Users tend to ask several questions about the benefits and side effects of any new technological devices related to health and wellness.
One such example is red light therapy, which has improved with time. However, RLT devices for use at home are a newer trend that is here to stay. So, can you overdo red light therapy? You may wonder, but don’t worry; we have covered you with this ultimate guide.
You no longer have to go to a spa or doctor’s office to treat acne scars, hair loss, overall skin care, etc. You may do a home treatment for hair growth or other conditions with red light therapy devices.
If you are interested to find out more about your concern, read more below.
Can You Overdo Red Light Therapy?
Treatments with red light have been tried in hundreds of clinical trials that were reviewed by experts and found to be safe and well-tolerated. You should slow the process with the red light therapy if you’re using it for the first time.
Overdoing red light therapy is not needed and may be harmful. In general, any kind of light therapy that is overdone may damage the skin.
The human body’s cells can only take in so much light at once, and even if you keep holding a light therapy device in the same spot aiming for better results, you won’t get any more benefits.
A better option is to consult a health professional beforehand and have a schedule of everyday dosing with red light therapy.
This is why most light therapy products for home use advise waiting four to eight hours between sessions.
The potential risks
Red light therapy is a visible light that can be filtered to only let through a certain color. If red light therapy is overdone, there are some side effects that may occur. The less serious side effects are usually short-term, including headaches, eyestrain, and irritability.
The more serious side effects are caused by tissues getting too hot, which can cause burning. This would be a type of burn caused by heat, not ultraviolet light like a sunburn.
However, if skin tissue gets too hot, the cells may also be unable to fix their DNA. This could make the skin more vulnerable to mutations caused by other things.
The safest thing is to visit a doctor or a certified cosmetic therapist. Talk to a dermatologist to find out more about your skin problem and to find out more about red light therapy and other treatment options.
How Often Should Red Light Therapy Be Used?
Some skin care products work best when only a small amount is used. For example, washing your face several times a day is not a good idea because you’ll take away your skin’s natural oils, which will dry it out and could lead to even more breakouts.
Red light therapy is a skin care treatment that works well when used properly. You might need treatment about once a week for a month. Then you might need treatments every month or every few months to keep it in “good shape”.
Some devices you can use at home may also take a lot of time. It may be necessary for you to use the device twice daily for 30 to 60 minutes for four to five weeks.
You don’t have to make an appointment to use home devices as you do at a spa or dermatologist’s office. You can use them at any time, but you must remember to follow the RLT device’s instructions on properly using the device.
However, before starting any RLT beauty treatments, you should talk to a doctor, such as a dermatologist or aesthetician.
About Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy (RLT) is a treatment that may help your skin, muscles, and other parts of your body heal. Your eyes are exposed only to a small amount of red light. However, infrared light is a kind of energy that your eyes can’t see but that your body can feel as heat.
Red light is like infrared, but it can be seen. Moreover, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), low-power laser therapy (LPLT), and photobiomodulation (PBM) are all names for red light therapy.
How does red light therapy work?
During red light therapy, you put a red light-emitting lamp, device, or laser on your skin. Your mitochondria, which are sometimes called the “power generators” of your cells, absorb it and turn it into more energy. Some experts believe that this may help cells heal and get healthier. This may help skin and muscles heal faster.
Additionally, red light therapy doesn’t hurt or burn the skin because it doesn’t use much heat. It’s not the same kind of light that’s used in tanning booths, so it can’t really hurt you.
Benefits of red light therapy
Studies have shown that red light therapy treatment might be effective for numerous conditions, such as:
Androgenic alopecia
A study found that 24 weeks of red light therapy helped people with androgenic alopecia (also called male or female pattern baldness) have more hair and thicker hair than those who got a placebo. The treatments took 30 minutes and were given three times a week.
Cold sores
Red light therapy might help cold sores heal a little bit faster. One study found that people who got red light treatment healed on average two days faster than those who got fake treatment.
Reduced wrinkles
Studies show that light treatments may make wrinkles less noticeable, but red light may not be better than other treatments. One study found that wrinkles around the eyes looked better when red and white dermatology lights were used.
Skin issues
RLT may also help improve the look of many skin problems when used with other treatments. Researchers found that all got better when the red light activated a mixture of 5-aminolevulinic acid and hyaluronic acid, fine lines, sun spots, pore size, and skin texture.
Conclusion
Can you overdo red light therapy? To sum up, the answer to this question is that you can use too much of it provided that you use it with caution – tweaking the distance or time of using it.
It is best to consult a healthcare professional for a detailed schedule of how much of this treatment you’d need every day. Otherwise, if overused without caution, it may cause side effects or pose a risk to your skin health.
Although many people discuss using red light therapy as a way to treat some common skin problems and much evidence is made through the research, it is still a new therapy. So, more studies should be done to permanently prove its effectiveness.
In order to not experience any side effects, we recommend not overdoing red light therapy. Always follow the instructions from your doctor and the RLT device.
Hello! I’m Nicky Rodgers.
Almost a decade ago, I got excited about the idea of employing alternative methods like red light therapy to create a healthier life.
To learn more about it, I did my Certified Light Therapist course from Photonic Therapy Institute and started looking into the intricacies of how light therapy influences several bodily processes. Before I knew it, my interest had become an obsession which resulted in this extensive blog.
Here, I offer countless well-researched articles to help you understand the benefits and uses of light therapy. I hope this information gives you a head start in your wellness journey.