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What is Red Light Therapy?

What is Red Light Therapy?

By: Sobia Khan, M.D., EdD • Posted on October 01, 2024

Revive in the Right Light

It’s been more than a century since phototherapy has been identified as a treatment for lupus. Since then, there have been various scientific advances in the utilization of light and laser therapy for skin and cancer treatments. 

However, light is a spectrum of wavelengths, colors and intensity, so people must understand what they are using on their bodies as specific wavelength and intensity of light can treat cancer - or it can lead to skin cancer if the right protection and sunscreen are not used.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy (RLT) is a type of phototherapy and is a therapeutic technique that utilizes low-level wavelengths of red light to help address skin conditions such as wrinkles and psoriasis. However, more research is necessary to further evaluate its effectiveness.

In today’s world, contemporary and alternative medicine is promoting several RLT devices to be used for skin care, arthralgia, exercise recovery, healing, inflammation and pain. As simple and natural as it sounds awareness about its promotion sites and who is supplying it is much needed. There are many red light therapy devices available for home and commercial use and their safety is usually not clearly defined.

There have been some small-scale research studies and some ongoing studies highlighting the significance of red-light therapy. Since this therapy is still in the experimental phase, it's not covered by insurance. There is also not enough research to define how many treatments per week are necessary and how much exposure is needed for certain skin or joint conditions to recover from inflammation.

How Red Light Therapy Works

The specific wavelength and penetration ability of RLT stimulates energy producing units of cells called ”mitochondria” to improve the healing, synthesis and rejuvenation of collagen in the skin. RLT improves inflammation, allows growth of fibroblasts and protein synthesis.

The History of Red Light Therapy

Red light therapy was first used by NASA to grow plants and for healing astronauts' wounds on their hands, which led to skin healing and rejuvenation among the public.

Does Red Light Therapy Help Skin Rejuvenation and Increase Collagen?

An NIH funded trial concluded that broadband polychromatic photobiomodulation (PBM) did not have any advantage over red-light-only spectrum. However, other light sources that have not been used before for PBM have shown to be safe and effective for skin rejuvenation and intradermal collagen increase when compared with controls.

What Skin Conditions Improve with Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy has shown success in treating the following skin conditions: 

  • rosacea
  • psoriasis
  • acne
  • scars
  • eczema
  • reduce inflammation or edema
  • wrinkles and fine lines
  • age spots
  • improves skin texture and evens skin tone

Red light therapy can help improve skin conditions, but the therapy is still considered controversial.

Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Studies suggest that RLT may also help:

  • muscle pain including healing muscle injuries and reducing soreness after exercise
  • promote wound healing and tissue repair
  • joint pain
  • arthritis pain including rheumatoid arthritis
  • inflammatory conditions
  • relieve pain and inflammation in people with pain in the Achilles tendons
  • improve hair growth in people with androgenic alopecia
  • improve neural function and protection to improve cognition and memory for people with dementia

Word of Caution

It's best to discuss red light therapy and its safety with your dermatologist. It's advised to have a skin exam before light therapy so all the treatment options can be discussed with a skincare professional. 

Excessive use of RLT can lead to skin damage and it is not known through randomized clinical trials what intensity and time length of exposure is best for healing, skin conditions, joint aches and pain.

Be Strong, Be Healthy, Be in Charge!
Sobia Khan, MD, EdD

About Sobia Khan, MD, EdD

Dr. Sobia Khan is board certified in internal medicine physician and holds a doctoral degree in Professional Leadership and Health Science Education by University of Houston, Texas.

Prior to joining Cleveland Clinic as Menopause and Functional Medicine specialist she served as Director of Center of Women's Center for Comprehensive Care at Baylor College of Medicine for ten years.

She is a certified Functional Medicine practitioner and now offering Women's Health Functional Medicine consultation at Center of Specialized Women's Health, Women's Health Institute, Cleveland Clinic. To make an appointment with Dr. Khan, call 216-929-7430.

women's health, red light therapy, red light, skincare, skin, skincare treatment, aging skin, skincare routine, wrinkles, phototherapy, light therapy, collagen, RLT, skin cancer

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