What is Red Light Photon Therapy?
In recent years the application of low-level light therapy has become a driving force in many different areas of medicine. The applications are constantly being studied to see what other benefits can be extracted from light treatment. Different body tissues absorb energy from different wavelengths of light energy. Unlike far infrared, photon light therapy has a shorter wavelength so it doesn’t penetrate as deeply. Photon therapy uses visible red lights at a wavelength of 660 nanometers. Red lights are used for the surface of the skin. When photons touch the skin, the body’s cells absorb energy which is beneficial to the wellness of cells in a number of ways that are worth looking into.
Photon light requires direct exposure to the skin in order for its full effects to be received. When the photon light is absorbed by the body, it forms into nitric oxide. This stimulates synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which is essential for the metabolism of all cellular regeneration. Photon light therapy supports the mitochondria, the part of the cell responsible for generating proteins and collagen. The new cells destroy old cells, assisting even further with detoxification. Photon light is completely noninvasive.
Red and near-infrared light are part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and more specifically, part of the spectrum of light emitted by the sun. These wavelengths of light are “bioactive” in humans.
Red light between 600-700nm offer benefits for skin texture and tone, smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, promoting collagen production and generally rejuvenating the appearance of skin and hair.
Near-infrared light (NIR) 700nm – 1100nm. penetrates deeper into the tissues to assist with wound healing, muscle recovery, nerve injury, and joint pain.
FDA Registered Class II Medical Device
How does it work?
Red light therapy is thought to work by acting on the “power plant” in your body’s cells called mitochondria. With more energy, other cells can do their work more efficiently, such as repairing skin, boosting new cell growth, and enhancing skin rejuvenation. More specifically, certain cells absorb light wavelengths and are stimulated to work.
Red light therapy works in skin health to:
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Stimulate collagen production, which gives skin its structure, strength and elasticity.
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Increase fibroblast production, which makes collagen. Collagen is a component of connective tissue that builds skin.
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Increase blood circulation to the tissue.
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Reduce inflammation in cells.
History
NASA originally began experimenting with red light therapy on plant growth in space and then to help heal wounds in astronauts. Like many developments, other potential uses began to be investigated.
In fact, red light therapy is already widely medically accepted in its use in photodynamic therapy. In this therapy, low-power red laser light is used to activate a photosensitizer drug. The interaction creates a chemical reaction that destroys cells and is used to treat some skin conditions. (Cleveland Clinic)
Benefits of red light therapy
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Reduces wrinkles, fine lines and age spots
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Reduces stretch marks
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Promotes wound healing and tissue repair
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Improves facial texture
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Promotes hair growth
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Increases melatonin / improves sleep
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Improves muscle recovery and energy levels
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Improves joint health
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Reduces pain, swelling and inflammation
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Improves psoriasis, eczema and rosacea
May Potentially Alleviate Symptoms of Depression→
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Mental wellness is a highly controversial area of medicine where opinions on how best to approach it vary greatly. The person to cure depression is certainly going to be remembered fondly. Depression is a severe problem in the world. In America alone, Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD (only one form of depression), affects about 6% of the population. There is more of a demand for answers to this growing problem each day. In recent years, Photon Light has been studied for its effects on the brain, more specifically depression. It has shown some potential signs of improvement in several clinical studies. In a study of 10 students, doctors found that after exposure to light treatment to the head 6 out of the 10 had experienced a reduction on the Hamilton Depression rating scale. Additionally, 7 out of the 10 students experienced a reduction on the Hamilton Anxiety rating scale. The doctors found the best results were achieved after a two week period of treatment. In another study, 20 patients with SAD were treated with 2 hour light therapy sessions involving red light. The conclusion stated that while both were able to yield positive improvements, the green light had a greater effect when it comes to lowering the grade on the Hamilton Depression rating scale. These trial results speak to the potential of photon light when it comes to supplementing depression treatment routines. There isn’t enough evidence to suggest that photon light is enough on its own, but the positive response achieved from the experiments is a hopeful sign for the developing an effective routine for establishing better mental well-being. (1,2)
Photon Light Can Help Improve Skin and Acne →
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The most common area of medicine experimenting with photon light is the skincare field. Since light therapy attempts to affect your cells on a molecular level, it has the ability to make them react in a way that affects your complexion and surface level skin. As a result, there has been a lot of case studies emerging over the years demonstrating the benefits of photon light for the overall condition of the skin. In a study of patients with acne vulgaris, results highlighted that 85% of subject reported a reduction of at least 50% of lesions after just two months. In roughly 20% of these cases, acne eradication reached levels of 90% and after a three month period, complete clearing of the acne ranged around 70-80%. There was a nonresponsive rate of about 20%. Photon light attempts to penetrate deeply into your cells and enact a change from the inside out. (6)
May Potentially Improve Minor Motor Function and Nerve Regeneration →
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There has been a multitude of studies conducted using animal subjects in order to test the benefits of light therapy on more adverse conditions. One, in particular, tested the ability to improve motor function in rabbits that have recently suffered a stroke. They found that light therapy administered six hours after a stroke yielded promising improvements in motor functions. They determined that this finding was something that should be further studied in clinical trials. This suggests that there is a potential benefit to using photon light in efforts to address motor function issues. Light therapy is being studied constantly for its other possible abilities. This includes not just motor functions, but nerves as well. There have been studies using rats to test the stimulation of nerve regeneration in facial tissue and damaged spinal cords. Both tests showed inconclusively, but positive results that further the discussion on the regenerative support possibly offered by photon light therapy. (3,4)
Photon Light Assists in the Promotion of Better Wound Recovery →
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Additional animal studies point to research findings that suggest photon light has the potential ability to support wound recovery efforts for the body. Light therapy has shown improvements in the recovery rates in both mice and rats that have diabetes, a disease commonly associated with having a slower rate of wound repair. Many patients have been reported an increase in collagen, a protein found in skin that is vital for regeneration, after two months, all of which added photon light to their wellness regimens. The ability to stimulate cells allows for photon light to promote better wellness and skin conditions of the body. The progress being made in research of wound recovery with photon light suggest that there is the potential for further discoveries to be made to better use light therapy in this way. (5)