Red light therapy has exploded in popularity over the last two years.

Celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Mark Walberg, and Emma Stone have been seen using red light therapy, piquing the public's interest.

But can something as simple as red colored light actually be beneficial?

The answer is a resounding yes, as long as it is the right type of red light (more on that in a second).

This article will explore the evidence based benefits of red light therapy that you can start experiencing for yourself. I will also give you some discount codes for the top red light therapy brands!

But first, let's be clear on what exactly red light therapy is.

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy is not simply shining a red colored light at your body. Red light therapy devices are specialized lasers that range from small hand-held devices, to panels, to full-on beds.

Red light therapy requires specific wavelengths of light, power output, distance, and duration to get the benefits we will talk about later.

Wavelengths

The visible spectrum (the portion humans can see) goes from about 400nm to 750nm, which is a very small portion of the total light out there.

Different wavelengths of light have been shown to have different health benefits. As they pierce your skin and eyes, they can activate or accelerate biological processes that otherwise wouldn't happen.

Red light is interesting in it's ability to penetrate the skin and muscle fibers in ways other colors cannot.

However, not all red colored light will have the desired effects. Only specific wavelengths of light from roughly 620nm to 850nm will be able to produce the benefits talked about later in the article. Your average red colored light emits a wide range of wavelengths without the right intensity or focus for the wavelengths that actually matter.

It's also worth noting that any red light therapy device worth its money will also have near-infrared light (750nm to 900nm). Though humans cannot see into this range, there are a number of important benefits to be had that your average red colored light would not be able to give you.

Check out this guide from Alex Fergus on the optimal wavelengths of red light.

Power output, distance, and duration

We won't go into too much depth here, but the main point is that just like medications, dosage matters. The dose of redlight you receive is dependent on the power output, distance, and duration.

Power output - The wattage of red light therapy devices are tuned to emit a certain amount of light energy per second, helping to give you an effective dose of red light.

Distance - How close you are to the red light also makes a big difference as the power of light diminishes exponentially the further you get away from it.

Duration - Lastly, how long you stay in front of the red light also influences your total exposure and dosage.

Red light therapy devices will usually include a guide to determine the right effective dose for your needs, including power output, distance, and duration.

Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Now that we are clear on what red light therapy is, let's go through some of its major benefits.

Skin health

The primary reason all of these celebrities use red light is for improved skin health and appearance. Studies suggest that red light can improve acne, skin texture, wrinkles, and redness (1).

But how exactly does red light do this? Here is a great quote from Dr. Jared Jagdeo in SELF:

"Red light waves stimulate the mitochondria, which is the energy center within each cell. We believe that sets off a cascade of changes within the cell that allow for the different benefits that we’re able to see, such as the upregulation of collagen production and the reduction of inflammation, pigmentation, and redness in the skin... We’ve also found it helps prompt cellular repair and circulation, which, along with the increase in collagen, can lead to healthier-looking skin and a more vibrant complexion." (2, 3)

Though more studies are still to be done, it seems clear that skin health is one of the major reasons you should consider red light therapy.

Workout and injury recovery

Exciting studies have been slowly coming out over the last few years that show red light's effectiveness in workout and injury recovery (4).

One of the primary reasons for this is red light's effectiveness in reducing inflammation. Red light has been shown to increase the production of anti-oxidants within cells which helps clean up free radicles in the body and can hinder the production of inflammatory compounds (5).

Since inflammation is one of the primary causes of soreness and discomfort post-workout, reducing inflammation with red light can help you start to feel better and heal faster. The same is true for injuries to tendons and muscles alike.

Increased athletic performance

Red light is also effective in increasing athletic performance when used right before exercise.

One study found that red light five minutes before an endurance running test was able to increase the amount of time until exhaustion and reduce post-workout muscle damage (6). Another similar study found that red light before exercise was able to increase the number of repetitions of an aerobic exercise significantly when compared to the placebo in the study (7).

Muscle growth and increased strength is another benefit of red light. Studies have shown an increase in muscle mass and squatting abilities when using red light consistently over several weeks (8, 9). This may be due to faster muscle healing caused by red light.

Decrease pain and slow neurodegeneration

For those with chronic pain or progressive neurodegenerative diseases (like Alzheimer's), red light could help reduce symptoms.

The FDA just approved FibroLux, a therapeutic red light laser that is used for fibromyalgia pain. “When red light therapy was administered via FibroLux laser by a health care professional three times a week for a three-week period, patients experienced a marked reduction in fibromyalgia pain,” says Dr. Eells (10). Neuropathy pain has also been reduced with red lights according to some studies (11).

For neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, some studies suggest that red light and near infrared light can slow progression and improve symptoms.

One study from a couple years ago says: "The use of red to near infrared light on body tissues, can improve central and peripheral neuronal function and survival in both health and in disease. These improvements are thought to arise principally from an impact of [red light] on mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial mechanisms in a range of different cell types, including neurons. This impact has downstream effects on many stimulatory and protective genes... improving the flow of cerebrospinal fluid and the clearance of toxic waste-products from the brain." (12)

Improved immune function

Though red light is not though to have a direct impact on immune function, red light's ability to improve other areas of health can have knock on effects that benefit the immune system.

One way this is thought to happen is through the regulation of inflammation in the body, a well known benefit of red light (5). With inflammation being well regulated, your immune system has more resources and is able to properly focus on fighting infections and disease.

Another way it is thought to improve immune function is through the stimulation of mitochondria, the power house of our cells. When mitochondria are stimulated through red light, it can give the immune system the energy it needs to fight of disease.

Red Light Therapy Discount Codes

Though there are many red light therapy products out there, very few actually emit the right therapeutic wavelengths at the right power levels to be effective.

The brand I use (and is also used by Alex Fergus) is PlatinumLED. I have their BIOMAX 900 panel and stand, and I use it at least 4 times a week. It has been one of my favorite purchases!

👉 Use this link to get 5% off all PlatinumLED products.

The other brand I hear great things about is Mitro Red Light. They have a wide range of red light types and sizes to match your budget.

👉 Use this link to get 5% off all Mitro Red Light products.

Lastly, if you wanted to go all out (and I mean ALL out), you could consider this $122k red light bed from 10x Health System.

All of these brands have been tested to emit the wavelengths that have been shown to produce the benefits we spoke of above.

Conclusion

If you're wanting to improve your health or attain optimal performance, then right light therapy could be exactly what you're looking for.

The benefits of red light therapy include healthier skin, faster recovery, increased athletic performance, less pain, a stronger immune system, and much more!

If you have questions about how to choose a red light therapy devise for you, feel free to reach out to us! We would love to help.