Beyond Red Light Therapy
LED Light Therapy describes how light from Light Emitting Diodes is used in a therapeutic setting. The latest term to describe LED Light Therapy is Photobiomodulation Therapy.
LED Light Therapy is gaining interest due to its extensive application and use for various medical, performance, cognitive, and cosmetic purposes. LED Light Therapy, also known as Photobiomodulation, refers to the use of non-thermal, non-invasive light to achieve a therapeutic outcome, and the term applies to multiple LED therapy devices.
History of LED Light Therapy
In 1903, Niels Ryberg Finsen received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his pioneering work in the development of light therapy.[1] Over time, curiosity grew in the scientific community about this type of therapy. In the 1960s, phototherapy was discovered for the treatment of chronic pain, arthritis, and related conditions, like joint rehabilitation, soft tissue injuries, and other medical diseases.
Since the 1980s, an increasing number of clinics and medical facilities have incorporated light therapy into their practices. Numerous studies and years of use suggest that LED Light Therapy may be beneficial for tissue healing and improving skin surface condition after treatment.
LED Light Therapy Benefits
LED (light-emitting diode) Light Therapy is a wellness modality that illuminates the body’s surface area to help improve various conditions. Through the use of visible and non-visible near-infrared light, different wavelengths penetrate tissue to varying depths, providing various therapeutic benefits of red light therapy—benefits you can feel.
For example, multiple studies show that:
- Green LEDs promote wound healing by inducing migratory and proliferative mediators, suggesting that not only red LEDs but also green LEDs can be a new, powerful therapeutic strategy for wound healing, pain relief through a different pathway than red/NIR, as well as being effective for migraines.[2] Recent research has shown that green activates a new path for pain release. This suggests that combining green and red/infrared light might be a more powerful tool for pain relief than traditional Red/NIR therapy devices. We are confident that green will also prove to be antibacterial and antiviral. ARRC LED has used multiple green, red, and near-infrared wavelengths since 2015 with our first devices.
- LED Red Light Therapy: Penetrates subcutaneous tissue, the deepest layer of your skin. Based on research, RLT has been shown to reduce tissue inflammation and stimulate collagen production, a protein responsible for younger-looking skin that diminishes with age.[3]
- Near-infrared light: Penetrates the deepest into muscle and bone, and studies show benefits to cognition, athletic performance, pain relief, and general wellness.[4]
- Low-level laser therapy (LLLT): Achieved significant girth loss from the waist and measurable cosmetic improvement when applied for weight loss.[5]
Wellness specialists may use a combination of lights with various wavelengths to treat your specific issue and experience the benefits of poly red light therapy. At-home devices may also combine colors.
ARRC LED Light Therapy products deliver the precise dose of energy to both the front and back of the body, which has been shown to improve efficacy and outcomes. Our formulas for energy, pulsing, and wavelength combinations are patent pending.
Benefits of LED Light Therapy for the Face
Studies have revealed that green LED light therapy offers measurable benefits for skin health by reducing inflammation and promoting tissue repair.[6] Additionally, the same research shows promising results for improving chronic inflammatory conditions and certain types of cancer.
Benefits of LED Light Therapy for Skin
LED light can help tighten skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and stimulate collagen, which is essential for wound healing.[7] Light therapy energizing light technology (ELT) may also help reduce redness, swelling, and bruising, as well as speed up recovery, making it ideal for full-body red light therapy or poly light therapy treatments. LED Light Therapy may also promote hair growth in individuals with male or female-pattern hair loss, and it can also help alleviate redness and inflammation in those with psoriasis.[8]
Additionally, research suggests that LED light may have positive effects on skin cancers. Photodynamic therapy has been performed using red and green LED lights to treat Bowen’s disease, and red light has been used to treat basal cell carcinoma lesions.[9]
Efficacy of LED Light Therapy
The science shared above supports the idea that LED Light Therapy has the potential to reduce and improve specific skin conditions and issues, as well as other ailments. What makes targeted red light therapy so effective is its mechanism of action. The mitochondria absorb the light from photobiomodulation interventions—the energy producers of the body, specifically the cytochrome c oxidase —to stimulate cellular changes, including enhanced energy production, accelerated healing, and improved systemic communication.[10] This level of mitochondrial improvement promotes cell growth, movement, repair, and more, enhancing how your body functions and heals itself with its natural capabilities.
Depending on the target chromophore, the specialists will use different wavelengths of light. The three wavelengths of light that have demonstrated various therapeutic efficacies are red (633–660 nm), near-infrared (810–850–940 nm), and green (528 nm).
Recent publications have reignited an interest in the numerous studies performed or sponsored by leaders in LED phototherapy. These studies show the significant value of LED Light Therapy for a range of clinical applications.
LED Light Therapy Research
In one controlled study, thirty‐one subjects with facial Rhytids received nine LED Light Therapy treatments. The treatments used wavelengths of 633 nm and 830 nm, with fluences of 126 J/cm² and 66 J/cm², respectively.[11] The study showed improvements to the skin surface when evaluated at weeks 9 and 12.
Additional outcomes measured in that same study included assessments of clinical photography and patient satisfaction scores. Key results showed significant differences at the week 12 follow-up; 52% of subjects demonstrated a 25%–50% improvement in photoaging scores by week 12, and 81% of subjects reported a significant improvement in periorbital wrinkles upon completion of follow-up.[12]
Another controlled pilot study was conducted to investigate whether LED light therapy could enhance wound healing after surgical aesthetic and resurfacing procedures. Thirteen male and female subjects underwent combined blepharoplasty and laser ablative resurfacing. Healing responses were categorized as follows: Very Well (85–100% improvement), Good (65–84% improvement), Fair (45–64% improvement), Poor (<45% improvement), or Bad (little or no progress or worsening).[13] Overall, the main efficacy results were similar across the groups, and none were rated as Bad or Poor.
At the three-month assessment, the overall efficacy of the prospectively treated group was significantly better than that of both the prospectively controlled and retrospectively treated groups. The prospectively treated group showed slightly better improvement at the six-month assessment than the other two groups, but the difference was not statistically significant. The symptoms of crusting, pain, and edema were resolved approximately 50% faster in the prospectively treated group than in the control group. Several studies confirmed those results.[14]
Side Effects of LED Light Therapy
LED Light Therapy is considered a risk-free treatment with zero to mild side effects.[15] However, when using it, ensure that you are using only FDA-registered devices. While light is generally beneficial for the eyes, it is recommended to wear eye protection, such as sunglasses or goggles, and follow the instructions. LED Light Therapy isn’t a good choice for people who take certain medications that increase their sensitivity to sunlight or have a history of skin cancer and some eye diseases.
Attention: If you experience any side effects, discontinue the treatment immediately.
