What is Red Light Therapy?
Red Light Therapy (RLT), also known as Low-Level Light Therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation, is a treatment that uses low levels of red or near-infrared (NIR) light to help heal the body. It’s not like the intense lasers used in surgery or the heat-producing lights in tanning beds. Instead, RLT uses gentle, non-invasive light to stimulate healing and reduce pain, inflammation, and even promote hair growth.
The Accidental Discovery (1967)
The origins of Red Light Therapy go back to 1967, not long after lasers were first invented. A Hungarian physician named Dr. Endre Mester was conducting research to see if laser radiation might cause cancer.
To test this, he:
- Shaved the backs of mice
- Exposed one group to low-powered laser light
- Left the other group unexposed as a control
But something surprising happened. The mice didn’t develop cancer. Instead, the ones treated with the laser grew their hair back faster than the untreated group.
This unexpected result marked the beginning of a whole new area of medical research. Dr. Mester had discovered that low-level light could stimulate biological processes. He called this phenomenon “laser biostimulation”, which we now know as photobiomodulation.
How it works
The biological effect of Red Light Therapy is called photobiomodulation, which refers to the way light modifies biological processes.
Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Light penetrates the skin and reaches cells.
- Mitochondria absorb the light and produce more ATP, the energy source cells use.
- This energy boost helps cells work better, heal faster, and reduce inflammation.