Red light therapy has become a popular treatment that many people have started to use more frequently. RLT works by radiating particular wavelengths to the skin, which penetrate deep and potentially help with your issues, like wounds, acne scars, skin care, etc. But can you use red light therapy on open wounds?
Clumsiness may be part of your daily life, and sometimes it can result in causing an injury. So, it’s good to have an RLT device that might contribute to faster wound healing without leaving a scar.
Since you are all about properly caring for your wounds, reading this article will help you understand whether you can use red light therapy on open wounds.
Let’s get started!
Can You Use Red Light Therapy on Open Wounds?
In numerous clinical studies, red light therapy has proven to be a potentially safe, common method that might speed up healing for wounds, surgical incisions, and scars. When using red light therapy, patients recovering from wounds and operations might experience significantly less pain and irritability, with quicker healing results.
Light therapy has become a well-known, standard method of possible healing and pain relief from professional athletes to older people with joint inflammation. All of this happens without the negative side effects of prescriptions for discomfort remedies and intrusive practices.
One of the many advantages of light therapy for people is that it might have an excellent therapeutic impact on wound healing. Human tissues are exposed to red light at 600–700 nm as part of red light therapy for wound healing.
So until now, you may continuously ask yourself if you can use red light therapy on open wounds, and the answer is yes.
In the next paragraph, you’ll learn how to use it properly.
How to use it on wounds
Open wounds might respond well to red light therapy. Even in the comfort of your own home, you might self-treat wounds with red light therapy products.
Red light therapy products might be used to treat minor wounds on your own. However, more severe skin wounds like deep cuts need medical attention.
Here is what you should do if you want to treat wounds with red light therapy:
- Clean the light with an alcohol wipe before each treatment.
- Apply a non-medicated cleanser to the area that will be treated.
- Treat each area (6-12″ in diameter) for 1.5 to three minutes while keeping the light 6 to 12″ from the skin’s surface.
- Treat the wound itself and the surrounding area once daily until fully healed.
A tried-and-true natural treatment without possible side effects is red light therapy. You’ll experience a safe treatment if you use it properly. But just to be safe, you should still cover your eyes. Utilize eye protection, such as safety goggles, as they have a high potential for glare. Also, avoid staring into your RLT device at home.
Source: theralight.com
What to Expect From The Red Light Therapy Treatment
While other devices won’t, some might become warm. Some people may feel a warming sensation in the skin, but not others. No discomfort or unpleasant sensations, such as pain, tingling, or burning, will exist.
The likelihood is that there won’t even be a slight sensation. The pain from the wound might start to subside pretty quickly. It is a relief, even though this effect might be only temporary.
| Benefits |
| It might boost phagocytosis, or the removal of damaged or dead cells, including microbial cells, and might aid in the prevention of diseases. |
| It might promote capillary formation and circulation. The wound area might receive more oxygen and nutrients needed to start and maintain the amazing healing process due to increased circulation and the development of new capillaries. |
| Collagen, a crucial protein in keloid scar healing, might be stimulated by this substance. |
| It might result in the release of cellular energy, or ATP. |
| It might boost lymphatic system activity. Avoiding overtaxing the lymph system might ensure effective cleansing and detoxification of the injured area and promote lymphedema prevention. |
| It might give the damaged and surrounding cells the energy they need to self-heal. |
| Fibroblast production might be stimulated. In the final stages of healing, fibroblasts synthesize collagen, elastin, and proteoglycans. |
| During the healing process, new connective tissue and microscopic blood vessels form on the surfaces of a wound. This is known as tissue granulation, and this therapy might stimulate it. |
Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Things to Consider
Deep red light penetrates the skin and affects mitochondria at 650 nanometers. In comparison, 850 nanometers is the typical range used by red light therapy devices (near-infrared has more penetrative power to get into the tissue).
Certificates
Many red light therapy devices fall within this typical level. To prevent purchasing a fake or harmful red light therapy device, look for standards or certificates that verify the device’s legitimacy and safety. The safety and light calibration standards are two factors to keep an eye out for.
Larger devices
If your finances allow, choose red light therapy equipment with the greatest coverage possible because larger devices function better and release more light energy. The full-body red light therapy at home is also instantly accessible with larger devices.
Customer reviews
The effectiveness of the red light treatment device in particular situations can also be demonstrated by customer satisfaction and recommendations.
As an illustration, some users address the device’s robustness, usability, light output, and whether it needs any maintenance. Customers will also let you know if the business allows simple returns and replacements.
Irradiance
The amount of energy absorbed by a specific body part while using a device is known as irradiance. Imagine it as the rate at which energy is delivered. Red light therapy at home with higher irradiance might produce better results in less time.
Related: How Effective is Red Light Therapy
Conclusion
Red light therapy may be safe for all skin types, including the most delicate. A non-invasive technique that might treat specific skin-related issues, heal wounds, and slow aging is expected.
So, can you use red light therapy on open wounds? We hope you have discovered the answer, which is a possible yes.
However, ensure you find the right device that is suitable for you but also affordable. There are various red light therapy devices, so you know what you need.
Remember, you should always consult with a professional or doctor before using red light therapy on open wounds due to your overall health!
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.