Exploring the benefits of red light therapy for overall wellness: boosts sleep quality, reduces stress, and potential enhancement of hair growth.

Red light therapy, a popular health and wellness booster, is gaining traction among UK adults, particularly those aged 18 to 34. According to recent statistics, 46% of UK adults are embracing this innovative treatment.

This therapy, which involves the use of red and near-infrared (NIR) light, offers a range of benefits that extend beyond just improving skin health.

A key advantage of red light therapy is its convenience. With the availability of red light therapy patches, individuals can strap the treatment area device for home use. These patches can be used multiple times a day for injuries, making recovery more accessible and comfortable.

Infrared light and NIR light are not the same. While infrared light makes you feel hot and is used in infrared saunas and sauna mats, NIR light has healing benefits and makes you feel mildly warm. Eye protection is not necessary with a reputable red light therapy device, but it's essential to follow the manufacturer's instructions if they advise the use of goggles.

The healing properties of NIR light are profound. It can penetrate a few millimetres under the skin and, under ideal circumstances, may go as deep as a few centimetres. This deep penetration allows NIR light to potentially target nerves, muscles, tendons, and bone, offering a wide range of health benefits.

LED light therapy, from a reputable device, has no known side effects and does not interfere with medications. The therapy sets off healing on a cellular level, without any pain or discomfort. Red and NIR wavelengths fuel the 'power points' (mitochondria) in each of the body's cells, providing a surge of energy used to heal damage, quell inflammation, and enhance cell growth and resilience.

Red light therapy also penetrates skin and systems within it, such as hair follicles, circulation, and the peripheral nervous system under your skull. Apart from better skin, benefits of red light therapy include exercise and injury recovery, pain relief, wound healing, hair growth, eye health, stress relief, sleep improvement, oral health, and oral discomfort and inflammation management.

When choosing a red light therapy device, it's crucial to look for FDA clearance, a unique '510(k) number', and specific FDA clearance for the intended condition. A flexible silicone panel that is cleared as a CE medical device or is an FDA cleared medical device is a better option than most rigid panels, as it can be moulded to body contours.

In Europe, look for the European CE MDR or Medical UKCA mark and information from the manufacturer on exactly what medical indications the clearance has been granted for.

The effectiveness of red light therapy depends on the power of the device, with more powerful devices requiring less frequent use. Popular devices include the Dermalux Flex MD, The Light Salon Boost Patch, Celluma Pro, Sunlighten Red Light Therapy Panel, Bon Charge Red Light Therapy Blanket, Hairmax Laserband 41 Comfortflex, and Omnilux Contour Glove.

LED face masks are the most popular LED devices for their anti-wrinkle and anti-acne potential, but people are increasingly using LED patches, panels, mats, and blankets for home-use. LED masks can also be used as wellness 'patches' for targeted treatment on areas other than the face.

It's important to note that red light therapy does not work through clothes. Ingeborg van Lotringen, GTG Beauty Director, emphasises the growing interest and potential of red light therapy for UK consumers. With over 6000 studies demonstrating the efficacy of red and NIR light therapy, it's clear that this innovative treatment is here to stay.