What are the anti-aging benefits of red light therapy？

Does red light therapy make you look younger ?

The Answer is Absolutely, Red light therapy promotes tissue healing and has a profound impact on overall health and appearance, including skin tone, color, and texture.

Red light therapy can even assist with weight loss and the appearance of cellulite. Unwanted pounds are more difficult to shed through diet and exercise alone as you grow older.

What are the signs of premature aging?

Over time, our bodies naturally age. Premature aging is when the typical effects of growing older happen early. It’s when your body looks older than your actual age.

The most common signs of premature aging include:

• Skin changes like wrinkles, age spots, dryness, loss of skin tone, hyperpigmentation around your chest and sagging.
• Hair loss or graying hair.
• Gaunt face (sunken cheeks).

What causes premature aging?

In most cases, controllable and preventable factors cause premature aging. This is called extrinsic aging.

Most signs of premature aging show up in your skin. Skin changes happen as we age. When they appear earlier in life, the cause is usually from environmental or lifestyle factors.

Exposure to light is a top cause of premature aging:

• Sun exposure causes many skin problems. Ultraviolet (UV) light and exposure to sunlight age your skin more quickly than it would age naturally. The result is called photoaging, and it’s responsible for 90% of visible changes to your skin. UV light damages skin cells, contributing to premature changes like age spots. This sun exposure also increases the risk of skin cancer.

• High-energy visible (HEV) and infrared light are responsible for the other 10% of skin changes. HEV light (also called blue light) comes from the sun and electronic devices like smartphones. Infrared light is invisible, but we often feel it as heat. These forms of light don’t increase skin cancer risk, but they do affect collagen and skin elasticity.

Other environmental or lifestyle factors that cause premature aging include:

• Smoking: When you smoke, the toxins in nicotine alter the cells in your body. These toxins break down collagen and elastic fibers in your skin, leading to sagging, wrinkles and a hollow, gaunt face.

• Unhealthy diet: A few studies show that diets high in sugar or refined carbohydrates may cause premature aging. On the flip side, diets filled with plenty of fruits and vegetables help prevent premature skin changes.

• Alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol can dehydrate and damage your skin over time, leading to signs of premature aging.

• Poor sleep: Studies show that low quality (or not enough) sleep makes your cells age faster.

• Stress: When you’re stressed, your brain pumps out cortisol, a stress hormone. Cortisol blocks two substances that keep your skin looking plump and vibrant: hyaluronan synthase and collagen.

In rare cases, certain disorders can cause signs of premature aging:

• Bloom syndrome.
• Cockayne syndrome type I or type III.
• Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome.
• Mandibuloacral dysplasia with type A lipodystrophy.
• Rothmund-Thomson syndrome.
• Seip syndrome.
• Werner syndrome.

What can I do to stop or prevent premature aging?

As environmental and lifestyle factors often cause premature aging, healthy daily habits can improve it. If you already have signs of premature aging, here’s how to stop it and prevent it from getting worse:

• Avoid sun exposure: Take steps to protect yourself from sun damage. Use sunscreen year-round, even if you plan to be in the shade. Always opt for UV protection that’s at least SPF 30 or higher. Wear protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses. Avoid tanning beds — use self-tanning products instead.

• Stop smoking: If you smoke, quit smoking as soon as possible. Talk to your healthcare provider if you need help quitting.

• Eat more fruits and vegetables: A well-balanced diet can stop premature aging. Avoid eating too much sugar or refined carbohydrates.

• Cut back on alcohol: As alcohol causes premature aging of your skin, reducing your alcohol intake can help prevent further damage.

• Exercise: Regular physical activity improves circulation and boosts your immune system, which promotes healthy aging.

• Take care of your skin: Cleanse your skin daily to remove dirt, makeup, sweat or other substances that cause irritation. Stay away from harsh skin products containing fragrances or high pH. Moisturize your skin daily to prevent dryness and itchiness.

• Lower your stress levels: Try to eliminate as much stress as possible from your life. Find healthy stress management techniques (like meditation or exercise) for the stressors you can’t avoid.

• Improve the quality (and quantity) of your sleep: Getting less than seven hours of sleep can age your body’s cells more quickly.

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?

Red light therapy administers light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to your skin in the form of short red light waves ranging from 630 to 700 nanometers (nm) in length. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter. Red light therapy is also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT). The power density of the red light greatly affects its ability to heal.

Red light penetrates your skin to a depth of about eight to 10 millimeters, reaching your cells’ mitochondria (energy production centers). The mitochondria absorb the red light and stimulate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. ATP is the body’s primary “currency” for biochemical energy transfer.

ATP flows to your tissues and organs, increasing the energy within your cells. More cellular energy leads to higher oxygen levels, less inflammation, a better immune system, and enhanced circulation. Red light therapy also kills bacteria and promotes skin hydration.

Red light therapy has the power to substantially reduce visible signs of aging better than any anti-aging skin cream or serum. Topical solutions cannot penetrate deeply enough to stimulate your body’s natural cellular processes. They will never produce anti-aging results like those of red light therapy.

Which Type of Red Light is Most Effective for Weight Loss and Cellulite Reduction?

Near red light waves (630 to 700nm) are appropriate for most anti-aging skin issues, but weight loss and cellulite present a different challenge. Fat cells reside more deeply within your body than skin cells. Since short red LED wavelengths penetrate to a depth of about eight to 10 millimeters, they are not as effective at targeting fat cells.

Near-infrared light is slightly higher on the spectrum than red light and is generally understood to be about 700 to 900nm in wavelength. Near-infrared light is visible, whereas short red light is not.

Near-infrared light is most effectively used in conjunction with short red light to burn fat.

Customizable devices offering multiple red wavelength options (including both short red and near-infrared) are available. These devices allow for comprehensively combatting fat and cellulite in an anti-aging therapy program. A personalized plan can be developed depending upon your own unique goals and needs.

Other Common Signs of Aging Affected by Red Light Therapy

Certain conditions can be caused by factors other than aging, but nevertheless, create the impression of more advanced age. The collagen- and elastin-enhancing properties of red light therapy and its advanced healing capabilities can help to alleviate such problems. For example:

• Stretch Marks — a breakdown of connective tissue creating long, red marks on the skin, usually caused by rapid weight gain, pregnancy, or heredity. These conditions benefit greatly from red light therapy.

• Melasma — gray or brown patches that cause an aged appearance, due to sun exposure, hormones, or reaction to a medication

• Scars — whether caused by acne or other trauma to the skin, scars are unsightly and can cause you to look older than you are

• ”Turkey Neck” — sagging, drooping, and loosening of under-chin and neck skin

How Often Should You Use Red Light Therapy for Anti-Aging Purposes?

The course of your treatment will be individualized. There is no one-size-fits-all approach or standard dose of red light therapy. Each person’s needs are unique.

In addition to reversing the existing effects of aging, red light therapy can be a routine, preventative anti-aging measure. Sticking with some level of permanent red light therapy will help you avert the aging process and remain younger-looking in the long run.

To determine the best personal course of treatment, consultation with a doctor or other health expert is recommended.

Is Red Light Therapy Safe for Your Face and Are There Any Side Effects?
Short red light therapy is chemical- and drug-free, completely natural, and FDA-approved. Red light contains no UV radiation and will not damage your skin. This treatment is safe for your eyes and for all ages and skin types and has no adverse side effects.

Near-Infrared light, because of its longer and visible wavelengths, has the potential to mildly burn your skin if overused. As long as near-infrared light is administered safely and according to instructions, the risk of experiencing any harmful side effects is extremely minimal.

Do Clinical Studies Prove the Efficacy of Red Light Therapy for Anti-Aging?

Yes. Scientific research concludes that red light technology is effective in reducing the visible signs of aging.

Red light therapy is the only anti-aging treatment to stimulate cellular change and activate your body’s natural healing capacity. Best of all, it is easily administered at home, and you need only purchase your devices once. There are no recurring expenses.

Unlike chemical peels, microdermabrasion, and topical remedies, red light therapy poses no risk of skin irritation and requires no healing time after treatment. With a few weekly at-home sessions, you will begin to observe your desired anti-aging effects.