What's Red Light Therapy? Red light therapy before and after
Red light therapy (RLT) is a treatment that may aid in the healing of skin, muscle tissue, and other body components. It exposes you to red or near-infrared light at modest intensities. Infrared light is a sort of energy that your eyes cannot see but which your body perceives as heat. Red light is comparable to infrared light, however it is visible.
Low-level laser treatment (LLLT), low-power laser therapy (LPLT), and photobiomodulation are all terms for red light therapy (PBM).
What Is Red Light Therapy and How Does It Work?
Red light treatment involves exposing your skin to a red-light bulb, gadget, or laser. Mitochondria, also known as the "power generators" of your cells, absorb it and use it to produce additional energy. This, according to some scientists, helps cells repair themselves and grow healthier. This promotes skin and muscular tissue repair.
The skin is not injured or burned by red light treatment since it employs very low amounts of heat. It is not the same sort of light used in tanning salons, and it does not expose your skin to UV rays that are harmful to your skin.
What Is It Used For?
Red light treatment has been studied for a long time. However, there aren't many research on it, and no one knows if it's better than other sorts of healing treatments. The use of red light therapy may be beneficial in the following situations:
Dementia. People with dementia who received near-infrared light treatment on their heads and via their nostrils on a daily basis for 12 weeks had improved memory, slept better, and were less irritable.
Pain in the teeth. People with temporomandibular dysfunction syndrome (TMD) experienced decreased discomfort, clicking, and jaw soreness after receiving red light treatment, according to another small study.
Hair loss is a common occurrence. In one research, men and women with androgenetic alopecia (a hereditary condition that causes hair loss) gained thicker hair after using an at-home RLT device for 24 weeks. The outcomes were not the same for those who utilized a bogus RLT gadget in the trial.
Osteoarthritis. According to one research, red and infrared light treatment reduced osteoarthritis-related pain by more than half.
Tendinitis. RLT appears to reduce inflammation and discomfort in persons with Achilles tendonitis, according to a small trial of seven participants.
Wrinkles and other symptoms of aging and damage to the skin. RLT has been shown in studies to aid with wrinkles and skin smoothing. RLT can also assist with acne scars, burns, and sun damage indications.
What Are the Consequences?
Even though experts aren't clear how or why red light treatment works, it's usually thought to be safe. There are also no hard and fast guidelines on how much light to use. Too much light can harm skin tissue, while too little can make it less effective.
What Is Red Light Therapy and Where Can You Get It?
At most cases, it's done in a doctor's office. Some salons and dentistry clinics, however, do it as well. You may also purchase a red light treatment gadget on your own. Side effects and injuries are more likely to occur with salon and at-home treatments. If you're considering red light treatment, see your doctor first.