Red Light Therapy (RLT) is a type of therapy that basically uses light as medicine. Light therapy isn’t a new concept, but the interest and availability of RLT have become very popular in the past decade. Red light therapy can be administered in spas, wellness centers and tanning salons. The availability of red light therapy beds has even made it possible for wellness enthusiasts to enjoy RLT from the comfort of their own homes.
If light can be used to make you feel better, shouldn’t you just go outside and get some sun? Although natural sunlight has many benefits, it also has some drawbacks when it comes to the damage it can cause to your skin.
Differences Between Sunlight and Red Light Therapy
Natural sunlight contains a spectrum of light from ultraviolet light to near-infrared. Within the broad spectrum of sunlight are wavelengths of red and infrared light (which help your body produce more energy) and UVb light (which enhances Vitamin D production) all of which produce healthy effects on your body.
However, some of the wavelengths of light within the sunlight spectrum are unhealthy. These include blue and violet light (these can damage your eyes and reduce energy levels) and UVa (these cause skin damage and prolonged exposure can cause aging and skin cancer).
Red light therapy exposes your body to near-infrared and red light. When the red light meets the mitochondria of the cells (the powerhouse of the cell where energy is created), the cell is encouraged to create more energy. With more energy, cells are able to work more efficiently, rejuvenate themselves, and repair damage.
Red Light Therapy vs. Sunlight
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What Else Can Red Light Therapy Do?
Although RLT is approved by the FDA, there are still many studies that need to be done to prove its effectiveness. However, there is promising evidence that RLT can have the following benefits:
- promotes wound healing and tissue repair
- improves hair growth in people with androgenic alopecia
- help for the short-term treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome
- stimulates healing of slow-healing wounds, like diabetic foot ulcers
- reduces psoriasis lesions
- aids with short-term relief of pain and morning stiffness in people with rheumatoid arthritis
- reduces some of the side effects of cancer treatments, including oral mucositis
- improves skin complexion and builds collagen to diminish wrinkles
- helps to mend sun damage
- prevents recurring cold sores from herpes simplex virus infections
- improves the health of joints in people with degenerative osteoarthritis of the knee
- helps diminish scars
- relieves pain and inflammation in people with pain in the Achilles’ tendons
Red Light Therapy Can Reverse Sun Damage
One astonishing thing RLT can do that sunlight cannot do is reverse the damage caused by the sun! Sun damage is the main cause of aging skin which can cause other health issues. Red light therapy increases the body’s collagen, elastin, and immune response; it can remove and repair dead or damaged skin cells.
Reversing past damage caused by sunburns and/or too much time in the sun is possible with red light therapy. RLT also protects your existing collagen which helps keep the skin’s elasticity. Although RLT can help fix skin damage due to the sun, and preserve your existing collagen, it cannot prevent future skin damage by the sun–sunscreen is a necessity when outdoors!
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Although natural sunlight includes red light in its broad spectrum, many other harmful wavelengths exist in natural sunlight as well. RLT is safe and has no side effects–the same cannot be said for sunlight!
Want to see for yourself how red light therapy can be beneficial to your overall health? 10X Health System is now booking appointments for our innovative Superhuman Protocol treatment in Aventura, Florida! Book online today.
