Red Light Therapy Benefits and Risks

Red light therapy uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to treat medical and cosmetic conditions. Some people use it to reduce wrinkles, scars, and acne. It can also be used for dental pain, hair loss, and more.

A red light therapy device sends low-intensity red and near-infrared light deep into the body’s cells to promote healing. It doesn't use heat and is considered noninvasive and painless.

While there's some research to support the benefits of red light therapy, many of the claims are unproven, and some downsides exist.

What Is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy refers to the use of wavelengths of light to stimulate cell function. These wavelengths are the same as those emitted by the sun.

When the light penetrates the body, it's soaked up by cell mitochondria, the energy factory of the cell. Most of the energy made by the mitochondria is housed in a molecule called adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which helps your body store and use energy.

Aging, illness, or lifestyle factors can make the mitochondria produce less ATP. Red light therapy triggers a reaction that helps reverse the decline.

Stimulating the mitochondria leads to reduced inflammation. It can also support cell regeneration and healing.

Red Light Therapy Benefits

Skin Health

Red light therapy is a popular option for treating redness, scars, acne, and wrinkles. It can be part of photodynamic therapy in which it activates an agent to help the skin absorb more light.

Red light therapy is thought to have health benefits for the skin because of how the light affects collagen production and blood circulation in skin tissue.

In a 2014 study, participants had more collagen density after treatment. Research states that cells involved with collagen production can be stimulated with the wavelengths the red light provides.

Red light therapy may provide benefits for:

• Damaged skin: Red light therapy is used to enhance the appearance of skin that has been damaged or aged by sunlight. It may stimulate the rapid production of cells that make collagen proteins, which lift and tighten lax skin, reducing wrinkles.
• Wound healing: Chronic wounds may heal better with red light therapy. The technique might encourage new skin growth and help new blood vessel networks form.
• Acne: Red light therapy could be an effective treatment for acne vulgaris. It has been shown to safely reduce the number of inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions and reduce the amount of sebum (oil) the skin excretes.
• Hair growth: Low-level laser light therapy may help treat pattern hair loss, but more research is needed.
  

Dental Pain

Dental professionals may use red light therapy to help with different oral health conditions.

The treatment can reduce pain, inflammation, and ulcers. It may also help keep unhealthy oral microbes in check.

The following treatments make use of red light therapy for oral health:

• Temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD): TMD causes discomfort and clicking in the jaw, as well as limited jaw movement. Red light therapy may relieve pain, increase range of motion, and improve muscle activity in people with this condition.
• Periodontitis: Red light therapy can help treat periodontitis, a chronic buildup of dental plaque bacteria. Along with photodynamic therapy, the procedure may help reduce the bacteria associated with this type of buildup.
• Burning mouth syndrome: One study found that low-light laser therapy helped decrease symptoms in postmenopausal women with burning sensations in the mouth.
• Stomatitis: Minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis (MiRAS) causes painful lesions on the lips, soft palate, and the lining of the cheeks. In a 2020 study of children aged 5 to 12 years old, red light therapy reduced pain and the size of MiRAS ulcers within two weeks.

Inflammation

Red or near-infrared light encourages cells to make antioxidants faster and lower inflammatory markers. Soft laser therapy can increase circulation to help relieve inflammatory conditions without drugs or surgery, including:

• Osteoarthritis: Several studies have found that red light therapy can reduce pain and disability in people with knee osteoarthritis. The benefits extended up to 12 weeks after the end of treatment.
• Tendinitis: Pre-exercise red light therapy might improve sports performance and speed recovery from muscle strain. The treatment may have the potential to combat the oxidative stress caused by exercise.
• Psoriasis: Cold laser therapy is a common treatment for mild to moderate psoriasis, an autoimmune inflammatory skin condition. However, different light sources are needed for each type of psoriasis. It’s important to use the right light source for the treatment to be effective and to avoid skin burning or other side effects.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome: In one study, low-level laser therapy helped reduce carpal tunnel syndrome pain in the hands and enhanced electrical activity in the median nerve.
• Brain disorders: Red light can deliver light particles to the brain that stimulate mitochondria there. This may encourage blood flow and help lower inflammation in the brain. It can also help the brain create new nerve cells.

Other Benefits

Red light therapy is said to support the body's natural healing process. Other conditions that red light therapy might help include:

• Herpes cold sores prevention: Red light therapy may help prevent and treat recurrent cold sores (a common infection caused by the herpes simplex virus). However, more studies are needed to confirm the benefit.
• Alzheimer’s disease: Formaldehyde concentrations in the brain are associated with oxidative stress and memory loss. Research has suggested that red light therapy can break down formaldehyde and potentially improve cognitive function in adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
• Anxiety: In a 2019 study, brain stimulation with red light helped improve anxiety symptoms in people with generalized anxiety disorder. The participants were also able to sleep better after treatment.

While red light therapy works for some conditions, there is not enough research evidence to show it benefits the following areas:

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)
• Weight loss
  
• Low back pain
• Cancer treatment support
• Spider veins

Risks and Cons of Red Light Therapy

Before you try red light therapy you should understand the possible side effects and risks.

• There are no set guidelines for how long or strongly red light therapy should be applied, which can lead to variations in treatment.
• Results can be inconsistent.
• Red light therapy may cause retinal eye damage.
• The long-term safety of red light therapy is not known.

How Do You Get Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy can be done at practitioner’s offices and places that focus on wellness, like spas, beauty salons, tanning salons, and gyms.

Where you should go for red light therapy depends on what you’re using it to treat. For example, if you want to use it for healthier-looking skin, you might be able to have it done at a wellness center. However, red light therapy for something like severe acne may need to be done at a dermatologist’s office.

Keep in mind that red light treatments are needed about every three weeks and may need to continue for months, so it can be a big investment.

Most insurance policies do not cover red light therapy. If a practitioner’s office (like dermatologists) offers the service, it may not be covered by your health insurance and you may have to pay out of pocket like you would at a spa or wellness center.

Your insurance provider can provide guidance on cost and the benefits that are available with your plan.

Alternatives to Red Light Therapy

Human studies on red light therapy had small sample sizes, so more research is needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of the treatment for most people.

Your healthcare provider or therapist can suggest other nonmedical treatments to manage your condition. Alternatives to red light therapy include:

• Anti-inflammatory diet: Certain foods may help lower or prevent chronic inflammation, which is thought to trigger many chronic illnesses.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT is a type of psychotherapy or “talk therapy.” It is a well-researched way to treat mental health conditions like anxiety.
• Cupping therapy: This ancient practice stimulates blood flow, which may help relieve inflammation and treat some mental health conditions.
• Acupuncture: Acupuncture has shown the potential to help reduce chronic pain, improve skin appearance, and help people with their mental health.
  

Summary

Red light therapy can be an affordable, nonmedical method for improving many conditions that may not respond to conventional treatments alone. It's safe for most people, but more research is needed to show it is truly effective.

If you're exploring treatment options, ask your provider about trying red light therapy. Compared to other options, it might be easier and more affordable—you might even be able to do it at home.

Before you try red light therapy, make sure you have reasonable expectations about the results and benefits you could get, as well as the possible risks and side effects.