Although most people have heard about red light therapy only recently, not many know that the research and interest for this therapy have been active since the last century. It is due to the potential benefits for skin care, anti-aging, sleep, pain, etc.
So, what research has been done on red light therapy? Since the red light discovery, people have been naturally interested in this laser therapy and whether there is any scientific evidence of its efficiency, safety, and side effects.
Besides the evidence of RLT efficiency, you need to know a few other essential things to make the most out of this near-infrared or infrared therapy.
Continue reading to discover more!
What Research Has Been Done on Red Light Therapy?
As red light therapy is relatively new in the form we know today, there has not been much research to discover its full potential. However, as this therapy has gained popularity in the last decade, it draws more attention to the people who want to try it and the scientists who want to know even more about it.
Many studies have been conducted in different parts of the world, and almost all of them have confirmed the benefits that red light therapy can provide if done regularly and correctly.
For instance, most of the research has been done on the red light therapy effects on the skin, and the results from these studies did not disappoint. Each has shown that red light therapy may affect rejuvenating the skin and making it look fresher and smoother by reducing wrinkles and fine lines.
Other research has been done to prove that red light therapy can increase hair growth, and that research has been successful too. Another popular topic that scientists were researching was the RLT’s impact on neuropathy pain.
Therefore, All the studies have shown that this therapy may significantly reduce this pain by even 50%.
Source: genesis-medspa.com
You Might Be Interested: Are All Red Light Therapy the Same?
Is There Evidence for Red Light Therapy?
Besides the multiple studies and research on this topic, there is still not 100% scientifically backed evidence on this therapy. That does not mean this therapy is not effective.
But on the contrary, scientists are working hard to empirically prove the effects of red light therapy, and anyone who understands at least a portion of the whole light therapy experiments knows how complicated that is.
Until they can provide us with legitimate evidence and scientific proof, we can turn to the many minor studies and research done in the past few years and see how close people are to finally prove the positive effects of red light therapy in humans.
That being said, although there is no official evidence, enough material and study reviews claim with certainty that red light therapy may effectively treat particular health conditions and significantly improve them with regular sessions.
How Did NASA Use Red Light Therapy?
Although red light therapy is a thing of modern times, people have known about red light and tried to explore it in the past century. Since 1993 to be more precise. NASA was the first official organization that tried to use this light for beneficial purposes. Since then, red light therapy has become a real thing.
However, NASA did not use this therapy directly on people. They first started experimenting with plant growth and how the light-emitting diode (LED) affected the plants.
After conducting many experiments, three of them have been the most successful and therefore demonstrated that the light-emitting diode or LED wavelengths may boost the growth of the plants.
Following this discovery, they also noticed that the scientist’s skin lesions are healing faster, leading to them believing that red light therapy has effects on humans too.
That’s how everything started. From then on, NASA did much more research on this topic, but now with red light and people. The results they got were amazing, and they demonstrated that red light could actually have an impact on people as well.
Source: healthnews.com
What Is the Difference Between Infrared (IR) and Red Light Therapy?
The main difference between RLT and IR is their wavelength. Namely, red light is visible to the naked eye and is most effective for topical use on the skin, meaning on the skin’s surface.
This light can be found on the ‘long end’ of the visible spectrum, and its wavelength can be 630 nm to 700 nm.
On the other hand, infrared light is not visible and can be effective for both surface use on the skin and penetrating about 1.5 mm in it. Infrared light’s electromagnetic spectrum can range from 800 nm to 1000 nm.
How Often Should You Do Red Light Therapy?
The person that can most accurately answer this question is your aesthetician. Before you start with the therapy, they will ask you a few health-related questions, and based on your responses, they will assemble a schedule that would fit your needs best.
On average, people need three to four sessions monthly for six to twelve months, but this number varies depending on numerous individual factors.
Conclusion
What research has been done on red light therapy? We hope you could have gotten familiar with the research about RLT and the essential things you must know about it to make this therapy as effective as possible for your particular concern. Also, you could have read what this therapy is used for and how everything started.
Moreover, by explaining the difference between near-infrared and red light, you are now equipped with valuable knowledge to know exactly what to look for next time you want to try this therapy.
Lastly, before trying red light therapy, always consult your doctor or other health professionals.
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.