Health Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Surprisingly, unlike many other treatments used to address similar conditions, there are few reported side effects.

mechanism
The effect of most red light is to absorb light through the mitochondria of cells. Cytochrome c oxidase in mitochondria absorbs red light, causing it to release nitric oxide, increase ATP, and reduce oxidative stress.

This is a non-invasive and safe way to relieve symptoms without medication or injection.

Red light therapy allows long wavelengths to penetrate deep into skin tissue, affecting cellular and nervous system processes. There are few known side effects that are good for your health.

The wavelength of light between 630-880 nm affects all skin layers, into blood vessels, lymphatic pathways, nerves and hair follicles.

Health Benefits of Red Light Therapy

1) Red light therapy has anti-inflammatory effect
One of the main uses of red light therapy is to treat inflammation.

Red light therapy limits inflammation and reduces oxidative damage by reducing inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1A and IL-6).

Comments on muscle repair (in animal models) concluded that red light therapy has the ability to reduce inflammation, positively affect growth factors and increase angiogenesis.

A common side effect of chemotherapy is oral mucositis, which is when inflammation destroys the inner wall of the mouth. In the systematic review of 11 randomized controlled trials, both red and infrared light treatments significantly reduced the incidence and severity of oral mucositis.

2) Red light therapy relieves pain
In mice, red LED therapy reduces pain and improves exercise after spinal cord injury.

In a study of 80 chemotherapy patients (DB-RCT), red light significantly reduced self-reported pain.

Red light therapy may treat tennis elbows in a short period of time, but these findings are only shown in one study (RCT).

Regarding chronic low back pain, the results of the study are mixed.

3) Red light therapy enhances wound healing
In the triple-blind RCT of 12 dental patients, red light therapy improved the rate of healing after oral surgery. However, it did not alleviate the pain.

In a randomized controlled trial of 16 diabetic patients, red light treatment significantly reduced the size and pain of diabetic foot ulcers.

Another RCT in 30 diabetic patients showed similar results; red light therapy combined with conventional therapy reduced ulcer area compared to conventional therapy alone.

In a diabetic rat model of skin wounds and burns, red light significantly improves healing and is superior to infrared therapy for burns.

Red light can also improve the healing rate of incisional wounds in diabetic rats and reduce the risk of infection.

In rabbits with skin wounds, red light therapy significantly reduces healing time compared to blue light or no light therapy. It promotes tissue and cell growth.

4) Red light therapy improves body performance
In a study of 39 heart patients, red light treatment improved performance in exercise tests and reduced chest pain.

In the DB-RCT, 40 untrained untrained men received intensive exercises. Participants who received red light treatment showed significantly improved performance, reduced pain, and reduced muscle damage indicators compared with patients who did not receive phototherapy.

Among female athletes, 2-week red light therapy improves sleep quality and endurance.

In the DB-RCT of 40 volunteers, red light therapy also significantly improved recovery after high-intensity exercise.

Interestingly, the effectiveness of the red light has caused researchers to question whether it should be allowed to participate in sports because it helps improve athletic performance and improve recovery.

5) Red light therapy improves cognitive function
Red light therapy has been studied in a variety of conditions, including stroke, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, depression and cognitive enhancement in healthy subjects.

In the DB-RCT of 11 dementia patients, red light and near-infrared light therapy improved memory, attention and executive function.

In a case study, red light therapy can also reduce depression, anxiety, headache and insomnia. At the same time, their cognitive function and quality of life are improved.

Red light therapy can also improve brain function after traumatic brain injury. In two case studies, red light therapy improved the memory, attention, and even reduced post-traumatic stress disorder in a patient.

In rats, red light treatment balances inflammatory marker levels (IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6) and prevents cell death. This helps to improve brain function 4 weeks after head injury.

6) Red light treatment is antibacterial
In HPV patients, 3 months of red light treatment also helps eradicate human papillomavirus. However, it may be re-infected after the end of light therapy.

In dental patients, red light therapy can help reduce infection and inflammation during oral surgery.

In plaque samples from dental patients, red light killed bacteria (P. acnes, Eosinophilic actinomycetes and P. gingivalis).

7) Red light therapy improves skin quality
In a study of 31 subjects, a combination of red light and infrared LED light therapy helped improve skin condition. They have less sun aging and wrinkles.

In the DB-RCT of 52 female patients, 12 weeks of red light treatment significantly improved ocular wrinkles.

8) Red light therapy stimulates hair growth
In DB-RCT, red light treatment was performed every other day for 17 weeks, inducing hair regeneration in women with androgenetic alopecia (a baldness due to hormonal imbalance) .

In 41 male DB-RCTs, red light treatment for every other day for 16 weeks significantly increased hair follicles relative to placebo.

Comments on hair loss and hair loss Summary Red light therapy is safe and effective for both men and women.