Red light therapy (RLT) is a proven clinical method that uses red low-level wavelengths of light to treat skin problems like wrinkles, scars, and chronic wounds, among other things.
Scientists used RLT to help grow plants in space in the early 1990s. The researchers discovered that the intense light from red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) aided plant cell growth and photosynthesis.
The potential of red light in medicine was then investigated, with the goal of determining whether RLT could increase energy inside human cells. RLT may be an effective treatment for muscle atrophy, slow wound healing, and bone density problems caused by weightlessness during space travel, according to the researchers.
Photodynamic therapy is the term used when RLT is paired with photosensitizing drugs. The light only acts as an activator for the drug in this form of therapy.
Red light therapy comes in a number of ways. Red light beds, which can be found in salons, are said to help in the reduction of cosmetic skin issues such as stretch marks and wrinkles. In a medical office setting, red light therapy can be used to treat more severe conditions like psoriasis, slow-healing wounds, and even chemotherapy side effects.
