An Intro to Red Light Therapy

Whether this is your first time hearing about "red light therapy" or you (like me) have been seeing this wellness trend pop up all over the place, it's time to break it down.

Until recently, I had only lightly dabbled with red light in facials, and it wasn't until Fringe allowed me to try out their red light therapy panel that I really dove into the benefits and felt the impact.

I can easily say that it's already becoming one of my very favorite additions to my wellness routine and one I'm fascinated to continue to learning about.

If you're in the same boat, keep scrolling for some basics to get you started AND be sure to check out my recorded Instagram Live conversation with the CEO of Fringe for all you need to know!

What exactly is red light therapy?

Red light therapy (RLT) is an emerging treatment that’s showing promise in treating wrinkles, redness, acne, scars and other signs of aging (more on the uses and benefits below), though studies are ongoing.

Photobiomodulation (PBM), is the use of light technology to penetrate visible and invisible light wavelengths into our body to power cells and promote our body’s natural healing process. The most common lights used in this process are low levels of red light or near infrared light (NIR). The Fringe red light panel that I personally use provides both near infrared and red light for maximum benefits.

How does it work?

Red light therapy is thought to work by acting on the mitochondria (often referred to as “power plant”) within in the body's cells, to increase ATP production. Certain cells absorb light wavelengths and are stimulated to create more energy and do their work more efficiently.

You will often find red light in the form of panels, masks, mats, wraps, domes, wands, etc. to acutely target different areas of the body as well as full beds for complete coverage.

What are the potential uses & benefits?

Red light therapy may work in skin health to stimulate collagen production, increase blood circulation to the tissue, reduce inflammation in cells, improve performance and recovery, and more.

You'll likely see red light therapy used as a treatment for common skin conditions including wound healing, stretch marks, wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, psoriasis, rosacea, eczema, scarring, sun damage, and acne.

In addition, light therapy can be used for the treatment of acute injuries, chronic pain, joint pain, tendonitis, nerve pain, arthritic pain, and fibromyalgia, PLUS it can improve sleep quality, hormone health, mood and mental health, brain health and cognition, metabolism, and so much more!

How can I learn more?

We're just scratching the surface of all that red light therapy has to offer.

Don't forget to check out my conversation with the CEO of Fringe Heals for an even deeper look into all things red light, and let me know what you think!