As a treatment method, red light therapy has been gaining attention - but does it really work, or is it just hype?
In this article, we explore why those who are new to red light therapy are often skeptical.
This is important to address, because red light therapy is one of those medical treatments that, at first, often seems too good to be true.
Nonetheless, it's effectiveness stems from the numerous benefits of prividing direct stimulation to the mitochondria.
In the following sections, we further explore why skepticism exists and provide more information to help newcomers to this technology.
Also, check out the BIOMAX Series panels to learn more about red light therapy.
Introduction to Red Light Therapy
Red light therapy is a treatment modality that uses LED devices to shine specific wavelengths of red and near infrared onto the skin. The main function of red light therapy is to stimulate cellular energy production, which has a positive ripple effect on the body.
This natural treatment uses the very same wavelengths of light found in sunlight but without any side effects or the risk of cellular damage. Unlike natural sunlight, red light therapy does not contain any ultraviolet wavelengths.
Red light therapy is used for wound healing, skin rejuvenation, treatment of chronic skin conditions, hair regrowth, pain relief, arthritis relief, muscle recovery, and much more. You can read about its many scientifically validated uses in the Learning Center.
Why is There Skepticism About Red Light Therapy?
Skepticism about red light therapy comes about for a number of reasons.
As noted above, the first is simply due to a lack of understanding in the public about the impact that specific wavelengths can have in providing the body with much needed energy.
Another is due to the fact that the market has been flooded with red light copycat devices that may not even emit light at the medically relevant wavelengths. Some devices are so bad that they essentially just use a red, non-therapeutic lightbulb.
Unfortunately, this may have had a discrediting effect on the industry, although it typically should not require a ton of research for consumers to find trusted brands like PlatinumLED.
Red light therapy is non-invasive and does not require the use of any additional pharmaceutical drugs, which are often better at masking symptoms than they are at treating them (although readers should certainly consult a doctor when considering any form of medical treatment).
Red light therapy is different in that it treats the underlying causes of disease and ill health rather than masking the symptoms.
There are some pharmaceutical treatments that can reduce the symptoms of acne, but red light therapy can treat the underlying issue, which is often related to inflammation.
Some studies say that chronic inflammation is the main cause of all diseases.
Eliminating inflammation plays a big role in inducing the body’s ability to self-repair.
Red light therapy works at the cellular level. In a culture where we expect instant results, many people see this as a sign that red light therapy doesn’t work.
Keep in mind that some medications also take time to take full effect and those that don’t, are generally only treating symptoms and not the root cause of the problem!
Red light therapy can work extremely well if you give it time and consistency. Some effects are almost immediate (such as pain relief) but some take time.
Skin repair from sun damage, for example, will manifest several weeks or months of regular red light treatment because there are many layers of skin that are damaged and need to regenerate: and skin cells turn over about once a month.
Why Red Light Therapy Has So Many Benefits
The effects of red light therapy occur invisibly within the cells. Those sympathetic benefits ripple outward to positively affect not only the individual cells and the systems they’re part of, but the body as a whole.
It all starts with the mitochondria. The mitochondria are tiny organelles present within each cell. Their job is to convert raw materials into cellular energy.
Factors such as chronic inflammation, poor diet (literally, malnutrition), certain drugs, overexposure to sun, and aging can affect how well the mitochondria perform their functions. Without high-functioning mitochondria, the cells don’t get enough cellular fuel, which is called adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
It doesn’t matter how much or even what you eat - if your mitochondria can’t effectively convert raw materials to cellular energy, cells simply won’t perform as well as they should.
Red light therapy works to treat mitochondrial dysfunction. A cell that is adequately fueled is better able to perform its specialized functions, repair itself, replicate itself, and protect itself from damage including oxidative stress.
The key here is that red light therapy supports the body’s innate healing mechanisms.
It’s not meant to “stitch” broken parts together, like surgery - although red light therapy does that very well in the case of skin wound repair by boosting collagen and elastin production. Red light therapy can accelerate healing of any injury.
It’s not meant as a quick fix for symptoms such as allergic rashes, although it can work quickly to reduce erythema (redness) on the skin associated with acne or rosacea. Even better, consistent treatment can help keep inflammatory diseases at bay.
It’s not meant as a substitute for exercise and nutrition, but it can help support targeted weight loss by causing tiny perforations in fat cells that allow lipids (fats) to leak out and be eliminated through the body’s natural waste systems.
It’s not meant as a cure for chronic inflammatory skin disorders, but numerous studies have demonstrated fast relief of symptoms and significantly reduced future outbreaks.
It’s not meant to replace any doctor-prescribed treatments, but it can be an extremely useful modality that shortens healing times.
Using red light therapy consistently gives your body ongoing support that helps your body heal itself.
Numerous studies confirm the healing capabilities of red light therapy. We’ve covered many of these in our other articles: search for a particular ailment in our Learning Center - each article contains links to relevant studies.
If you’re treating an acute condition such as a sports injury or wounds, you can expect much faster healing than if you didn’t use red light therapy. If you’re treating a chronic condition whether it’s arthritis or psoriasis, consistent treatments over time let this all-natural, safe treatment speed up the healing process and even prevent future relapses.
Red Light Therapy with the BIOMAX Series
The key to success with red light therapy is twofold:
Choose Quality Panels With the Right Wavelengths
The BIOMAX Series red light therapy panels give you many treatment options. If you want to turn back the clock on skin aging, you might be tempted to use a red light therapy mask. However, then you can’t treat knee aches, hair loss, foot neuropathy, or receding gums with a mask, but you can treat these conditions and more with panels.
The BIOMAX Series panels are the most powerful in their class, which means more light energy is delivered to the body for faster results.
Panels also give you the option of using additional wavelengths to boost the effects. BIOMAX Series panels feature two red and three near-infrared wavelengths, along with trace amounts of infrared and blue wavelengths.
This array of wavelengths amplifies the effects whether you’re treating a skin condition like acne, or joint pain.
Using under-powered devices will mean much longer treatment times to get sub-par results.
Healthy Skepticism
We are big fans of healthy skepticism! When manufacturers insist that their product is a miracle cure, or that you “will” see amazing results, it’s wise to be skeptical.
We believe that consistent use of BIOMAX Series panels can have far-reaching and significant benefits on the body. There are, to date, hundreds of lab studies and clinical trials that have demonstrated the benefits of red light therapy. This is why we chose specific wavelengths of red and near infrared light, and why we are sticklers for quality.
Check out the BIOMAX Series panels and see which one fits your needs!
