Red Light Therapy: Benefits and Uses Explained

Red light therapy, discovered in the 1960s and later used by NASA, is a non-invasive treatment using specific red light wavelengths to penetrate deep into skin and tissue. It promotes healing, reduces inflammation, enhances skin, and speeds up muscle recovery.

Red light beds offer full-body treatments with multi-wavelength light emission, delivering powerful results that outperform simpler devices. Are red light therapy beds worth the investment, though? In this guide, we’ll break down how they work, the science behind them, and whether they’re the right option for your health and wellness goals.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Light-based therapy uses specific wavelengths of light to penetrate deep into the skin and underlying tissues, promoting healing and rejuvenation at the cellular level. The red and infrared wavelengths —ranging from 625nm to 1000nm—penetrate the deepest, reaching into the dermis and even the subcutis/hypodermis layer, stimulating the mitochondria within cells.

This boosts ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production, the primary energy source for cellular functions, which accelerates healing, reduces inflammation, and promotes skin regeneration.

The image below illustrates how various wavelengths of light affect different skin layers:

• Ultraviolet (UV) and violet light only penetrate the outermost layers of the skin, targeting dead cells in the epidermis. These shorter wavelengths are not used in red light therapy due to their harmful effects, such as DNA damage and increased cancer risk.
  

• Blue, green, and yellow light penetrate slightly deeper, reaching the epidermal and upper dermal layers, which are effective for treating conditions like acne and superficial skin issues.

• Orange, red, and infrared wavelengths penetrate beyond the epidermis into the deeper dermis and hypodermis layers. This promotes tissue repair, boosts blood circulation, and stimulates collagen production. These wavelengths are essential for targeting skin and deeper tissues, enhancing muscle recovery, wound healing, and overall skin health.

By using longer wavelengths, such as red and infrared light, this method provides a safe, non-invasive approach for healing and rejuvenating the skin and deeper tissues. Unlike UV light, these wavelengths do not carry harmful risks, making them a safer option for promoting recovery and skin health.

What Are the Benefits of a Red Light Therapy Bed?

A red light therapy bed offers several health benefits backed by scientific research. These include:

Pain Relief and Inflammation Reduction

The therapeutic light helps to reduce inflammation in muscles and joints, making it beneficial for those suffering from chronic pain, arthritis, or injuries. A review of photobiomodulation therapy explains how red and near-infrared light stimulates mitochondrial function, leading to reduced inflammation and pain relief across various conditions. 

Skin Rejuvenation

Red light therapy plays an important role in skin rejuvenation by stimulating collagen production, which helps reduce wrinkles and improve skin texture. A study published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology demonstrates how red light therapy improves collagen production for wrinkle reduction and skin texture improvement. This research supports the benefits of red light therapy in promoting skin health and reducing visible signs of ageing.

Faster Muscle Recovery

Red light therapy has been shown to reduce inflammation and support recovery in musculoskeletal injuries. A study on musculoskeletal health highlights the positive impact of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy, showing how it improves circulation and aids in muscle recovery.

Improved Circulation

Increased nitric oxide production improves blood flow and oxygenation, important for cardiovascular health and speeding up the body’s natural healing process. Red light therapy stimulates endothelial cells to release nitric oxide, a potent vasodilator. This process improves blood flow by relaxing and expanding blood vessels.

 A study by Keszler et al., published in Frontiers in Physiology in May 2022, investigates how 670 nm red light exposure improves blood circulation by promoting nitric oxide (NO) release, leading to vasodilation. The study showed that blood flow remained elevated for at least 30 minutes after the light exposure ceased, indicating a lasting impact on circulation.

Wound Healing

Red light therapy speeds up recovery and alleviates pain in burns and acute wounds. A clinical trial involving 138 burn patients demonstrated that systemic red light therapy significantly improved wound recovery compared to standard treatment. The average healing time was reduced from 21.02 days to 19.86 days, and patients reported less pain during dressing changes, indicating both effectiveness and safety of the therapy.

Improved Immune Function

Regular use is linked to enhancing the immune response, making the body more resilient to infections by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, a benefit supported by research in a clinical trial on red light therapy and wound healing. The study investigates the effects of systemic red light therapy on deep wound healing, demonstrating that it accelerates tissue repair, promotes faster recovery times, and improves overall healing outcomes by stimulating cellular regeneration and reducing inflammation.

Improved Joint Health

Red light therapy reduces stiffness and improves flexibility in joints, helpful for those with joint pain or arthritis. A study published in the IEEE Xplore journal titled "Low-Level Laser Therapy for the Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders" explores the effects of LLLT on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders.

The research indicates that LLLT can significantly reduce pain and improve function in individuals with TMJ disorders. By applying specific wavelengths of light, LLLT stimulates cellular processes that improve tissue repair and reduce inflammation, leading to pain relief and improved joint mobility.

Cellular Recovery 

Photobiomodulation (PBM) has been shown to promote cellular recovery and regeneration by influencing stem cell function through mitochondrial redox signalling, which supports tissue repair. This mechanism is explored in depth in the study, Mitochondrial Redox Mechanisms in Tissue Regeneration, where the authors highlight the role mitochondrial function plays in the regenerative effects of PBM therapy.

Skin Health 

One of the most popular uses for red light therapy is for skin health. The 625~1,000nm wavelengths of red and InfraRed light penetrate deep into the skin, promoting collagen production and improving blood flow, which can reduce acne, wrinkles, and scars. These specific wavelengths of red light excite the mitochondria in deep skin cells, especially those at the boundary of the dermis and hypodermis.

This increases their energy production and the rate of cell regeneration. This renewal process means healthy cells reach the skin’s surface faster, resulting in a fresher, more youthful appearance. Over time, this helps to make sure that the skin cells on the surface are younger and healthier than they would have been without the therapy.

Are Red Light Therapy Beds Safe?

As with any wellness treatment, it’s important to consider the safety of red light therapy beds. When used correctly, they are generally safe for most people. These beds are non-invasive and pain-free, offering a gentle warmth during use with no discomfort. Unlike laser treatments and other therapies, red light therapy requires no needles or incisions. 

Additionally, unlike tanning beds that emit harmful UV rays, red light therapy beds use visible red or near-infrared light, which does not damage the skin or increase the risk of skin cancer, making them a safer alternative to UV-based treatments. Wondering if red light therapy can tan your skin? Look at this article from the experts at Optimal Health, which will tell you all you need to know.

That said, there are a few precautions to keep in mind. For example, if you are pregnant or have a medical condition such as light sensitivity, we advise that you talk with a healthcare provider before using red light therapy. 

Red Light Therapy Panels vs. Red Light Therapy Beds

When it comes to red light therapy, both red light therapy panels and beds can give you the benefits of red and near-infrared light. But they’re designed differently and work in slightly different ways. Knowing the differences can help you pick the option that’s best for you.