Seems like everyone is talking about red-light therapy for everything from healing bones to restoring hair loss.
NASA originally began experimenting with red light therapy on plant growth in space and then to help heal wounds in astronauts. Like many tools used by NASA, research went into development for other uses. It wasn't long before RLT was used in conjunction with skin aliments such as certain skin cancers, warts and rosacea to name a few. It was my research into rosacea remedies that I came across articles having to do with red-light therapy and the benefits to the skin.
RLT is thought to work by stimulating energy in your body’s cells called mitochondria. With stimulating more energy, 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. Because of its anti-inflammatory effects, doctors may also use RLT to help improve the skin’s appearance, such as reducing wrinkles, scars, redness, acne and to stimulate collagen production.
Angela Lamb, MD, an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai uses photodynamic therapy to treat actinic keratosis. The red light can destroy abnormal skin tissue without harming the healthy skin.
Red Light Therapy is safe. Protective glasses are required to protect the eyes during treatments. There is a lot of promising research still continuing. but for many practitioners, RLT is the future in skincare.
