Red Light Therapy is a type of phototherapy that uses red and near-infrared light wavelengths for treating numerous diseases and health issues. As the scientists carry on extensive in-depth studies on the RLT, more health professionals start to incorporate it into their practice. If the talks of this multi-purpose treatment method have reached your ears and spiked your interest, you might want to carry on reading. We've gathered all the information available on red light therapy benefits, use guidelines, and treatment options to help you get a better understanding of it.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
The primary source of RLT's efficiency comes from its power to optimize cellular function. Continuous red light exposure encourages mitochondria to generate more chemical energy, which powers the cell's biochemical processes. To put it simply, it helps produce more fuel for our cells, enhancing their health and ability to regenerate. The process that begins on the cellular level causes a chain reaction resulting in faster healing of the tissue.
What Benefits Does RLT Have?
Red light therapy shows promising results for targeting versatile problems, including hair loss, muscle repair, nerve pain, skin issues, insomnia, and some mental troubles. Here's how it works:
Muscle Repair
Many of us are familiar with muscle soreness that occurs after exercise. This happens because when our muscles get more work than they are used to, they inflame and trigger pain. It usually takes the human body about 2-3 days to repair from post-workout pain, but with red light therapy, the healing can take place much quicker. Getting red light exposure before or after a workout can help you avert delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Research also indicates that red light therapy can have positive results on general energy levels. Many professional athletes use it to help them keep up with extreme workout routines and heal from muscle sprains quicker because of these properties.
Pain Relief
Red light therapy has been shown to aid in managing and reducing pain. Very often, pain is caused by inflammation. As light treatment enhances our cell's ability to regenerate, it also helps fight inflammation and ease the related discomfort. Research also indicates that red light therapy is an excellent way of managing chronic nerve pain that often lingers after certain surgeries or injuries.
Skin Improvement
According to the data, more than 50 million Americans suffer from acne annually. Many of us know how tiring and stressful fighting breakouts and post-acne scars can be. Sure, there are aggressive medications with a high success rate with fighting bacteria that cause acne. On the other hand, they have many side effects that may outweigh the advantages for some people. Fortunately, red and near-infrared therapy can pose as an excellent means of treating acne. Low-level wavelengths of light increase cell turnover, helping with repairing natural skin barrier and fade away scars.
Sleep Improvement
Sleep deprivation is a common condition that can lead to severe health issues such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. It's not news that many types of light suppress melatonin (sleep hormone) production, resulting in poor sleeping patterns. However, red light works in opposite ways. It has the power to enhance melatonin production, which makes it a tailored treatment for those who have insomnia, work night shifts, or just looking for a way to improve the sleep quality.
Cramping Hair Loss
If you're experiencing hair loss, red light therapy might be a solution. Exposing your follicles to red light increases their metabolism. What's more, phototherapy aids collagen production - one of the essential proteins in our system. Boosted follicles and increased collagen levels result in promoted hair growth.
Enhanced Mental Functions
Red light therapy shows positive results on mental performance as well. A recent study has shown that daily exposure to red light can enhance cognitive functions in mild-brain injury cases. That's not all. 2018 lab study done on mice indicated that red light therapy has a great potential to treat Alzheimer's and dementia. The same research also strengthened the claim that RLT penetrates tissue deeply and shows no phototoxicity (a type of photosensitivity).
Where Can You Get Red Light Therapy?
If you want to try the power of red light therapy, you have a lot of options. Just a few years ago, getting treatment sessions was only available in the doctor's office. Nowadays, as red light has been passing various trials successfully, it can be used without a physician's supervision. In fact, you can get in-home red light therapy devices that are widely available for sale. So if you don't have enough time to dedicate to doctor's appointments, you can get the same RLT benefits at home. Just make sure that you purchase an FDA-approved light therapy device from a reliable seller.
What Are Red Light Therapy Side Effects?
With all the studies and customer-experiences that are handy, red light therapy seems to be safe to use. However, if you decide to get started with it, we recommend you consult your doctor beforehand. The physician will be able to tell you if the red light is the best way to take care of your concerns.
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