In the past few years, red light therapy has grown in popularity. With its proven power to promote overall skin health, we have seen many influencers, models and your skincare-addict friends obsessed with it.
But do we know how this light therapy works?
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy is a treatment that uses low levels of red light on the skin to help treat skin conditions such as wrinkles, psoriasis, and acne and reduce inflammation. This light therapy uses LEDs, which help increase collagen levels and blood flow.
The benefits of red light therapy were first discovered by NASA in the late 1980s. They found its healing properties while experimenting with red LEDs for potato growth in space.
How does red light therapy work for the skin?
During light therapy, the device sends light waves deep into the skin to activate mitochondria.
Dendy Engelman, MD, explains,
“Red light is most commonly used to promote circulation.”
"If [the light is] red, your skin responds by building, strengthening, and maximizing cellular structure. Red light is also believed to target oil glands to reduce cytokines, which cause inflammation and play a role in chronic acne.” - According to a Dermatologist, LED Light Therapy Can Transform Your Skin, BYRDIE,
The benefits of red light therapy are…
- Reduces fine lines and wrinkles
- Reduces inflammation
- Helps treat acne scars
- Promotes circulation
- Stimulates collagen production
- Brightens the skin
What is the connection between sleep quality and red light therapy?
Red light therapy is linked with serotonin and melatonin production. These hormones, also known as the happiness hormones, play an important role in stabilising mood and sleep quality. While exposure to blue light interferes with our sleep, red light promotes our sleep quality and helps reduce cortisol production.
A study found that when participants received 30 minutes of red light therapy every night for 14 days, melatonin levels and sleep quality improved.
Another study shows that red light reduces sleep inertia, the groggy feeling when you wake up.
Although we still need more research regarding sleep quality, it’s clear that red light therapy does help our skin health and has certain positive effects on our sleep. Why not include red light therapy in your bedtime routine to rejuvenate your mood and skin health?