Imagine being able to shine a light on your crow’s feet and watch the wrinkles disappear. It sounds like science fiction, but red light therapy is a powerful dermatologic tool for everything from sunspots and wrinkles to scars.
“If you can picture a rainbow in your mind, the longest wavelength at the top of the rainbow is red and the bottom is blue. Of visible “rainbow” light, red light penetrates the deepest into the skin and triggers a powerful healing mechanism,” says David M Ozog, M.D., a dermatologist at Henry Ford Health.
Red light therapy dates back to the late 60s when Hungarian professor Endre Mester discovered that low wavelengths of red light promoted wound healing and hair regrowth in rats. That ignited interest in how red light could benefit cells.
In the 1990s, NASA brought a red light device into space to see if it could make plants grow faster. “They discovered that the astronauts who worked under the light with the plants healed faster from the cuts and scrapes on their hands,” Dr. Ozog says.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
While red light doesn’t generate heat, it does penetrate the skin, where it stimulates the mitochondria in cells. Mitochondria act as the cells’ battery pack, generating all the energy cells need. The boost of energy from red light helps cells work more efficiently to rejuvenate skin, repair damaged cells and promote new cell growth by:
- Boosting collagen production, which increases skin’s elasticity
- Increasing fibroblast production, the basis for collagen production
- Increasing blood circulation
- Reducing inflammation
Experts use a variety of terms to describe red light therapy, including:
- Biostimulation
- Cold laser therapy
- Low-level light therapy
- Low-power laser therapy
- Non-thermal LED light
- Photobiomodulation
- Phototherapy
Which Conditions Respond To Red Light Therapy
Research into red light therapy is still new and experts aren’t clear on the right dose and frequency for treating various conditions. That said, there is a growing body of research that suggests red light therapy may be effective for treating:
Do Over-The-Counter Red Light Devices Work?
Years ago, you had to get red light therapy in a physician’s office. Today, you can purchase red light therapy devices online or at your local pharmacy. Some of these products use red lights in handheld devices. Others are full-body beds. But all of them come with somewhat murky instructions.
Dermatology At Henry Ford
“The main safety concern is that we don’t know if you can overdo it,” Dr. Ozog says. “So if you use the device for too long or at too high a dose, is there potential for harm? We’re not sure, but it’s likely. We can work out too much and eat too much, so it’s logical that too much stimulation to the mitochondria could have a harmful effect.”
It’s important to check in with a healthcare provider before you buy a red light therapy device, particularly if you are sensitive to light. If you get the all-clear from your provider, ask for recommendations to ensure you purchase a high-quality device. Then, be sure to shield your eyes, follow the instructions and take note of any reactions.
What Is The Future Of Red Light Therapy?
The Food and Drug Administration has approved red light therapy for skin conditions like acne and psoriasis, and Dr. Ozog expects additional approvals to happen in the next five years, including for conditions beyond the skin.
“More research is needed to really understand the range of benefits provided by red light therapy,” Dr. Ozog adds. While researchers work out the specifics, selecting the ideal dosing regimen is ideally done with advice from a healthcare provider. If you’re interested in red light therapy, see your provider. Together you can determine which treatment regimen works best for your specific needs.
Reviewed by David Ozog, M.D., chair of the Department of Dermatology at Henry Ford Health. He sees skin cancer patients at Henry Ford Medical Center - Columbus and general dermatology patients at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital and Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.
