Anti-Aging Trends Are Sweeping the Nation - Business Insider
Research shows that these trends can slow down cellular aging, increase cognitive function, and even delay the onset of chronic diseases.
told
"While more research is needed to understand the full benefits and mechanisms of red light therapy, there is evidence to suggest it may be beneficial in improving certain skin conditions including acne, aging, hair loss, wound care, and sun damage," dermatologist Laura Buford previously <anchor>told</anchor> Insider.
Red Light Therapy: 6 Benefits for Skin, Hair, and More
Red Light Therapy: 6 Benefits for Skin, Hair, and More

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# 6 benefits of red light therapy — a celebrity trend that may help with acne and anti-aging

Written by[Lia Tabackman](https://www.businessinsider.com/author/lia-tabackman);edited by [Samantha Crozier](https://www.businessinsider.com/author/samantha-crozier)

2021-12-15T19:59:00Z


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This article was medically reviewed by [Jason R. McKnight](https://health.tamu.edu/experts/jason-mcknight.html), MD, MS, a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor at [Texas A&M College of Medicine](https://medicine.tamu.edu/).

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![red light therapy](https://i.insider.com/61ba46c651184a0018a2aebd?width=700)

Angle down iconAn icon in the shape of an angle pointing down.Red light therapy may help decrease pore-clogging oils on your face.
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- Red light therapy may be beneficial because it boosts production of ATP which may enhance healing.
- Because it can also reduce inflammation, it may help conditions like arthritis and acne.
- Red light may also help decrease signs of aging by replenishing the collagen in your skin.

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Perhaps you've heard [celebrities raving](https://www.businessinsider.com/we-tried-led-mask-beauty-treatment-popular-with-celebrities-chronocare-2018-6) about the benefits of red light, or seen advertisements on Instagram for [expensive red-light emitting devices.](https://www.google.com/search?q=red+light+devices&sxsrf=AOaemvKPBlD132t28JPXy73Zhnz3KtJZsw:1638847013672&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwia5Nzw3ND0AhXyjokEHQcFBW4Q_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=993&bih=1057&dpr=1.8)

Red light therapy is a treatment that uses LED lights or lasers to expose the body to red light, the longest wavelength of visible light on the visible light spectrum. It's sometimes referred to as RLT, [photobiomodulation therapy,](https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7488285) or low-level laser light therapy.

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Some research suggests that exposing yourself to red light for 5 to 20 minutes may [increase the production](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2996814/) of adenosine triphosphate (ATP,) a compound that [stores and provides energy](https://affiliate.insider.com/?h=9e55c9205186e2b0d9e776adb54cf8937b01eca48b199ee2ba214e2a3d5add86&platform=browser&postID=628f975ea2374776c7e87a5e&postSlug=guides%2Fbeauty%2Fred-light-therapy&site=bi&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Fscitable%2Fdefinition%2Fatp-318%2F) to your cells.

That increase in cellular energy can be beneficial when it comes to repairing skin damage and wound healing, says [Laura Buford,](https://www.westlakedermatology.com/laura-buford-md/) MD, a dermatologist at [Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery](https://www.westlakedermatology.com/).

"While more research is needed to understand the full benefits and mechanisms of red light therapy, there is evidence to suggest it may be beneficial in improving certain skin conditions including acne, aging, hair loss, wound care, and sun damage," Buford says.

Here are six potential benefits of red light therapy.

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## 1\. Reduce inflammation

[Inflammation](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279298/) is a process that helps your body fight infection and heal — but [chronic inflammation](https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-acute-and-chronic-inflammation) that lingers in the body is [linked to](https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-acute-and-chronic-inflammation) a range of disorders including:

- [Diabetes](https://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/19/3/433)
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- [Depression](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6658985/)
- Bowel diseases

In animal studies, red light therapy has been [shown to reduce inflammation](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5523874/) by decreasing levels of inflammation-causing molecules called pro-inflammatory cytokines.

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## 2\. Improve acne

Light-based and laser therapies are [often used to treat acne](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4439741/) because the light can penetrate deep within the skin.

Red light targets your sebaceous glands — small ducts that release a [pore-clogging, acne-causing](https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/acne) oil called sebum. The effect of the light helps [reduce inflammation](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4439741/) within those sebaceous glands, which may improve the appearance of acne.

Some research suggests that red light appears to be [most effective](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4439741/) as an acne treatment when used with a type of drug called a photosensitizing agent — [particularly among patients](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28276005/) whose acne doesn't respond to topical therapy or oral antibiotics. One over-the-counter photosynthesizing agent is alpha-lipoic acid (ALA).

You should know that photodynamic therapy can make you more sensitive to light for as long as [three months](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17922-photodynamic-therapy-pdt#risks--benefits) post-procedure. Other possible [side effects](https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17922-photodynamic-therapy-pdt#risks--benefits) include:

- Swelling at the area of skin treated
- Skin discoloration
- Scales crusts or blisters
- Itching or burning
- Skin infections

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## 3\. Decrease signs of aging

Your skin is [largely made of collagen](https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/collagen-supplements.html), a protein that prevents it from sagging and keeps it looking and feeling plump. While collagen is naturally produced by the body, sun exposure, smoking, pollution exposure, and aging [decrease](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1606623/) production causing skin to [lose elasticity](https://wexnermedical.osu.edu/blog/stop-doing-these-6-things-that-cause-wrinkles) and appear to sag and wrinkle.

A [2014 study](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3926176/) found full-body exposure to red light over the course of 30, twice-a-week sessions increased collagen density on participants' faces and caused visible improvements in wrinkles and skin roughness.

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## 4\. Reduce pain from arthritis

Red light therapy could help reduce pain from a couple types of arthritis:

- **Osteoarthritis**: a degenerative disease that affects the fingers, knees, and hips.
- **Rheumatoid arthritis**: an autoimmune condition causing inflamed joints.

Recent human studies are limited. One [small study from 1992](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1727843/) found that red light therapy led to a more than 50% reduction in arthritis pain from patients with degenerative osteoarthritis in both knees.

A more recent [2013 study](https://arthritis-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/ar4354) in rats found similar results that low-level laser light reduced inflammation in knee joints with osteoarthritis. However, the researchers note that more thorough research is necessary before light therapy can be recommended as a "valid therapy."

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## 5\. Promote wound healing

While research on adult humans is limited, animal and in-vitro studies suggest red light can accelerate the healing process of cutaneous wounds.

[Studies](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4148276/) have found treating wounds with red LED light:

- Reduction in inflammatory cells
- Increased fibroblasts (connective tissue cells that produce collagen and fibers)
- Collagen synthesis
- Angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) and tissue formation

All of the above are involved in the wound healing process.

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## 6\. Boost hair growth

Androgenetic alopecia, a genetic condition that causes hair loss, is the most frequent cause of hair loss in both males and females, affecting an estimated [80 million](https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/androgenetic-alopecia/#frequency) people in the United States.

A [small 2013 study](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24078483/) found that laser light therapy using red light significantly improved hair counts in males with androgenetic alopecia. In the study, participants were treated every other day for 16 weeks, for a total of 60, 25-minute long sessions.

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## Insider takeaway

Red light therapy is a treatment involving exposing the body to red light using LED lamps or lasers. While some of the data on red light appears promising, more studies are needed to determine exactly how red light works, and how it can most benefit patients.

"Results vary from patient to patient and are typically subtle after one session," Buford says. "More research is needed to further characterize the benefits of red light therapy, but it appears to be a promising treatment in the field of dermatology."

[![Lia Tabackman](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 1 1'%3E%3C/svg%3E)](https://www.businessinsider.com/author/lia-tabackman)

[Lia Tabackman](https://www.businessinsider.com/author/lia-tabackman)

Lia Tabackman is a freelance journalist covering health and science topics for Insider.com. She can be found on Twitter @LiaTabackman.

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