselves the chance to clean up, rest, and recuperate.
• For cells, this similar principle applies. (At the end of the day, humans are just a bunch of cells anyway, right?) With the extra energy provided by red light, cells can take care of critical cell repair damage and restore themselves with the enhancement of enzyme activity, electron transport, mitochondrial respiration, and ATP production³.

In summary…

1. Red-light devices enhance mitochondrial processes
2. More ATP is produced
3. Cells have more energy to repair their cells
4. Cells heal wounds and inflammation + much more!

Key Areas of Benefit

With the additional support given to mitochondria, red light therapy has been proven to alleviate symptoms and disorders that stem from dysfunctional mitochondria. Here are just a few key areas red light therapy can benefit:

Skin and Hair Health

The cell-enhancing function of red light therapy provides both health and cosmetic benefits to the skin. When your cells reach homeostasis (ie. in a state of balance), the cells will function more efficiently, encouraging softer and clearer skin as it avoids inflammation. In a study evaluating the effectiveness of RLT on subjects’ skin, “91% of subjects reported improved skin tone, and 82% reported enhanced smoothness of skin in the treatment area”⁴.

Additionally, RLT has been proven to increase collagen production which, in recent years, has also experienced an uptick in popularity in consumer products due to the myriad benefits it provides: support for skin elasticity, acceleration of hair growth, and minimization of gut inflammation, just to name a few. For a more in-depth overview of collagen and its benefits, check out MindBodyGreen’s article here. Plus, an easy way to incorporate this superstar protein into your diet is with VitalProteins Collagen Peptides!

Sleep Improvement

Red light therapy as a natural supplement to natural daylight can help regulate sleep hormones and circadian rhythm, promoting a better night’s sleep — the first critical step in regulating mood, cognitive functioning, inflammation, and even weight loss.

Furthermore, red light has a positive impact on melatonin levels — a key hormone that promotes sleep and is (less commonly) known to protect the mitochondria and assist in mitochondrial regeneration. To learn more about circadian rhythms and the impact of red light therapy, I’d suggest checking out a super insightful article by Joovv, “3 Core Circadian Rhythms for a Balanced Life”.

Anti-Inflammatory

All over the world, people suffer from chronic inflammation, whether they know it or not. 60% of deaths are a result of chronic inflammatory diseases, such as stroke, heart disease, cancer, and obsesity⁵ — a staggering, yet preventable, statistic.

Red light therapy is being explored by medical professionals for its anti-inflammatory benefits everywhere in the body — after all, where there are mitochondria, red light can heal! RLT has shown to have effects similar to anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)⁶, making this a great alternative for Advil and Ibuprofen. These frequently used drugs are known to harm the microbiome, causing inflammation of the intestinal walls, allowing toxins to seep into the bloodstream, actually causing widespread inflammation in the body⁵. Maybe the future of healing inflammation will look different with red light in the picture!

Brain Health

The brain is one of the organs with the greatest mitochondrial density, making the brain a great subject for the use of red light therapy. Since RLT has been proven to increase improve cerebral blood flow, this treatment can be effective in preventing cerebral vascular perfusion impairment (ie. impairment of blood flow into and around the brain), which is one of the first demonstrations of many brain disorders⁷. In addition to the anti-inflammatory effects, the use of RLT has shown tremendous benefits in recent clinical studies of patients with neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, traumatic brain injury, and many more.

Furthermore, the benefit of RLT can be seen in healthy users, improving mental acuity with increased blood flow to the brain, ATP production, and tissue repair⁸.

Red Light Therapy Products

The rising popularity of red light therapy has influenced its integration into offerings at many spa and wellness centers around the country. However if you are looking to incorporate this in your daily/weekly routine at a fraction of the price, consider investing in an at-home red light therapy device to reap the long-term benefits of this treatment.

Here are a few noteworthy products worth considering:

BioLight (Starting at $349): http://www.biolight.shop/
Joovv (Starting at $545): https://joovv.com/
Mito Red Light (Starting at $400): https://mitoredlight.com/

How To Use RLT Devices

Many online resources will suggest red light use of “15–20 minutes a day” for 3–5 times per week, as a general guideline. However, in my research, I have learned this is not necessarily the right way to approach red light therapy.

Dr. Mike Belkowski, Founder and CEO of BioLight, discusses in the BioLight Red Light Therapy Treatment Protocols that RLT benefits work on a bell curve (or more specifically, the Arndt-Schultz curve). This means that, against every American’s expectation, more is not always better when it comes to red light therapy exposure.

The biphasic dose response is an important phenomenon in red light exposure research which has indicated that “low levels of light have a much better effect on stimulating and repairing tissues than higher levels of light”⁹. While there are a variety of factors that make up the exposure level — such as distance from source, time of exposure, and concentration of the light source— it is helpful to realize that sitting in front of your red light panel all day may not be yielding the best results for the treatment.

Since every person is different, be sure to do your research or speak with a healthcare professional to determine the most effective protocol for your goals and needs.

My Experience

In my own experience, I turned to RLT because I was looking to clear up my skin. I had been battling some abnormal facial acne for about four months— something that I had never experienced in this duration or severity. After trying everything — meditating, sugar elimination, extra sleep, supplementation— I sought to try the BioLight Shine red light device as an additional treatment. But never again will RLT be used as a last resort!

I use the BioLight Shine red light device daily for 3 minutes per day, at a 12” distance from my face. While I have only been treating my skin for ~2 weeks, my acne has nearly fully cleared up after four months of recurring whiteheads and inflammation across my forehead and chin areas. My skin also feels incredibly smooth — an added bonus in the winter!

Tips for Use

• Consistency: Maintain a consistent (i) exposure time and (ii) distance from the source with each use.
• Conservatism: Remember that more is not necessarily better!
• Patience: Be sure to stick to a stable regime for a few weeks before concluding the effectiveness of the treatment. Recognize your healing could take longer than expected or require trying multiple treatment protocols — not everybody is built the same!

Listen to the professionals!

I hope this article gave you a purposeful introduction to red light therapy and its benefits from a consumer’s perspective, but I encourage you to learn more from the real experts in the field.

To learn more about these treatment protocols, I highly recommend purchasing the BioLight Red Light Therapy Treatment Protocols Guide ($19.99) on BioLight’s website — this will give you RLT suggestions based on your specific needs. Additionally, on the product websites aforementioned, there are plenty of free materials that discuss the benefits of red light therapy in various areas including heart health, bone & joint health, skin health, immunity, fat loss, and much more.

I hope you are ready to give red light the GREEN LIGHT and try for yourself! Feel free to comment with any comments or questions about red light therapy or your experience.

References:

1. “Dr. Mercola and Dr. Hamblin.” Santa Barbara Light Therapy, www.sblighttherapy.com/explanation.
2. Gahl, William. “Mitochondria.” National Human Genome Research Institute, www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Mitochondria.
3. Avci, Pinar, et al. “Low-Level Laser (Light) Therapy (LLLT) in Skin: Stimulating, Healing, Restoring.” Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Mar. 2013, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4126803/.
4. “Skin Health.” BioLight, www.biolight.shop/skin-health.
5. Pahwa, Roma, et al. “Chronic Inflammation.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, StatPearls Publishing, 20 Nov. 2020, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493173/.
6. “Anti-Inflammatory.” BioLight, www.biolight.shop/anti-inflammatory.
7. “Brain and Nerve Health.” BioLight, http://www.biolight.shop/brain-and-nerve-health.
8. “Supporting Mental Acuity, Memory, Attention, and Situational Judgement.” Joovv, joovv.com/blogs/clinical-studies/supporting-mental-acuity-memory-attention-and-situational-judgement.
9. Huang, Ying-Ying, et al. “Biphasic Dose Response in Low Level Light Therapy.” Dose-Response : a Publication of International Hormesis Society, International Hormesis Society, 1 Sept. 2009, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2790317/.

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