Red Light Therapy devices are slowly becoming more abundant on the market. At-home devices always promise impeccable results like anti-aging. However, is Red Light Therapy effective, and how safe is this treatment to conduct at home?
What Is Red Light Therapy?
Red Light Therapy is the latest skincare trend promising youthful skin with at-home devices. It can potentially increase cell turnover and reduce the appearance of aging like fine lines, wrinkles, and discoloration.
According to Healthline, “Red Light Therapy is a controversial therapeutic technique that uses low-level wavelengths of light to treat skin issues, such as wrinkles, scars, and persistent wounds, among other conditions.”
How Does It Work?
One excerpt from Healthline states, “by increasing the function of mitochondria using RLT, a cell can make more ATP. With more energy, cells can function more efficiently, rejuvenate themselves, and repair damage.”
Benefits
Red Light Therapy is said to provide numerous skin benefits and potentially help turn back the clock. It’s one of the many in-office treatments slowly creeping into at-home skincare routines.
Boosts Collagen
One of the most significant claims of Red Light Therapy is that it can boost collagen production. We know that collagen is essential for maintaining a youthful complexion and skin elasticity.
The Cleveland Clinic states that Red Light Therapy can “increase fibroblast production, which makes collagen. Collagen is a component of connective tissue that builds the skin.”
Improve Hair Growth
Red Light Therapy is also said to improve hair growth, especially for those dealing with androgenic alopecia.
Promote Even Complexion
Finally, Red Light Therapy can overall promote an even complexion. It’s meant to target imperfections like scarring, discoloration, and wounds. In addition, it may bring new cells to the surface, boosting collagen production and even out the skin tone.
Risks
Every treatment or beauty service has its risks, including Red Light Therapy. Thankfully, Red Light Therapy is generally safe and well-tolerated in most cases.
However, you need to proceed with caution using this treatment.
Burns
You can potentially increase the risk of burns if you misuse Red Light Therapy. It can be quite risking performing this service at home without the proper knowledge or training. You can minimize burns by receiving an in-office, professional treatment.
Eye Safety
It’s crucial to remember that Red Light Therapy is a strong wavelength of light that can potentially put your eyes at risk.
The Cleveland Clinic claims “if products are misused – perhaps used too often or not according to directions – there’s a chance your skin or eyes (if not protected) could be damaged. The long-term safety of devices that use red light therapy is not yet known.”
Is Red Light Therapy Effective?
Because red light therapy is newly studied, it can be challenging to determine how effective this treatment will be for the skin.
Healhline claims that “red light therapy certainly isn’t a cure-all for everything. RLT is considered experimental for most conditions.”
Consult With a Dermatologist
Are you unsure if Red Light Therapy is for you? Consulting with a dermatologist can ensure you get the proper knowledge and treatment options. They can also point you to other more beneficial treatments depending on your needs.
