Everything You Need to Know About Red Light Therapy and SKIN

Red light therapy is an innovative tool that many people are using to treat a variety of different skin issues. While a newer form of therapy, the use of red light therapy to improve skin health and quality has become very popular in mainstream skincare, helping people to achieve their goals for skin health.

People use red light therapy on the skin for a variety of conditions, including:

• Promoting wound healing
• Reducing psoriasis symptoms
• Improving melasma
• Reducing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
• Reducing wrinkles and lines
• Improving skin strength and elasticity
• Improving acne
• Improving scarring and stretch marks
• Reducing age spots

While not strictly skin-related, red light therapy is also used to stimulate hair growth on the head or face in those who have areas of low hair density. 

What is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy is an innovative form of light therapy that has only recently gained mainstream acceptance. This form of therapy uses specific wavelengths of light in the red and infrared spectrum to stimulate biological changes in the body. These changes are thought to cause the skin improvements that people experience when using red light therapy.

Light Therapy

Some scientifically-minded people who are unfamiliar with light therapy may initially be skeptical of the concept of light therapies in general. The idea that simply shining a light on an area of the body could bring about a biological effect may initially sound farfetched; however, there are many good examples of light causing biological changes.

The most striking example of light creating a biological effect is the process of photosynthesis, in which plant cells absorb light and capture its energy, combining carbon dioxide and water to produce oxygen and sugar.

While humans do not use photosynthesis, there are many biological processes where it is well-known and accepted that light influences the body. These include:

• Vitamin D production - Exposure to specific wavelengths of ultraviolet light stimulates the production of vitamin D in skin cells. Vitamin D that is synthesized using the stimulation of sunlight or other light sources containing ultraviolet light is considered to be more effective and more efficient than using vitamin D supplements or eating foods high in vitamin D.
• Melanin production - Ultraviolet light exposure stimulates the production of melanin, the molecule that provides the skin with a darker tone. Increased melanin production is what provides a tan after time out in the sun.
• Bilirubin conjugation - Bilirubin is a chemical byproduct of blood cell breakdown. While in most people, the liver quickly breaks bilirubin down into other chemicals, a process called “conjugation”, very young infants are sometimes unable to conjugate bilirubin, leading it to build up into toxic levels. Ultraviolet light can be used to conjugate bilirubin in these infants [1], preventing toxicity that can lead to brain damage.
• Sight - For most people, it can be easy to take sight for granted; however, the process of sight is a biological effect caused by light. Light-sensitive cells in the eye undergo a chemical change when exposed to light, causing not only the conscious perception of light but also subconscious processes that regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

The idea that red light therapy creates a biological effect on the body is consistent with centuries of observations about how light has biological effects.

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

Red light therapy is thought to work by stimulating the mitochondria in your cells. Mitochondria are tiny organs in each of your cells; these subcellular organs are primarily known for being the component of the cell that produces all of the cell’s energy. They do, however, also play an important role in reducing inflammation in the cell and regulating how long the cell lives.

Red light therapy actually uses both red, visible wavelengths of light, and infrared, invisible wavelengths. The specific wavelengths that red light therapy uses are thought to be absorbed by a molecule in the mitochondria called cytochrome C oxidase [2]. This molecule is part of the electron transport chain, a group of molecules that perform a series of chemical reactions that result in energy production in the cell. Stimulating cytochrome C oxidase is likely to improve energy output in cells and may be the primary cause of the benefits of red light therapy.

The History of Red Light Therapy

Light therapy, in general, first gained the attention of medical scientists around 1895, when a Danish doctor named Niels Ryberg Finsen started using light to treat infections [3]. Finsen eventually received one of the first Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine in 1903 for his work.

Research into red light therapy, however, began almost a century later when NASA scientists [4] were conducting research into the use of red wavelengths of light to stimulate plant growth. While the experiment did show improved plant growth, one accidental finding was the scientists who spent significant amounts of time exposed to red light experienced rapid healing of skin injuries that they had experienced.

This discovery led to a separate line of research that resulted in multiple potential benefits being discovered for red light therapy. These potential benefits included not only improved skin health but also showed improved sleep quality, decreased inflammation, and improved muscle recovery.

Red Light Therapy's Effect on the Skin

 

To fully understand how red light therapy can help to improve the quality and health of your skin, it is essential to first understand the different ways that this form of therapy is thought to actually affect your skin. By knowing what red light therapy can do to your skin and the biological effect it can have, you can better understand how red light therapy could help you achieve your skin health goals.. 

Collagen Production

Collagen is a molecule that plays an essential role in skin health. Collagen is a connective molecule that helps skin cells adhere to each other and to other tissues, such as the fatty cells under the skin. Collagen not only helps connect cells and tissues but also provides elasticity to the skin, allowing the skin to stretch and avoid injury.

Collagen is naturally produced in the body from nutrients that are found in the diet. The amount of collagen produced, however, begins to slowly decrease for most people when they reach about 20 years of age [5]. The decrease in collagen production is quite gradual, only decreasing by about 1% a year. This effect, however, does compound and cause lower amounts of collagen that become more impactful as we age.

When collagen production is decreased, it ultimately leads the skin to become less elastic and full. This is the cause of wrinkles that develop as we age and “saggy” skin. Low levels of collagen also make the skin more fragile as we age, making it more prone to damage whenever injuries occur.

Research shows [6] that red light therapy may stimulate cells called fibroblasts in your skin. These cells are responsible for the production of collagen, and using real light therapy may encourage increased collagen production. According to Harvard Medical School scientists [7], the effect that red light therapy has on fibroblasts and the collagen levels they produce can help red light therapy improve symptoms of aging.

Circulation

Blood circulation plays an important role in how well wounds and injuries heal. Blood not only brings the oxygen needed for cells to produce the energy needed to proliferate and heal but also brings essential nutrients that serve as the building blocks for new cells and tissues.

Good circulation also helps to fight infection, bringing immune cells to the site of an injury and helping to remove waste and debris. This promotes healing but also reduces pain by reducing the amount of inflammation while encouraging healing at the site of injury.

Red light therapy has been shown to promote the release of a chemical called nitric oxide where it is used. Nitric oxide helps to dilate arteries where it is present, increasing the blood flow to that particular area. The effect that red light therapy has on releasing nitric oxide is thought to be what causes red light therapy to improve circulation [8]. This improved circulation is one of the key benefits red light therapy can provide, likely playing an important role in many of its effects. 

Cell Proliferation

Cell proliferation refers to cells reproducing themselves, leading to an increased number of cells. Cell proliferation is an important part of the growth of new tissues and healing. As cells multiply, the body forms new tissues and structures, repairing previously damaged tissues. The rate of cell proliferation is a key part of what influences the rate of healing.

Red light therapy is shown to promote cell proliferation [9], especially in cells that are under stress. This can lead to an improved rate of tissue healing and cause wounds to repair themselves more quickly. The exact mechanism of cell proliferation caused by red light therapy is not known but is likely to be a combination of mitochondrial stimulation and increased circulation.

Reduced Inflammation

Inflammation is a normal part of the body’s response when injured. Inflammation results in an increased flow of blood to an area and increased permeability of the tissues. These effects cause the area to become more reddened and warmer to the touch as increased blood flow results. The increased permeability of the tissues allows immune cells and nutrients to better reach the affected area but also can lead to some swelling at the site of the injury.

The inflammatory response plays an important role in healing. Improved blood flow and increased accessibility of immune cells to the site help the area to heal over a short-term basis. One byproduct of inflammation is pain, which signals your consciousness that there is a problem that needs to be attended to.

While inflammation is essential over a short-term basis, it can be very negative if it becomes chronic. People with chronic inflammatory diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, will have constant inflammation that causes discomfort and pain but does not actually result in the body repairing itself.

While inflammation can be caused by disease, it can also be caused by injuries that are chronic or take time to heal. Muscle injuries, wounds that become infected, or tears of ligaments or tendons can all cause increased inflammation. This can actually make it more difficult to fully heal, as inflammation is a stage of healing that has to stop before other stages can occur.

While chronic inflammation can inhibit healing, one of the most aggravating things it causes is pain. The swelling that inflammation causes can cause pain to develop and to stay while the swelling and inflammation remain. Chronic inflammation will generally cause chronic pain that is very difficult to treat or manage.

The effect that red light therapy has on the mitochondria has been shown by research to suppress inflammation [10]. This can promote improved healing, allowing the body to progress beyond the initial stages of inflammation and into more advanced healing. Suppressing inflammation also reduces pain, a benefit that many people use red light therapy to achieve.

What Skin Conditions is Red Light Therapy Used To Treat?

Red light therapy is a great option for many different types of skin problems but should not be used for every kind of skin issue. There are several skin conditions, however, that people find red light therapy to be useful in treating. Red light therapy should not be used as an alternative to medical care that your doctor prescribes but as a complementary therapy. You should always seek and follow your doctor’s advice when treating skin conditions.

It is also important to seek medical advice when diagnosing a skin condition. There are many potential causes of skin problems, and only a qualified doctor can diagnose a skin condition or disease. It is important to never attempt to diagnose a skin condition by yourself.

If you have a skin condition that is likely to be helped by red light therapy or for which red light therapy seems to make sense, you do not need a prescription to begin therapy. It is, however, a good idea to make sure that your doctor knows that you are using red light therapy. 

Wounds

The initial discovery that red light therapy could have positive medical effects was on wounds. Using red light therapy to treat wounds is one of the oldest uses of this therapy and has been shown to improve the speed of wound healing [11]. Wounds will generally heal on their own without any treatments unless they are severe or infected but can be made to heal more quickly when effective treatments are provided.

Red light therapy is used to improve wound healing time, whether it is an external wound that disrupts your skin or an internal wound that affects muscles or other tissues. Open wounds, however, are important to heal as quickly as possible, as healing prevents infection and other complications from having time to develop. This not only ensures that healing occurs but also helps to reduce the risk of scaring, reinjury, or other complications. 

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a skin condition in which the immune system is thought to trigger skin cells to overproliferate. Psoriasis causes scaly, itchy patches of skin. This can lead to discomfort and irritation of the skin, which is difficult to get rid of. One concern that many people with psoriasis have is its cosmetic effect, as it can cause noticeable, unsightly rashes. The ability to hide these rashes depends primarily on the areas that psoriasis affects.

There are several potential treatments for psoriasis, although none of these treatments is a complete cure for the condition. One of the more commonly used treatments that have been shown to help people with psoriasis is a light therapy using ultraviolet light. The wavelengths of this high-energy form of light therapy reduce the overgrowth of skin cells and improve psoriasis symptoms in the areas that are treated.

Red light therapy can be used by people who have psoriasis but is more likely to improve symptoms of pain and irritation of the skin rather than actually improve the skin lesions themselves. The inflammation and irritation that they cause, however, may be reduced by using red light therapy.

One potential benefit of using red light therapy for psoriasis may be that red light therapy helps to protect the skin against damage from UV light [12]. The UV light used to treat psoriasis can increase the risk of skin cancer eventually developing, and red light therapy could provide a protective effect. The degree to which red light therapy actually provides protection, however, is still the subject of ongoing research. 

Melasma

Melasma, also called chloasma or the “mask of pregnancy”, is a common skin problem that causes dark patches to develop on the skin. While pregnancy can increase the risk of melasma developing, it can also develop in non-pregnant women or in men.

Melasma typically occurs on the face and is more common in women or those with darker skin. Hormones, sun exposure, stress, and thyroid disease are all thought to be risk factors for developing melasma. While melasma may disappear on its own, especially if it is related to pregnancy or hormone-based medicines, it may also be permanent and often returns if it disappears on its own.

People with melasma often use red light therapy as a means of improving skin quality and reducing the hyperpigmentation that melasma causes. Studies suggest that red light therapy inhibits an enzyme called tyrosinase [13] that produces melanin, the pigmentation that causes melasma blemishes to develop. Using red light therapy helps to even skin tones and can provide cosmetic improvements for those who have melasma. 

Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation

Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, also called hypermelanosis, occurs when the body overproduces melanin in the skin after inflammation has occurred. In this condition, inflammation triggers skin cells to increase melanin production, leading to darker skin in the areas that were inflamed.

While post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation does fade on its own, this process may take a couple of years or more. Because post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation leads to discoloration that may be cosmetically undesirable, many people who develop this condition prefer to try methods like red light therapy to speed the process.

Much like in people with melasma, red light therapy is used by those with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation for the effect that it has on evening skin tone and reducing patchiness caused by excessive melanin production. By suppressing melanin production, red light therapy may improve the discoloration caused by post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

Acne

Acne is a skin condition that causes hair follicles to become plugged, leading the pores to become clogged. This leads to the development of whiteheads and blackheads that can become infected or cause scarring. Acne commonly affects the face, creating an obvious cosmetic deficit that can be very undesirable.

Bacterial infections can cause acne; however, the whiteheads and blackheads associated with acne can also be related to many other causes. Light therapy has been studied to treat acne, with both ultraviolet light and red light therapy found to be helpful [14]. Ultraviolet light is thought to provide its benefit by helping to destroy bacteria that may be clogging the pore, while red light therapy is thought to improve healing and reduce the risk of long-term scarring developing. 

Scarring

Scars develop when an injury does not heal in a way that returns the skin or affected area to its original appearance. Scars can develop after injuries but can also be a concern after surgery or when stretch marks develop. Scaring is generally a long-term problem that can be permanent if not treated.

Red light therapy may help to reduce the likelihood of scars [15] developing after an injury or may reduce the severity of existing scars. Decreasing inflammation and improving circulation, two effects commonly associated with red light therapy, will help injuries to heal correctly. This reduces the likelihood of scar tissue developing due to impaired healing and increases the chances that full and complete healing will occur.

Several effects connected with red light therapy also help existing scarring to partially or completely heal. Increased collagen production can help damaged skin tissue to regain its elasticity. This can be especially helpful in stretching-related scarring, like stretch marks after pregnancy. Increased circulation and evening skin tone can help scarred areas to heal better, making the skin more even and helping it to appear more consistent with how it appeared before an injury.