Red Light Therapy at Home: What you need to know
Red light therapy, aka photobiomodulation, is a therapeutic treatment that has been proven to help both body and mind, improving the functions from within. The light treatments have the power to rejuvenate skin, promote blood circulation, ease chronic pain, and strengthen your immune system. This is why so many skin care specialists, professional athletes, and people fighting various health concerns turn to RLT.
One of the most convenient things about red light treatments is that you can do it at home. Yes, you heard us right! This article will take you through a detailed guide on how to use red light therapy at home.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
Different types of light waves have different effects on us. Red light therapy utilizes the power of red and infrared lights, which have a positive impact on our cells. These light wavelengths can reach through the skin as deep as 10mm and optimize cellular functions (any process that occurs on a cellular level).
The main secret behind red light therapy’s effectiveness is its ability to increase mitochondrial metabolism. When mitochondria perform at their finest, our cells get more ATP – energy to carry out their functions. This is precisely where the magic happens – cells with more energy are much more robust and have increased regenerative properties, leading to versatile benefits of red light therapy.
What Can Red Light Therapy Help You With?
Because of the fact that red light therapy can alter processes inside our cells, it has many applications. After all, everything that occurs inside and out of our body is linked to proper cellular operation.
Red light therapy has anti-inflammatory properties that come in handy in treating many skin complications. For instance, light treatment has been proven to aid acne patients by preventing and easing inflammation.
The RLT sessions have shown a positive impact on psoriasis too. This autoimmune disease is characterized by red patchy skin bumps that are a result of cell overproduction. Red light particles regulate skin cell turnover that is essential for healing psoriasis patches. Although it is a chronic disease, continuous red light treatments can help you manage the condition more efficiently and avoid further complications.
As we’ve already mentioned, red light therapy is quite popular among professional sportspeople. And there’s an excellent reason for that. If you work out or exercised even once in your life, you’re probably familiar with the muscle soreness that comes with it. This is a natural reaction of your body because it is forced to go out of the comfort zone. Muscle tissue gets stressed and inflamed, resulting in pain.
Red light therapy sessions ease muscle inflammation and speed up recovery. What’s more, thanks to RLT, nitric oxide levels rise, promoting better blood circulation, which is essential for quick and pain-free healing.
And that’s only a small portion of red light’s powers! It promotes better sleep quality, eases anxiety, supports wound healing, and accelerates cognitive functions.
Red Light Therapy At Home
Yes, all these can be obtained from the comfort of your home! You can find red light therapy devices of all sizes, shapes, and functionalities online. So there’s no doubt that you’ll find the light panel that fits your requirements.
Here’s what you need to know before starting RLT sessions at home:
*Purchase the right device – Even though there are countless options available, not all red light devices are created equal. So do your homework! Go through various retailers, ensure that all the necessary testing has been done on the products before you place your order.
*Consistency is essential – Red light therapy is extremely effective but only if done right. In order to see results, you need to be consistent with them. It takes time for your cells to absorb and utilize red light particles, therefore, the more consistent you are, the faster you’ll see the desired outcome.
*Ease into it – When you start with red light therapy, don’t forget to give yourself time to adjust. Start with 2-5 minute sessions, 2-3 times a week. Then gradually increase the frequency up to 5 times per week and the length of the sessions to 20 minutes.
Is Doing Red Light Therapy At Home Safe?
Red light therapy has been around for a long time and there’s extensive research done on the subject. To this day, scientists have not found any adverse effects that can be caused by red light treatments. However, it’s always good to stay informed about potential red light therapy dangers, even though current studies show it to be safe.
With that in mind, don’t forget to consult your healthcare provider before starting the treatment sessions. The doctor who has a hold of your medical records and knows your individual concerns will be able to help you make an informed decision whether red light therapy is the most optimal course of action for you.
