My Light Therapy Findings

There have been many questions regarding light therapy and risks, as well as the benefits. Don’t confuse light therapy with UVA/ UVB/ UV/ UVC, which can cause skin cancer.
I recently began adding red light therapy to my skincare. Before adding light therapy, I researched the topic to gain a better understanding of it.

Difference in Red Light Therapy Types

It's important to understand the difference between red light therapy and near-infrared red therapy.

• The main difference is that near infrared light therapy is deep penetrating, so you will need fewer sessions.
  • Low-level red light therapy can be used at home as well as daily, depending on your skin's sensitivity and the device recommendations.
    • LLLT uses either coherent light sources (lasers) or non-coherent light sources consisting of filtered lamps or light-emitting diodes (LED) or, on occasion, a combination of both.
• Other names you might hear to describe red light therapy include:
  • Low-level laser light therapy. (LLLT)
  • Low-power laser therapy. (LPLT)
  • Non-thermal LED light.
  • Soft laser therapy.
  • Cold laser therapy.
  • Biostimulation, photonic stimulation.
  • Photobiomodulation and phototherapy.

Red Light Benefits:

• Decrease wrinkles
• Help heal scars and wounds
• Increase melatonin production
• Enhance eye health
• Reduce anxiety
•  Scalp care (frequencies in 620-650nm range)
• And much more

Infrared light benefits: (Professional use only)

•  Relieve joint pain and inflammation
•  Improve circulation of oxygen-rich blood in the body
•  Spur weight loss
•  Improve cognitive function
• Enhance thyroid functions
• And much more

Are There Risks Or Side Effects?

As with any type of procedure or treatment, complications can occur with overexposure or misuse. This applies to both red and infrared light therapy, even with regular use.

Ultimately, you should always follow medical or product guidelines to ensure you are safely exposing yourself within proper timelines.

Since studies and findings are still being reported, keep yourself updated.

Search for FDA-cleared devices is best when purchasing for home use, such as red light therapy devices. Do your research. Use your best judgment and do not overuse. Long-term usage is still unknown.

SJPL Resources 

eResources: 

MedlinePlus: Information on medical topics. Includes links to a medical encyclopedia/dictionary, and clinical trials. From the National Library of Medicine/National Institutes of Health.

Books:

The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy

More books on Red Light therapy are available through Link+.