RED LIGHT THERAPY

What is Red Light Therapy (RLT)?

Red Light Therapy (RLT) is a commonly used term for what is widely known as Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), or Photobiomodulation (PBM) Therapy. Red Light Therapy is a non-invasive, painless treatment used for healing many medical conditions, including ovarian rejuvenation. Red Light Therapy (RLT) also falls under the broad category of Therapeutic Laser or Photo Medicine. RLT can be associated with many home-use PBM/LED (Light Emitting Diode) devices for skin, and to manage chronic pain.

Red Light Therapy (RLT) uses light wavelengths within the Infrared / IR (circa. 600-700 nm) and Near Infrared / NIR (780-1100 nm) range. Visible light ranges, while beneficial, are limited by their shallow penetration of 1-3 mm, perfect for treating skin conditions including acne and signs of ageing. Invisible or NIR light wavelengths penetrate deeper, with clinical results indicating up to 5 cm. The therapeutic process enables light to carry electrons throughout the body – attaching to melanin, haemoglobin, and water, to restore damaged cells, address problems that arise from those damaged cells, and to provide pain relief.

Is Red Light Therapy the same as Laser Therapy?

Red Light Therapy (RLT) equipment is part of the universal Laser classification system (Laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) and is regarded as a Low Level Laser Therapy / Photobiomodulation, which falls between Class 1 to Class 3b categories. Laser classification refers to the output power of light emitted within the outlined wavelength range. Generally, RLT has a low power output as it often refers to home-use LED equipment, especially for improving skin and pain relief. Power output determines the dose or length of time required to apply the light, which impacts the overall effectiveness of the therapy.

Categories of Laser Therapy

  • Class 1 Laser LED: Class 1 devices cannot harm the eyes, making them suitable for home use. Power output for Red Light Therapy | LED equipment usually can increase up to 500 mW to fall within a low power laser category. Solasta recommends a number of Class 1 home-use laser devices for our patients to use between treatments in the clinic.

  • Class 2 Laser LED: Some Red Light Therapy | LED products on the market have increased power output. Class 2 lasers are limited to a maximum output power of 1 milliwatt (mW).

  • Class 3b Laser: Class 3b Laser is widely used within clinical Low Level Laser equipment by the medical profession for Photobiomodulation (PMBT). It does not create a thermal effect and thus does not burn, but could damage the eyes if shone directly into them. Protective goggles are always worn, and the treatment is administered by a professionally trained therapist.

  • Class 4 Therapeutic Laser: Devices with an output power above 500 mW can burn the skin. Class 4 Lasers are typically used for procedures that create an ablative or thermal response in the skin, such as hair removal and tattoo removal in aesthetics, and for surgical procedures in the medical field. However, a growing number of low-powered Class 4 Therapeutic Lasers with a maximum power output of 10-20W can be used for PBM. The light does not have direct contact with the skin, and using the 600-1,000nm wavelengths creates effective healing.

What does Red Light Therapy do?

The most effective RLT equipment combines both Laser and LED light in the IR and NIR wavelength range. This reduces pain and inflammation via a process of bio-stimulation and photo-stimulation, endogenous opiate production, slowing sensory nerve production, restoring cellular resonant energy, stimulating the Na/K pump mechanism in the cell membrane, and inhibiting bradykinin and leukotriene production.

During this process, Red Light Therapy triggers the re-polarisation of sick and injured cellular membranes to allow for essential nutrients to transfer from the blood into the cell. Laser photons are taken up and transformed into cellular energy within the mitochondria when there is a deficiency. This added energy causes therapeutic change. Research has shown that RLT can increase cellular ATP (body fuel) by as much as 150%.

Does RLT work?

The efficacy of Red Light Therapy largely depends on the dose of light given to the patient, which for RLT is measured by irradiance and time (Energy (J) = Power (W) x Time (s)). An article outlines a random study on the efficacy of Red Light Therapy for improving skin with positive results, demonstrating its effectiveness.

What is Red Light Therapy used for?

Red Light Therapy (RLT) continues to offer a safe, non-invasive treatment for pain, inflammation, and increased healing across a wide range of musculoskeletal and health conditions, with a growing body of evidence to support its efficacy each year. The increasing clinical and home use equipment coming to market is a testimony to its proven effectiveness. There are many opportunities to use RLT as an alternative to anti-inflammatory pain killers and medication. RLT is also endorsed as a natural youthful ageing treatment for skin, offered by many of the RLT devices available today.