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Everyone Needs Healthy Light, But Most People Don’t Get Enough

Light is essential for our health and cellular function, just like water, sleep, and the nutrients from food. The human body is designed to function with an abundance of natural sunlight, but with our modern lifestyles, most people don’t get nearly enough light every day. The average American spends over 90% of their time indoors. [1] That’s not nearly enough natural light for optimal health and balance! Worse yet, much of the time we spend indoors is filled with bright blue light from screens and overhead lighting, which can have a negative effect on sleep and circadian rhythms.

Bottom line: everyone needs healthy light, but most people don’t get enough. Instead, they get way too much blue light, resulting in worse sleep and overall health.

Light Therapy Delivers Healthy Light in Your Home

Light therapy is an easy way to add healthy light to your life, in the comfort of your home, at any time of day, no matter the weather or season.

Light Therapy is Backed by Science and Peer-Reviewed Clinical Research 

Light therapy is not a wellness fad. It’s a legitimate and widely-used health intervention backed by a large amount of peer-reviewed clinical research. NASA studied light therapy in the late 1980s and 1990s for use in space, and over the last two decades, researchers have conducted over a thousand peer-reviewed trials and studies on various kinds of light therapy (also referred to as photobiomodulation or low-level laser therapy). The clinical consensus is that red and NIR light treatments are generally safe and effective, with a wide range of potential uses. 

Light Therapy Supports a Wide Range of Systemic Health Benefits

Light therapy is a rare treatment that really is one-size-fits-all. Whether you’re an elite athlete, a weekend warrior, a busy mom, or a senior trying to stay active, you can benefit from more healthy light in your life. Light is for everyone, and light therapy supports greater balance and a wide range of systemic health benefits. What are the health benefits of light therapy? We’ll cover some of the main ones below.

Enhanced Cellular Function and ATP Energy Production: In conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, light therapy treatments can have systemic benefits because they work by improving cellular health across the entire body. When your cells are working more efficiently and producing more ATP energy, the better you can look and feel

Inflammation and Pain Relief: Light therapy treatments help your body’s natural inflammation process as you recover from illness or injury. Check out this paper by Dr. Michael Hamblin of Harvard Medical School to learn more about red light therapy’s effects on inflammation. Dr. Hamblin is one of the world’s leading photomedicine researchers, and believes light therapy produces an “overall reduction in inflammation.” [2]

Red light therapy also supports arthritis and joint pain relief by improving blood flow to damaged tissues.

Improved Blood Flow: One of the potential benefits of light therapy is a significant increase in blood circulation following treatment sessions. This indicates tissues are receiving more oxygen and other nutrients that are important for healing. At the same time, light helps the body and circulatory system rid itself of toxic byproducts. [3]

Sleep Optimization: Healthy light intake is essential for sleep and maintaining natural circadian rhythms. Our brains interpret light as a sign of when to be awake and asleep, and when to make crucial sleep hormones like melatonin. Bright blue light at night can knock your sleep cycle out of whack, but red light is a lower-intensity alternative that can help support longer, more restful sleep. [4,5,6]

Recovery, Healing, and Performance: Light therapy is widely used by trainers and pro athletes to improve fitness, boost physical performance, and support the recovery process. Muscle cells require a great deal of energy, and grow and strengthen through a process of tears and repairs. Light therapy helps your body produce and use energy more efficiently. Supporting circulation and inflammation reduction with light therapy can also help you heal and recover after injuries and workouts. 

Skin Health and Beauty: Taking in healthy light is crucial for skin cells, skin health, and beauty. Red and NIR light promotes balance across the body and skin by enhancing cellular respiration, making energy production more efficient, with less oxidative stress. [8,9] When your cells are in greater balance, your skin will look and feel softer and more invigorated.

Mental Acuity: Mental acuity is a measure of how well your brain processes and responds in the moment. When shined on the head, NIR wavelengths of light can reach brain cells and stimulate the mitochondria in the body’s main processing center. [8] This can improve cellular energy production, enhance blood flow, and support better mental acuity.

Sources and References:

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[1] Klepeis NE, Nelson WC, Ott WR, et al. The National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS): a resource for assessing exposure to environmental pollutants. Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology. 2001 May.

[2] Hamblin M. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophysics. 2017 May.

[3] Mak MC, Cheing GL. Immediate effects of monochromatic infrared energy on microcirculation in healthy subjects. Photomed Laser Surg. 2012.

[4] Sheppard A and Wolffsohn J. “Digital eye strain: prevalence, measurement and amelioration.” BMJ Open Ophthalmology. 2018 April.

[5] Jung C, Khalsa S, et al. Acute Effects of Bright Light Exposure on Cortisol Levels. Journal of Biological Rhythms. 2010 Jun.

[6] Harvard Health. Blue light has a dark side.

[7] Hamblin, Michael. Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photobiomodulation. AIMS Biophys. 2017.

[8] Hamblin, Michael. Shining light on the head: Photobiomodulation for brain disorders. ScienceDirect. 2016 Sept.

[9] Avci P, Gupta A, Sadasivam M, Vecchio D, Pam Z, Pam N, Hamblin MR. Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2013 Mar.

Different Colors of Light have Different Health Effects

• Ultraviolet (UV Light): Ultraviolet light (100nm-400nm) is invisible and has short, powerful wavelengths. UV light from the sun is what’s responsible for tanning or burning your skin. UV light is also responsible for supplying the body with Vitamin D. Scientists have confirmed that UV light helps humans produce and maintain vitamin D3 levels, which allow the body to effectively absorb calcium from food with our intestines. [3]
• Blue Light: One of the most commonly isolated wavelengths of light is in the 380-500nm range, which our eyes perceive as very bright blue light. Blue light is isolated and used in most of our modern screen technology, from TVs to phones to tablets to computers. Blue light is very good at illumination, and an efficient source of light for electronics. It’s also been found to have some positive effects for bacterial acne and teeth whitening.   However, it also has downsides and negative effects for human health. Because blue light is so bright, with a higher color temperature than daytime sun, it makes your brain and body think it’s time to be wide awake. So if you take in too much blue light at night, you can knock your circadian rhythm out of balance and develop sleep problems. [4], beyond potential risks to your eyes [5].
• Green Light: Green light, in the 520-560nm range, is less well understood than blue and UV light. Researchers are still studying the effects of green light, with some initial trials showing potential anti-inflammatory effects in laboratory animals. More research is needed to examine the specific effects of green light on human cells and tissues. [6]
• Yellow Light: Like green light, yellow light is still being researched and explored by scientists. Yellow light is in the 570-590nm range, and early studies have pointed to potential benefits related to skin health, but more studies are needed to draw conclusions. [7]
• Red Light: Red light comes from wavelengths in the mid-600nm range. Red light is visible and has been studied in thousands of clinical trials and medical studies. The health benefits of red light are well-established. In the early 1990s, NASA found that red light could activate plant growth in space, in the absence of sunlight. This and other earlier discoveries led to far greater clinical interest in red light therapy.Red light has been shown in numerous studies to enhance cellular function, by stimulating the mitochondria in our cells to produce more ATP cellular energy, which powers everything humans do. Research has also found numerous skin health, inflammation, and recovery benefits.
• Near Infrared (NIR) Light: Near infrared light (in the mid-700 to 1000s nm range) has a much longer wavelength than the previous colors we’ve mentioned. That allows wavelengths of NIR light to penetrate deeper into the body, for further-reaching deep tissue healing and regenerative effects. NIR light can support muscle health and enhance the body’s natural recovery and healing processes.
• Mid and Far Infrared Light: Mid and far infrared light are commonly used in saunas, to heat up the body and promote sweating. 

Red and Near Infrared (NIR) Light Enhance Cellular Function and Health

The existing body of research on light and human health shows that red and NIR light are the most beneficial wavelengths, with the fewest risks and downsides. UV light is crucial for vitamin D, but it can also be dangerous when you absorb too much. Blue light similarly has upsides and serious downsides. Red and NIR light have shown a wide range of potential health enhancements, with relatively little risk and few side effects.

Light is Key for Balance and Good Health

Light is key to all life on earth, and it’s essential for human health and function. Most people don’t get nearly enough light from their environments, which can have negative health consequences. Red and NIR light in particular has been shown to enhance cellular function, and support healthier sleep, skin, and recovery.

Sources and References:

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[1] Klepeis NE, Nelson WC, Ott WR, et al. The National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS): a resource for assessing exposure to environmental pollutants. Journal of Exposure Analysis and Environmental Epidemiology. 2001 May.

[2] Climate Variability. NASA.

[3] DeLuca H. History of the discovery of vitamin D and its active metabolites. BoneKey Reports. 2014 Jan.

[4] Moore, R. “Suprachiasmatic nucleus in sleep-wake regulation” Sleep Med. 2007 Dec.

[5] Tosini G, Ferguson I, Tsubota K. Effects of blue light on the circadian system and eye physiology. Mol Vis. 2016; 22: 61–72

[6] Catão MH, Costa RO, et al. Green LED light has anti-inflammatory effects on burns in rats. Burns. 2016 Mar.

[7] Chen L, Xu Z, et al. Light-emitting Diode 585nm Photomodulation Inhibiting Melanin Synthesis and Inducing Autophagy in Human Melanocytes. Journal of Dermatological Science. 2018 Jan.

Circadian rhythms are most associated with the sleep/wake cycle of the body. This is a vital circadian rhythm, but it’s not the only one that affects your health. We’ll also discuss the importance of circadian rhythms for digestion, absorption, metabolism, exercise and fat-burning.

What is a Circadian Rhythm? 

A circadian rhythm is a natural bodily process that happens roughly every 24-hours. It’s a cycle, like sleeping & waking, or eating & digesting, that completes & restarts on a daily basis. Our circadian rhythms are tied to the earth’s rotation and light/dark cycle, but they are also encoded in our genes. [1]

For example, people are naturally diurnal animals, meaning we’re awake during the day and asleep when it’s dark. That’s no accident. It’s how we’re designed, like how mice are designed to be nocturnal mammals that sleep during the day and forage at night. [2]

Another example of an internal process operating on a circadian rhythm is the human digestive system. Our digestive system cannot create and burn fat at the same time, so our cells alternate according to a circadian rhythm. When we’re awake and actively taking in calories, our digestive system breaks down food and creates stored fat. When we sleep, our stored fat keeps our bodies fueled. [1]

Going against your natural rhythms and not establishing routines can have systemic effects, like sleep disturbances and metabolic slowdowns. Poor sleep can affect hormone production as well as your ability to recover from injury and overcome inflammation. When your body and cells are out of balance, you perform less efficiently across the board. [1]

Scientists are still researching and learning about our circadian rhythms. In 2017, three scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize for their research into the circadian data encoded in fruit fly genes. This showed that the cycles organisms live by cannot be explained as a mere reaction. Circadian rhythms are ingrained at a deep, cellular level. [3]

3 of the Body’s Core Circadian Rhythms

Dr. Satchin Panda of the Salt institute is the author of the book The Circadian Code, which discusses circadian biology in much greater detail. Dr. Panda writes about three “core rhythms” that our body aligns with. 

Circadian Rhythm and Restful Sleep 

Our bodies work best when we’re getting restful sleep every day. But even if you’re getting 7-8 hours, you may not be aligned with your body’s optimal sleep cycle. 

In the absence of technology like artificial lighting and screens, the human body will typically sync with the planet’s day/night cycle: rising with the sun and sleeping when it’s dark. We’ve come a long way from those origins, but our bodies are still designed to work with an abundance of light during the day, and restful sleep when it’s dark at night. If you sleep from 3am to Noon every day, you may get enough sleep, but the quality of your sleep will likely not be as good. [4] 

To test this theory, a researcher in 2013 brought a group of self-proclaimed “night owls” on a camping trip. Beforehand, the night owls monitored and recorded their sleep patterns. They even produced saliva samples to show when their body produced the most melatonin, the hormone that helps regulate sleep. Those results showed their bodies did indeed have a delayed onset for melatonin, producing the hormone around 10 pm, hours later than most people. [4]

Then, the night owls camped for 2 days with no external stimulation like bright lights, coffee, or screens. They were tested again and their saliva showed after just two days in the wilderness, they were producing melatonin earlier in the evening, so they could fall asleep sooner. [4,5] This is just one example of how most people’s bodies work best when they sleep and wake closer to the natural pattern of the sun and the earth.

Circadian Rhythm and Eating

The stomach, liver, pancreas, and other key internal organs work best when our eating aligns with our circadian rhythm. Following a routine, or schedule, with your eating that allows your body to operate along the same patterns is more efficient for your digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall metabolism. Limiting your food intake to a specific window of time is also ideal. [4] 

According to Dr. Satchin Panda, our body has an 8 to 10 hour window for optimal food intake that begins when we take our first bite in the morning. Digestion of even a small bite of food takes hours, and efficiency slows dramatically once we’re outside that window. There’s a set window of time because our internal organs follow circadian rhythms to do their jobs, like processing food and liquids. [4]

Our cells cannot store and break up body fat at the same time. Whenever we eat, the fat-making mechanisms in our body kick into action. When we consume fats outside of that 8 to 10 hour window, we are asking our bodies to go back into fat-storing mode, thwarting their normal schedule of burning fat. If you only eat in the same 8-10 hour window every day, your organs and body can get in a better rhythm of digestion and fat production. Ultimately, that can help you burn more fat and look and feel better. [4]

Circadian Rhythm, Exercise, and Recovery

It might seem obvious, but our bodies are made to be active while we’re awake. Physical activity during the day, in line with our sleep and digestion cycles, is a key part of a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Exercise has too many health benefits to list, but it’s most beneficial when you get your main activity done during the day, not late at night. [4] 

Our bodies are programmed to shift into a night mode after the sun goes down. Heart rate and breathing slow, body temperature lowers, and we usually go to sleep. When you’re exercising after dark, your body has to work hard to make and use all that energy, and then has to start the recovery process late in the day. This can clash with your sleep cycle and the circadian rhythm of digestion & eating, making your recovery and fat burning less efficient. [4]

How Does Light Affect our Circadian Rhythms?

Light is central to our internal patterns and biology. Our circadian rhythms are built around the sun and the earth’s rotation cycle. As the length of daylight changes throughout the year, our circadian rhythms adjust as well. [5]

Light intake is one of the most important factors in sleep and circadian rhythm. The brain interprets light as a sign of when to be asleep and awake. Your circadian rhythm is designed around the sun, but the bright lights and screens of modern life can knock the body’s natural signals and rhythms out of whack. If you stare at a bright screen at midnight, your body may be tired, but your brain is getting the message that it’s time to be awake. Too much bright, artificial light after dark can make it much more difficult to sleep and establish a healthy wake/rise schedule. [5]

Sleep hormones and light: Two hormones that regulate the sleep cycle are directly affected by light. Cortisol, a steroid hormone produced by your adrenal glands, helps wake us up and keep us going. Cortisol levels tend to be highest in the mornings and lowest when we’re in our deepest sleep, typically around 3-4am. Bright artificial light can stimulate cortisol levels that keep you awake, as documented in clinical studies. [6]

 

The hormone melatonin is a counterpart to cortisol. Produced by the pineal gland, melatonin helps you fall asleep and stay asleep. Your body usually starts producing melatonin in the early evening, when you’re starting to wind down and get closer to bedtime. Bright light, especially bright blue light from phones and computers, has been shown to disrupt melatonin production. [4,5,7]

Sources and References:

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[1] Sleep Foundation. Circadian Rhythm.

[2] Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Individual Variation and the Genetics of Sleep.

[3] The Nobel Prize. 2017 Press Release.

[4] Book: Satchin Panda, PhD. The Circadian Code: lose weight, supercharge your energy, and transform your health from morning to midnight. Rodale Books. Jun 12, 2018 | ISBN 9781635652437

[5] Duffy J, Wright K. Entrainment of the Human Circadian System by Light. Journal of Biological Rhythms. 2005 Aug.[6] Jung C, Khalsa S, et al. Acute Effects of Bright Light Exposure on Cortisol Levels. Journal of Biological Rhythms. 2010 Jun.

[7] Harvard Health. Blue light has a dark side. Published 2012 May, updated 2020 July.

What Is Mental Acuity?

Mental acuity is a general term referring to a person’s sharpness of mind. It’s about how effectively your brain operates, not a measure of how smart you are. Intelligence, on the other hand, is more about your brain’s ability to acquire and use knowledge over time [1].

Think of a computer analogy: mental acuity is how quickly and accurately the computer responds to a command. Intelligence would be how much information is stored on the computer, and how much new information it can save to be used over time.

Mental acuity encompasses a set of overlapping brain functions, like information processing, memory, attention, and situational judgement.

4 Primary Components of Mental Acuity 

• Information Processing: The brain’s primary function is to be the command center that processes information in all its forms. Every sensation has to be contextualized by your brain for you to be able to make sense of it. When your brain is able to interpret complex information more efficiently, you can respond better and faster to the world around you, therefore, improving your mental acuity. [2]
• Memory: Memory is closely tied to information processing. Our memories are like vast file systems of previous information, and our brains have to quickly decide what’s most relevant in a given situation. A big part of mental acuity is how efficiently our brains sort and recall memories or remember information in certain situations, also known as situational memory. [2]
• Attention: Attention is how well we can focus on a given task, or isolate a single sensory stimulus when it’s advantageous. There’s always sensory competition for your brain: external sounds, sights, and smells, in addition to your internal thoughts. It takes mental acuity to cut through less relevant sensory information in order to focus on what’s most important. [2]
• Situational Judgement: The combination of information processing, memory, and attention all come together when we make a decision. In relation to mental acuity, situational judgement is how we react to our environment in the moment. It’s the external result of our internal information processing. How we interact with other people, and how we react to the world as we drive a vehicle, are two major examples of situational judgement. [2]

For many people, the goal of improving mental acuity is to make better, clearer decisions. 

Mental Acuity and Age-Related Cognitive Decline

Our brains age and decline over time, like other body parts. As we age, it can get more difficult to process and recall complex information. Ultimately, aging contributes to a decline in mental acuity Deterioration in mental acuity can come in the form of mild cognitive impairment, to more severe forms like dementia. [3]

Outside Factors Contribute to Cognitive Decline and Mental Acuity

Aside from the effects of normal aging, there are a host of contributing factors that can lead to a decline in cognitive health and mental acuity. These are some of the most important:

• Lifestyle: Living a balanced, healthy lifestyle is one of the best (and most controllable) ways to maintain mental acuity. Other lifestyle factors like chronic stress or a sedentary lifestyle can accelerate cognitive decline. Prolonged night shift work and irregular sleep schedules can lead to increased migraines and other chronic health complications. [4] Excessive alcohol and drug use can have a major negative impact on mental acuity as well as a person’s ability to maintain attention and memory. 
• Circadian Rhythm: A circadian rhythm is a natural bodily process that happens roughly every 24-hours. It’s a cycle, like sleeping and waking, or eating and digesting. Circadian rhythms can get disturbed by poor sleep, or irregular sleep. If these processes are misaligned or inconsistent, you may feel foggier and have more difficulty with recall or situational judgement [5]. If your circadian rhythm is disrupted over long periods of time, it can contribute to a weakened mental acuity. 
• Circulation: Our circulatory system and blood flow affect nearly every aspect of our health, and mental acuity is no exception. Poor circulation, or low blood oxygen levels, could be a contributing factor that leads to a decline in mental acuity over time. [3]\

The Gut-Brain Axis: Clinical research is pointing to links–both physical and biochemical–that show how your gut can affect your brain and vice versa. The technical term for the communication network that connects your stomach and brain is the gut-brain axis. [6] The physical connection between the gut and the brain is called the vagus nerve, which oversees a vast array of crucial bodily functions, including control of mood, immune response, digestion, and heart rate. [7]

Your gut and brain are also connected via the immune system. Your gut and its microbes impact your immune system, which in turn, can affect your body’s inflammatory response. [8] Inflammation and high levels of lipopolysaccharide (an inflammatory toxic made by certain bacteria that can pass from the gut into the blood) have been associated with brain disorders including expression, dementia, and schizophrenia. [9]

How Light Affects Mental Acuity

Light is one of the sensory stimuli our brains are always processing, and light exposure plays a central role in the biological processes that affect our mental acuity, especially sleep and other circadian rhythms. 

Light, Sleep, and Mental Acuity

Sleep is essential for high-functioning mental acuity, and light is crucial for sleep. Essential sleep-regulating hormones like cortisol and melatonin are also directly tied to a person’s light exposure. Light orients the brain to the time of day and dictates our circadian rhythms and natural sleep cycle. The brain interprets light as a sign of when to be awake and when to be asleep. [10]

For example, if you take in a lot of bright blue lightfrom screens in the evenings, your brain can get the impression it’s time to be wide awake. It won’t produce cortisol and melatonin at the right times for your sleep schedule. This can lead to chronic sleeping problems that ultimately decrease your mental acuity. 

Disrupted sleep can throw off other circadian rhythms too. Daily cycles like metabolism and digestion are timed by the brain and affected by when you experience certain types of light. In short, if you’re not getting healthy light and sleep every day, your body can fall out of balance and run inefficiently, with a greater risk of declining mental acuity. 

Light Therapy and Mental Acuity

Treatments using near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths are one way to improve biological balance, strengthen cellular function support stronger mental acuity, and increase energy production. When shining on the head, NIR wavelengths can stimulate the mitochondria within the cells of the body’s processing center. This can improve cellular energy production, enhance blood flow, help heal damaged tissues, and support better mental acuity. [11] 

What is Light Therapy? Light therapy uses a simple, non-invasive device that delivers healthy wavelengths of red and near-infrared (NIR) light directly to the skin and cells, promoting a wide range of health improvements

Red Light Therapy Improves Balance, Enhances Sleep, and Promotes Mental Acuity

A sharp mind requires a balanced body. For the best memory, attention, and judgement, you need a balanced cellular environment across your body. When a person is making and using energy efficiently, getting good sleep, and living a healthy lifestyle, their brain can thrive and perform near its peak. [12] Light therapy is one way to ensure you get the healthy light you need for cellular balance, healthy sleep, and the best possible mental acuity.

Light therapy can also promote healthier sleep. The color temperature of red light is much lower than blue light, and doesn’t cause the same disruptions to circadian rhythms.

Sources and References:

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[1] Voss RM, J MD. Mental Status Examination. StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Copyright © 2020, StatPearls Publishing LLC.; 2020.

[2] Psychology Today. What Are Cognitive Functions? 

[3] Barnes JN. Exercise, cognitive function, and aging. Advances in physiology education. 2015;39(2):55-62 

[4] Leso V, Gervetti P, et al. Shift Work and Migraine: A Systematic Review. Journal of Occupational Health. 2020 Mar.

[5] The Nobel Prize. 2017 Press Release.

[6] Mayer E, Tillisch K, Gupta A. Gut/brain Axis and the Microbiota. The Journal of Clinical Investigation. 2015 Mar. 

[7] Breit S, Kupferberg A, et al. Vagus Nerve as Modulator of the Brain-Gut Axis in Psychiatric and Inflammatory Disorders. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2018 Mar. 

[8] Rooks M, Garrett W. Gut Microbiota, Metabolites and Host Immunity. Nature Reviews, Immunology. 2016 May.

[9] Kelly J, Kennedy P, et al. Breaking Down the Barriers: The Gut Microbiome, Intestinal Permeability and Stress-Related Psychiatric Disorders. Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience. 2015 Oct.

[10] Figueiro M and Rea M. The Effects of Red and Blue Lights on Circadian Variations in Cortisol, Alpha Amylase, and Melatonin. International Journal of Endocrinology. 2010 Jun. 

[11] Hamblin, Michael. Shining light on the head: Photobiomodulation for brain disorders. ScienceDirect. 2016 Sept.

[12] J Mintzer, K Donovan, et al. Lifestyle Choices and Brain Health. Frontiers in Medicine. 2019.

• Protection and Immunity: The skin is our barrier to the dangers of the world. It protects us from the dirt and debris we can see, and from invisible invaders like germs and diseases. Skin is an essential component of a healthy immune system, fighting off risks from allergens, toxins, and carcinogens. [2]
• Circulation and Repair: Skin is also central to our circulatory system, and good blood circulation is needed for healthy skin. Blood flow brings oxygen and nutrients to the skin, and removes carbon dioxide and waste products. When skin is injured, circulating blood delivers proteins and cells needed for repair. [3]
• Storage and Hormone Production: The deeper layers of our skin are also vital storerooms for water, fat, and metabolic products. Our skin also produces key hormones such as Vitamin D, which is made with exposure to sunlight. [2]
• Temperature Regulation: The skin is essential to body temperature regulation, protecting you from heat or cold, and helping to prevent dehydration. [2]
• Beauty: Your skin plays a much larger role than just appearance, but that doesn’t mean appearance isn’t important too. Skin is central to how we perceive ourselves, and how others view us, which affects self-esteem and mental health every day.

 

Red Light Therapy for Skin Health

Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation (PBM) or low-level laser therapy (LLLT), is a simple, non-invasive treatment that delivers wavelengths of red and near infrared (NIR) light to the skin and cells.

Red light therapy works by enhancing cellular function. Wavelengths of red and near infrared light have been shown to stimulate the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, and can optimize the cellular respiration process that makes ATP (adenosine triphosphate) energy. [4] Red light therapy treatments are quick and easy, at about 10 minutes per session, allowing a person to supplement the sunlight they get from their environment with specific wavelengths of red and NIR light. 

Taking in light is crucial for skin health, and overall health and wellness. Our bodies work better, and even look better, when our cells are in a state of balance, or homeostasis. Red and near infrared light promote balance across the body by enhancing the cellular environment, making energy production more efficient, with less inflammation and oxidative stress. When your cells are in greater balance, your skin will look & feel softer and more invigorated. [5] That inner balance is ideal for outer beauty.

How Red and Near Infrared Light Therapy Supports Skin Health

Red light therapy can help support skin health across the entire body. The skin functions mentioned above all rely on millions of cells performing and communicating with one another. When the mitochondria in those skin cells absorb healthy red and near infrared light, they can produce more energy (ATP), stimulating the synthesis of pro-collagen, collagen, basic fibroblast growth factors (bFGF), and proliferation of fibroblasts. Red and near infrared light therapy also increase microcirculation that improves cellular balance [6]. In summary, balanced skin cells operating at full capacity do all of those jobs better. That can translate to healthier, glowing skin that looks & feels smoother and softer.

Red Light Therapy and Inflammation: Inflammation can wreak havoc on skin health and appearance. In addition to supporting cellular health, red light therapy, combined with a healthy lifestyle, has been shown to have a positive impact on inflammation. [6]

Dr. Michael Hamblin of Harvard Medical School is a leading light therapy researcher. Dr. Hamblin has written about how red light therapy has the potential to reduce oxidative stress, and increase blood flow to damaged & inflamed tissues. This can help skin tissue regenerate and heal faster, reducing inflammation and improving bodily balance. [6,7]

Why Use Red Light Therapy for Full-Body Skin Health?

A decade ago, red light therapy was mostly used in high-end salons and spas for skin treatments. Thanks to innovations in LED technology, red light therapy is now accessible to just about anyone. The skincare community has taken notice of the numerous benefits of using red light therapy for skin health. Many of the world’s leading skin experts trust red light therapy as an integral part of their skincare routine.

Full-Body Skin Health: Your face gets the most attention, but skin health doesn’t end at the neck. Exposing more of your skin and cells to red and near infrared light will have a greater effect on your overall health. The more of your skin you can expose to healthy wavelengths of light, the more energy you can produce, which translates to better overall health.

Balance is about your whole body working together as a system, so you’re going to see better results treating more of your skin with red and near infrared light. It may seem counterintuitive, but giving the skin on your legs and back the light they need can have just as much effect on how your face looks and feels as doing targeted facial treatments. True health and beauty is a full-body phenomenon.

Sources and References:

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[1] A Nguyen and A Soulika. The Dynamics of the Skin’s Immune System. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2019 Apr. 

[2] “How does skin work?” Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care. Sept 2009, updated 2019.

[3] “Circulation & Skin Integrity: Importance, Risk Factors & Examples.” Study.com. Feb 2017.

[4] Karu T, Pratibrat L, et al. “Effects of Monochromatic Low-Intensity Light and Laser Irradiation on Adhesion of HeLa Cells in Vitro” Lasers in Surgery and Medicine. 1996.

[5] R Stout and M Birch-Machin. Mitochondria’s Role in Skin Ageing. Dermatological Sciences. 2019 May.

[6] Avci P, Gupta A, Sadasivam M, Vecchio D, Pam Z, Pam N, Hamblin MR. Low-level laser (light) therapy (LLLT) in skin: stimulating, healing, restoring. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2013 Mar.

[7] Hamblin M. “Mechanisms and applications of the anti-inflammatory effects of photo biomodulation.” AIMS Biophys. 2017.