21 Top Red Light Phototherapy (RLT) Benefits: Ultimate Guide

Red light therapy is often described as one of the “magic bullet” biohacking therapies of our lifetime.

Proponents claim that red light therapy benefits the skin, face, and hair as well as weight loss, pain, mental health, mood, sleep, and even athletic performance.

With so many supposed benefits, it seems too good to be true.

So I sought to answer the question…

Is red light therapy legit or an overpriced scam?

In this article, we’ll explore the many proposed health benefits of infrared and red light, as well as how they work, why most consumer devices are worthless (and what to use instead), and everything you need to know before getting started.

What is Red Light Therapy

Light therapy is a health practice that involves exposure to specific wavelengths of light to treat various conditions or promote overall health.

The light used in this therapy mimics natural sunlight and can help regulate the body’s circadian rhythms and improve mood.

It’s most commonly used to treat seasonal affective disorder (SAD), sleep disorders, skin conditions like psoriasis, and certain forms of depression.

Red light therapy is a subset of light therapy that refers to a narrow band of light wavelengths in the visible red spectrum.

Endre Mester discovered the benefits of it in 1967 when the light from lasers accelerated the hair growth and wound healing of rats [R].

Decades later in the 1990s, interest surged as NASA researchers discovered it had similar rapid wound-healing benefits for the scientists studying it [R].

It became a darling of the science community, undergoing study as a potential therapeutic to address the common issues caused by space travel.

Some of the 60+ scientific names used to describe red light therapy include [R]:

• RLT
• Phototherapy
• Photobiomodulation
• Biostimulation
• Soft laser therapy
• Cold laser therapy
• Photonic stimulation
• Low-level Light Therapy (LLLT)
• Low-power Laser Therapy (LPLT)

We still don’t know exactly how it works, but we do understand a few key mechanisms.

How Red Light Therapy Works

Light therapy has a wide variety of effects on human biology. The primary, however, is to improve the efficiency of the energy generation process (mitochondria).

Red light therapy improves oxygen utilization, ATP energy levels, and accelerates the transport of electrons [R].

But that’s not all.

The main mechanisms behind how light therapy works include:

1. Boosts energy production by stimulating the mitochondria to produce more ATP
2. Triggers hormesis via heat shock proteins (HSPs) and mitochondrial uncoupling
3. Promotes collagen production by stimulating fibroblast cell-cell activity in the skin
4. Promotes cellular oxygenation via activation of specific chromophores (light-sensitive molecules) like cytochrome c oxidase, growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), and enhanced microcirculation
5. Enhances blood circulation by dilating blood vessels, stimulating nitric oxide production, and increasing microcirculation
6. Modulates inflammation by promoting healthy immune responses and reducing production of pro-inflammatory molecules

We can summarize it with this…

The more efficiently your mitochondria generate energy (with minimal free radical damage), the better every bodily system works.

The Countless Benefits of Red Light Therapy

Has real science validated red light as a therapeutic medicine?

A cursory search of light therapy keywords on PubMed yields 39,000+ published scientific and clinical studies, with a clear upward trend:

This is for light therapy as a whole.

The two most common forms of targeted therapeutic light therapy include red light (wavelengths of 620-700nm) and near-infrared light (wavelengths of 700-1100nm).

Out of those entire spectrums, four particular wavelengths absorb best and have the most benefits:

As previously mentioned, since it provides every bodily system with more energy, it has countless uses and benefits. Especially to energy-intensive (mitochondria-rich) organs.

Some of the top benefits of RLT include improvements to:

• Energy
• Skin
• Sleep
• Hair
• Wound healing & tissue repair
• Mental health
• Cognitive performance
• Pain
• Muscle recovery

Let’s dig into the science of each of those (and a whole lot more)!

Skin health

Red light therapy is well-documented to improve skin disorders as well as restore youthfulness to aging skin. It improves fibroblast activity which stimulates collagen repair.

Overall firming the skin and reducing wrinkling. It may also improve blood circulation, which speeds up the healing process and reduces skin inflammation.

Could red light therapy be the ultimate anti-aging skin treatment? Click To Tweet

In a randomized controlled trial just two weekly sessions (for a total of 30 sessions) of red light therapy significantly reduced signs of aging (collagen density and skin texture overall) [R].

Other research shows that it improves healthy skin aging, skin tone, and skin texture [R].

It’s well known to improve skin texture and quality. Perfect for hard-to-treat conditions like acne, psoriasis, redness, sun damage, and to accelerate wound healing.

There are so many beauty and skin health benefits that it’s better to list them here:

• Less sun-induced wrinkles & skin aging from a combo of red and infrared LED light therapy [R, R].
• Better skin tone and smoothness from LED therapy [R]
• Enhanced skin complexion, collagen density, and less roughness from red light therapy [R]
• Reverses signs of skin aging from red light photobiomodulation [R]

Savvy dermatologists recognize this and many now offer low-level laser therapy and related services.

I personally had a large, red scar under my eye disappear after three months of daily usage. To the point that it’s no longer visible.

Acne

Often caused by diet and hormonal issues, acne is a skin condition without great conventional treatment options.

Red light therapy has been clinically studied and shown to help with acne. The primary proposed mechanism is “… increasing keratinocyte turnover and inducing an anti-inflammatory microenvironment.” [R].

Several double-blind randomized controlled trials have shown light just out of the red range helps acne in 4 weeks [R]. A single-blinded research study showed that red light works better than infrared for acne too [R].

However, for acne, blue light therapy works better than red [R]. The combination of red light with blue light treats acne symptoms better than blue alone or using benzoyl peroxide [R].

Healing burns & wounds

Ample scientific data and personal accounts confirm that red light therapy accelerates and enhances the healing of wounds and burns. In fact, the FDA approved it for speeding up wound healing.

Unlike other popular skin treatments, RLT doesn’t induce healing by damaging the skin. Rather, it improves collagen production and reduces inflammation which helps tissue regeneration.

Red light improves wound healing both locally at the spot of application, as well as systemically throughout the body, at least in animal models [R]. However, other research suggests that humans also enjoy these systemic wound-healing benefits [R].

In addition to stimulating collagen production, PBM also causes greater release of beneficial growth factors and other mechanisms [R].

RLT should be a game-changer to mitigate post-surgery infections, and a study of oral surgery outcomes of patients using light therapy found exactly this [R].

But it’s not just wounds.

Diabetic foot ulcers healed from short 30-80 second treatments repeated three times per week for one month [R].

Skin burns benefit too. Both during the early stages of the burn repair as well as the burn scar afterward [R, R].

Personally, this is another area I notice. Usually, minor cuts take about a week to fully scab over and disappear. When I regularly treat them with red light, they disappear around day 4-5.

Hair growth

Is red light therapy the perfect safe and natural way to reverse hair loss? Data suggests that it can both aid hair growth and improve hair-related conditions like alopecia and hair loss.

The primary proposed mechanism behind RLT improving hair is by increasing circulation to hair follicles and stimulating signaling pathways [R].

According to one study of patients with alopecia, the treatment caused a significant improvement in the total number of hairs, hair thickness, and the coverage of hair on the scalp [R].

Another study of women with alopecia found that a daily treatment increased their hair growth by 37% above the placebo [R]. And a bunch of other benefits for alopecia [R, R, R].

Luckily, it’s not all about alopecia.

A small double-blind randomized controlled trial found red light significantly increased hair follicles from treatments 3X per week for 16 weeks [R].

Another mid-2023 study found that it can improve scalp health, hair appearance, and hair density [R].

The main downside?

Most of these studies show that the strongest hair regrowth benefits take 12-24 weeks. I haven’t noticed much change in my hair growth, but I’d certainly incorporate red light therapy into a biohacking hair loss routine.

Weight loss

You’ll often see red light therapy advertised for fat and weight loss benefits. Most of the effects are indirect.

Several studies demonstrate this nicely.

A paper published in 2011 showed that four weeks of red light caused fat (adipocyte) cells to release triglycerides, which caused fat loss [R].

Another study confirmed that light therapy likely induces weight loss by stimulating the mitochondria in fat cells [R].

In 2015, a group of 64 obese women were divided into two groups: exercise, or exercise + phototherapy. 20 weeks later, the group that also received near-infrared phototherapy had double the fat loss compared to the group that only exercised [R].

This 2021 meta-analysis reviewing the data concluded (emphasis mine) [R],

4 randomized controlled trials, 2 large retrospective cases series and 1 small prospective cohort study concluded that laser-based LLLT was effective in reducing subcutaneous fat deposits, whereas 1 randomized controlled trial and 2 small prospective split-abdomen cohorts did not find any significant differences.

So the data behind whether photobiomodulation improves weight loss is mixed, but promising. The majority of the research shows that it helps.

Personally, I haven’t noticed any body composition changes that I can attribute exclusively to LLLT. But since it takes zero effort and has other benefits. Why not add it to your routine?

Pain relief

Can targeted light therapy alleviate pain? The research suggests yes. And this is another common use/benefit users report.

It’s hypothesized to work like Aspirin, by inhibiting an enzyme called COX-2.

Even a small handheld red light can help with joint pain and sore muscles.

There are tons of studies on how red light therapy alleviates pain:

• Chronic lower back pain [R]
• Osteoarthritis pain [R]
• Neuropathy [R]
• Fibromyalgia pain [R]
• Surgery pain [R]
• Jaw pain [R]
• Chemotherapy pain [R]
• Tennis elbow [R]
• Achilles tendon pain [R]

In fact, 830nm near-infrared light in rats naturally increases the circulation of painkilling opioids [R]. In mice, red LED therapy helps reduce post-spinal cord injury pain and range of motion [R].

If you have chronic pain, red light is worth your consideration as a potentially effective natural treatment. But if it persists or gets worse, have it checked out.

Brainpower

Although red light therapy has been studied to help neurodegenerative diseases, it also improves cognition and brain function in healthy individuals. I consider it a mild nootropic.

It appears to improve the brain through several mechanisms. Including greater mitochondrial energy production efficiency, better blood flow, and oxygenation.

This results in greater formation of new neurons (neurogenesis) and connections between them (synaptogenesis) [R].

Unlike many substances that just exert one or two effects, light can improve various parameters of brain health and function:

• Alertness and mental performance for shift workers [R]
• Reaction time, attention, memory, and mood [R, R]
• Emotional benefits [R]
• Executive function [R]
• Learning, memory, attention, problem-solving, planning, organizing, decision-making, and impulse control [R]

Again, this has benefits for both conditions related to poor brain health as well as for the healthy looking for greater performance [R].

Some folks claim that only high-powered red light LED helmets improve brain health, but I feel the effects from using my at-home red light LED panels.

I like to use it for a mid-day pick-me-up instead of caffeine. And my Sensai transcranial red light therapy helmet makes a pronounced difference to my mental and cognitive sharpness. It also stacks nicely with Brain.fm brainwave entrainment technology.

Cognitive impairment

On the other side of the spectrum, and better researched than for cognitive optimization, red light shows promise for helping treat conditions of cognitive decline.

Animal and human studies both show that red and near-infrared light improve:

• Dementia [R]
• Alzheimer’s disease [R, R]
• Parkinson’s disease [R]

A small double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study of 11 patients with dementia found that a combination of red and near-infrared light improved their attention, memory, and executive function [R].

This 2022 review hypothesized that low-level laser therapy can protect brain cells in Alzheimer’s Disease [R]. Potentially, helping break down beta-amyloid plaques too [R].

Another larger mid-2023 meta-analysis had similar findings [R].

Not only that, but it appears to also potentially help improve neuroprotection and function [R]. This suggests that each of those conditions has an element of energy dysfunction, and red light can help alleviate that dysfunction.

I first became interested in red and near-infrared light therapy as a potential adjunctive to help with traumatic brain injury.

Given the tremendous potential and relatively low cost, I’d certainly consider adding light therapy to my brain health protocol.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

As a collegiate Rugby & American Football athlete, I saw dozens of concussions. Uncontrollable brain inflammation and microglia activation would debilitate some of my teammates.

Multiple research papers have shown that PBM may help with multiple facets of post-TBI recovery.

Including reducing neuroinflammation, improving blood flow, and oxygenating neurons [R].

Rat studies also show that RLT improves head injury outcomes by helping balance levels of inflammatory molecules like IL-1B, IL-6, and TNF-a [R].

Several case reports confirm the same findings [R].

Longevity & anti-aging

One of the fastest-growing use cases of red light therapy is longevity & anti-aging. PBM works both on the aesthetic level of helping hair and skin, as well as improving hallmarks of cellular aging.

One 2014 study showed that RLT had anti-aging, collagen-increasing, and skin-rejuvenating effects [R]. With a better safety profile compared to other potential treatments.

Similarly, it can improve other markers of youthfulness like skin complexion, skin tone/texture, and fewer wrinkles and fine lines. Clearly, RLT is great for skincare.

As mentioned previously, PBM also can stimulate hair follicle growth and help reverse hair loss, in both males and females [R].

Plus, the wound healing benefits directly impact longevity.

Each time the body repairs a wound, it uses stem cells and other growth factors that exhaust critical resources and can potentially harm DNA-protective telomeres. Making this process shorter & more efficient can slow the biological aging process.

Then we have the impact of red light therapy on the aging brain. Numerous studies have shown that red light protects and improves function [R, R, R].

Potentially helping fix neuroinflammatory issues as well as brain energy metabolism [R].

The longevity and anti-aging benefits of red light therapy are among the top reasons I personally use it daily. Though it’s quite hard to quantify the long-term effects on myself.

Mood (depression & anxiety)

Regular PBM users often remark that they feel better after the first session.

There’s something deeply relaxing and calming about sitting in front of a powerful red light panel.

Many of the previously referenced studies also noted that red light positively impacts mood [R].

One famous case study found that it improved anxiety, depression, and other mood disturbances [R].

Other research suggests that it has a systemic effect, potentially helping depression [R]. Even in patients with Bipolar Disorder [R].

From the ancestral viewpoint, light acts as a form of energy to stimulate energy centers (chakras, meridians, etc) that are often imbalanced due to modern living.

These systems classify the color red as the root-level survival instinct. So applying red light can help balance the core dysfunction of mood-related issues.

The very first and perhaps most consistent benefit I’ve noticed from RLT is its impact on mood. I always emerge 15 minutes after my sessions feeling better than before.

I’ve noticed that it really helps with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), even though it’s not bright white light like most studies use.

I usually use it about 2 hours before bed.

Sleep

I’ve tested all kinds of the purported best sleep biohacks. Protocols like sauna therapy, PEMF, brain training, and more. Then substances like high-dose melatonin, magnesium, full-spectrum hemp, C60, glycine, passionflower, and countless nootropic sleep aids.

Red light therapy isn’t as strong as some, but it’s non-pharmacological and consistent for me.

From a circadian perspective, the link between red light and sleep makes sense. Red and near-infrared dominate the natural sunlight spectrum around sunset. So that sends a cue to our biology to begin winding down.

It also can help alleviate pain without disturbing your natural melatonin (sleep hormone) production as other spectrums of light do [R]. That study also showed that red light can improve sleep quality.

Tons of anecdotes suggest that it helps with insomnia too.

Though I definitely recommend going outside to get morning light exposure—which encourages melatonin production in the evening—PBM can help in a pinch [R].

For sleep enhancement, I also recommend using red light therapy about two hours before bed.

Immunity

Although blue is generally considered the superior anti-pathogen light wavelength, red has some benefits too. Sadly, there’s not nearly as much research.

First, it can help modulate your immune response. Bringing an overactive immune system down, and underactivity up [R].

Shockingly, HPV patients undergoing three months of red light exposure experienced greater eradication of the virus [R].

After oral surgery, red light helps reduce the occurrence of infections [R].

This light treatment also affects levels of a particular kind of immune cell called macrophages [R].

Though no smoking gun, red light may help kill a variety of different bacteria [R].

I haven’t noticed much if any change to my immune function from daily use. But when I got sick, I did recover very quickly. I’d speculate this was due to greater energy availability.

Inflammation

Among the top uses of red light therapy is to help treat inflammation and related conditions.

This is another one of those benefits that are often studied as a parameter in other research. Countless studies have found anti-inflammatory effects.

It helps modulate inflammatory responses [R]. And it also brings down levels of damaging inflammatory cytokines like IL-1A, IL-6, and TNF-a [R, R].

When these run out of control, widespread bodily damage can ensue. Also, potentially lengthening the duration and severity of sickness.

Deaths resulting from the infamous cytokine storm are one such example of why modulating the immune system is so important. And yes, light therapy can help you manage that cytokine storm [R].

I wouldn’t use it too soon following exercise, as red light exposure may blunt inflammation. While this can accelerate muscle repair, it may inhibit some of the beneficial signaling cascades [R].

If I had a condition related to inflammation (most of them), I would certainly use PBM daily.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects movement. It’s caused by insufficient dopamine in the brain, leading to debilitating symptoms like tremors, stiffness, and balance and coordination problems.

While there’s far less research than for Alzheimer’s and dementia, red light therapy still shows potential.

Mechanistically, this makes sense as Parkinson’s is linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, which red light therapy helps.

Indeed, scientists confirm this, “Essentially, it seems to be a logical conclusion that PBM could be quite effective in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease in human patients.” [R].

Plus, it’s neuroprotective meaning that it helps prevent cell death of neurons [R].

A 2023 animal study found that red light works systemically to help restore dopaminergic cell function [R].

Although the strongest effects come from using both internal and external devices together [R].

Atherosclerosis (heart & blood vessels)

Atherosclerosis is a condition of the heart and blood vessels. Red and infrared improve multiple parameters of blood including oxygenation and nutrient delivery. Could light therapy be a magic bullet?

Blood flow to the back of both hands improved after 2-20 minute sessions of UV + infrared light were applied to just one hand [R].

One animal study found that full-spectrum light therapy reduced levels of cholesterol as well as plaque as effectively as anti-cholesterol medications [R].

A later 2021 human study found that red and infrared improved full-body blood flow despite only exposing the right foot to the red light [R].

Strategic light treatment also impacts stem cell populations within the blood [R].

Not only that, but red light therapy can improve multiple cardiometabolic biomarkers [R]:

• Total cholesterol
• Blood pressure
• Triglycerides
• Blood glucose

Overall, the data linking light exposure and cardiovascular health and function is strong enough to warrant consideration. I usually use it before exercise as a natural pre-workout.

Heart (stroke & myocardial infarction)

Can light therapy help heart attacks and strokes?

It appears that near-infrared light can help reduce heart attack-induced scarring [R]. As well as dramatically increasing levels of protective stem cells and blood vessel density.

Though less impressive, a rat study found that light significantly improved outcomes and lessened the scarring after a heart attack [R].

Red light improves oxygenation and nutrient delivery which is key to optimal post-event recovery. Click To Tweet

If I were to do stem cell therapy (which is quite expensive), I’d certainly include red light therapy around my procedure to get the greatest results [R].

Diabetes & blood sugar

Diabetics eventually develop issues due to major glycemic fluctuations.

As mentioned in the previous section, light affects many parameters and biomarkers of cardiometabolic health. In both humans and animals.

Light therapy may improve both conditions and the dysregulated biomarkers.

One of the common side effects of diabetes is retinopathy and light therapy can help [R]. At least, in rats.

There are likely all kinds of mechanisms at play here, including modulation of the immune system and greater efficiency of energy production and other levels of important biomolecules.

I came across one other randomized controlled trial that suggested mainly infrared light can improve diabetic neuropathy [R].

Given the virtually non-existent side effects, this is an excellent treatment to consider in conjunction with the typical course of action.

Carpal tunnel & arthritis

Immune issues and heavy chronic inflammation characterize carpal tunnel syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis.

As we’ve already established the RLT helps with systemic inflammation, and it should also lessen these conditions.

Indeed, just one single treatment with a near-infrared laser improved arthritis in rats.

But it’s not just rats.

Applying red light to one hand of rheumatoid arthritis 3X per week for 12 weeks resulted in pain relief in nearly three-quarters of patients. In both hands [R].

Decades later, a meta-analysis of seven clinical trials in humans found that LLLT improved multiple parameters associated with carpal tunnel syndrome [R].

Athletic performance, muscle growth (hypertrophy) & strength

Can red light therapy really provide ergogenic performance-boosting benefits? Are the professional & Olympic athletes promoting RLT on Instagram right?

Both animal and human studies suggest so. Independent of enhanced athletic recovery too [R].

We’d expect this, as muscle cells need a large supply of nutrients, blood, and oxygen so they contain high densities of energy-generating mitochondria.

One mouse study shows that spot treatment has systemic muscle size-increasing effects throughout the body [R].

As a pre-workout, red laser light increases time to exhaustion (TtE) and reduces muscle fatigue [R].

Perhaps most excitingly, a double-blind randomized controlled trial showed that a small group of healthy men without prior training experience enjoyed the following from red light therapy (compared to the placebo) [R]:

• Greater athletic performance
• Less soreness
• Less muscle damage

A study of elite female athletes found that it improved their endurance [R].

This nicely sums up the athletic performance benefits of red light.

I’d recommend using it before exercise for greater muscle performance, to help heal muscle injury, and even to reduce post-workout pain and soreness (D.O.M.S) [R].

Finally, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial found that “photobiomodulation therapy is better than cryotherapy in muscle recovery after a high-intensity exercise” [R].

It doesn’t just work for healthy athletes either. Patients with heart disease exercised better from light irradiation [R].

These are just some of the reasons that I usually sip my homemade pre-workout drink in front of my red light panel.

Vision & eye health

Vision and eyesight are notoriously difficult to treat. Standard of care options don’t do much either. And it’s well-established that light has a massive impact on the eyes.

The eyes have among the highest concentrations of mitochondria throughout the body (along with the brain, heart, and reproductive system).

Logically, anything that helps the organs generate more energy with less metabolic waste should help.

Such is the case with light therapy, and the countless anecdotes online corroborate this.

LLLT can help improve vision as well as control eye conditions. This includes myopia, retinal disease, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, dry eye disease, and much more [R, R, R, R, R].

It appears that balancing blue and red light exposure may be key to these outcomes. Since most of us already get plenty of blue from technology screens, supplementing red with light therapy makes intuitive sense.

Some of the results are inconsistent, but it’s certainly worth consideration. I’m looking forward to seeing more research on the impact of light on eye health and function.

Potential Red Light Therapy Benefits

These benefits are often reported or have limited data supporting them. Nonetheless, they warrant inclusion.

Libido & sexual health

Users sometimes report libido and sexual health (and performance) benefits from using red light therapy.

One of the proposed mechanisms is that exposure to red light increases levels of an enzyme called nitric oxide (the same one stimulated by Viagra and related drugs). Increasing systemic blood flow.

The reproductive organs also have high concentrations of mitochondria, and light therapy can help bring them “back online”.

Anti-toxin

Red and infrared light may act as an anti-toxin. One study of mice injected with snake venom recovered significantly better when exposed to therapeutic light as compared to the control group [R].

Although this is one area needing far more study to consider it a proven benefit. Especially in humans.

Bone health

The research on the impact of light therapy on bone health is conflicting. We’ve seen that it impacts stem cell levels in the blood. Several animal studies suggest that it improves bone repair after surgery/injury [R, R].

Only local treatment would likely confer the benefits. Since I haven’t seen any human clinical trials, I’m leaving this as a potential benefit.

Thyroid function

I personally use localized light therapy on my neck because I believe it stimulates the thyroid gland. The data on the impact of light therapy on thyroid function is conflicting. Animal studies suggest that it doesn’t have systemic effects [R].

Although I’ve heard countless anecdotes that red/infrared light has helped people with thyroid issues, so I’ll continue using it to support my thyroid anyway (I don’t have any pathologies though).

Drawbacks to Red Light Therapy

While red light therapy sounds like a magic bullet, it has some downsides. And, it isn’t for everyone.

Here are some of the things you should consider before investing your time, money, and energy:

• Sporadic research: there’s virtually zero standardization in the research. Studies use different wavelengths, light irradiance levels, methodologies, etc. It’s hard to say how the researched benefits will translate to you.
• Device type: many of the studies use quite high-powered lasers instead of commercial LED panels. Usually, you can make up for this by decreasing your distance from the panel and increasing the session duration. But it’s another variable to keep track of.
• Total cost: make sure to choose one of these top red light therapy panels that have the best power-to-price ratio. Many devices on the market are underpowered yet overpriced crap.
• Medication interactions and side effects: while rare, light therapy does impact many physiological processes in the body. Make sure that it’s safe for you and your lifestyle.
• Gradual benefits: some of the benefits are immediate, but many of them take consistency and commitment to maintaining a regular practice. Don’t expect life-changing results from one single session (though that does sometimes happen too).

These are some of the things that I wished biohackers had shared with me before I got started and purchased a panel.

The Safety of Red Light Photobiomodulation Therapy

Photobiomodulation therapy is incredibly safe across a wide demographic and as an adjunct to a number of conditions.

When used as instructed, most people have zero to very mild side effects (like feeling warmth or flushing). These are not dangerous.

Unlike tanning beds or other UV light treatments, RLT doesn’t expose you to harmful radiation.

The primary circumstances that warrant caution include:

• Pre-existing conditions: if you have certain medical conditions like cancer, epilepsy, or photosensitivity
• Medications: some medications increase your skin’s sensitivity to light

The primary time I’d be cautious would be if you have cancer [R]. Even though recent mid-2023 data suggests that it’s probably safe even then, you’ll definitely want to discuss that with your credentialed healthcare professional first [R].

When in doubt, consult your medical professional.

Enjoy The Vast Health Benefits of Near Infrared & Red Light Therapy

Light dramatically and rapidly influences thousands of electromagnetobiochemical processes throughout the body and mind.

During sunrise and sunset, sunlight is naturally rich in red and infrared light. These are considered the healing, rejuvenating, and restorative wavelengths.

The middle of the day is dominated by blue AND UV light, which are energizing. Unfortunately, our computers and phones also put out mostly blue light.

Throughout most of history, humans had balanced exposure to both. These days, however, most of us can’t get enough red and infrared. Leading to the boom of photobiomodulation therapy.

Red light has some unique human health effects and benefits:

• Mitochondrial energy enhancing
• Anti-inflammatory
• Wound healing
• Hair and skin enhancement
• Mental health
• Longevity & anti-aging
• Mood balancing
• Immune regulating

And a whole lot more.

The research is quite clear.

You won’t get this with just any system.

Most panels on the market are total crap. And here’s the real kicker…

Research shows that for certain goals, the full benefits of RLT can take up to 24 weeks to become obvious.

With the wrong device, not only will you waste money, but also nearly half a year of your dedication.

I’ve done dozens of hours of research, tested, and reviewed some of the top panels on the market. I now use several systems daily and see (and feel) a big difference.

Including a life-long scar under my eye that’s now disappeared.

Make sure to get one of these top powerful at-home red light therapy machines.

If you found this article helpful, I’d appreciate you sending it to a friend or sharing it on social media.

Now… what about you? What benefits have you noticed from red light therapy? Drop a comment below and let me know!