Can the best red light therapy really reverse the aging clock, or at least slow it down?
Anti-Aging and Skin Repair
If you go to any salon today, you’ll find a machine promising red light therapy with anti-aging technology as a way to combat signs of wrinkles, age spots, sun damage, etc. The machines use infrared lights to penetrate the skin to repair damaged tissues and nerves under the skin. The result is believed to be improved skin appearance and the removal of blemishes. Infrared light is also believed to heal acne. Another benefit promised is the infrared light will reduce body pains. If you don’t want to go to a salon, you can also purchase the red light therapy equipment for home use.
Red light therapy is designed to deliver a shot of energy to targeted body tissues, which then triggers a healing response. Similar laser treatments will cut through body tissue. Red light therapy does not cut, but penetrates to tissues.
Infrared vs. Ultraviolet
The two common rays emitted from the sun are infrared rays and ultraviolet rays. Ultraviolet rays degrade the surface layers of our bodies when we are exposed to sun. That is why we apply sun screen when we go to the beach. Too much sun can lead to skin cancer, which is due to overexposure of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. For this reason, sun screen contains blockers that reflect away the ultraviolet rays. Infrared rays, on the other hand, are harmless to the human body. These rays carry the heat from the sun. In tanning salons, the tanning beds work with ultraviolet rays. However, many tanning salons are converting their tanning beds into infrared therapy beds to offer tanning as well as skin care.
The Costs
On average, a salon will charge about $300 per month for regular red light therapy sessions. For best red light therapy, it is recommended in the beginning to go in for a series of sessions back to back. Then you can space out the red light therapy sessions at intervals that correspond to your skin condition. For the first few weeks, you will go in for daily sessions. Then depending on your skin health, you can cut back to three or four times a week. Eventually, you’ll need treatment one to two days a week for maintenance.
Red Light Therapy Results
Does red light therapy live up to its promises? Some studies show that red light therapy appears to reduce the signs of aging and improve skin health. But results vary from person to person, and its effectiveness depends on the sun damage to skin.