Red light therapy is hugely popular for anti-aging. But could infrared light be even more effective?
In this article, we’ll explore the differences between red light therapy and infrared light therapy.
It turns out that the best results actually come from using both red and infrared light.
Read on to learn more about why!
The Impact of Red Light Therapy on Anti-Aging
Looking younger and healthier is a priority for many people.
Whether you seek treatment at a dermatologist, wellness spa, or at home, you’ll notice that most red light therapy devices have treatment options (red light, infrared light, or both). Which should you choose? Red light or infrared?
Red wavelengths are part of the visible light spectrum. The most beneficial wavelength of red light is between 610 and 660 nanometers.
Infrared light is invisible. The term infrared light therapy refers to near-infrared (NIR) light, which is usually between 810 and 850 nanometers.
Red light therapy can refer to red light, near-infrared light, or both together.
The benefits of near-infrared light are closely related to the benefits of red (visible) light. The difference is the depth of absorption into the tissues. Red light treats the layers of the skin, whereas NIR light treats the skin and subcutaneous tissue.
Read on to learn more about how red and near infrared light therapy work together.
RLT and Infrared Light Therapy: Better Together
Using red and infrared light together to treat signs of aging is the best approach.
Infrared and red light have similar benefits. They are both natural, safe, non-invasive, and free from side effects.
The only major difference between red and infrared light is the depth of penetration into the tissues.
For anti-aging, red wavelengths alone could be enough, but you will get superior results by using both red and near-infrared light together.
Why?
Any inflammation found deeper in the body could negatively affect your cells, interfere with cellular metabolism, slow collagen production, and affect blood flow. If these underlying disorders are beyond the reach of red light, you’ll need NIR light.
Using both red and NIR light will reach the source of accelerated aging, which can include poor circulation, systemic inflammation, and poor cellular performance in the major organs.
While red light is great at addressing skin surface concerns, only infrared wavelengths have the ability to absorb deeper into the body, into the organs themselves, to stimulate systemic health.
Okay… so why not just use NIR light therapy for facial rejuvenation?
When you use both shorter and longer wavelengths of light, there is a doubling up of effects in the tissues accessible by red wavelengths.
Red light absorbs into the skin tissue to up to 2 centimeters. Human facial skin ranges in thickness from ⅕ to 2 centimeters. Red light absorbs through the dermal layers for reduced oxidative stress, increased blood flow, and a boosted cellular metabolism.
NIR light absorbs beyond the surface of the skin, up to 5 centimeters into the tissues, where it reduces inflammation and oxidative stress in subcutaneous tissues beyond the reach of red light.
Within those first 2 centimeters, both infrared and red light reduce oxidative stress, stimulate mitochondrial performance in all cells, including fibroblasts that synthesize collagen and elastin. They also stimulate blood flow and lymph flow and reduce inflammation.
How Red and Near Infrared Light Treat Signs of Aging
The secret of facial rejuvenation using red light therapy lies in the cells.
How Red Light Therapy Boosts Collagen Production
Restoring collagen production is key to rejuvenating skin.
The dermal collagen matrix is the network of collagen proteins that make up 80% of the skin's structure. As collagen production slows with age, the dermal collagen matrix becomes fragmented. The fibroblasts that produce collagen need to attach to the collagen matrix to produce new collagen, but they can’t attach to a fragmented matrix. This slows collagen production, and the matrix doesn’t have a chance to rebuild. It just continues to break down.
Red light therapy stimulates production of new undamaged collagen; it also treats the underlying causes of poor collagen synthesis, allowing the matrix to rebuild.
Red light stimulates collagen production in the skin
NIR light addresses underlying inflammation that damages fibroblasts
Inside each cell are tiny organelles called mitochondria which are responsible for converting glucose and oxygen into cellular fuel called adenosine triphosphate (ATP).
But with age come many challenges to the mitochondria. Diet, lifestyle, environmental toxins, and even psychological stress can cause the mitochondria to struggle to produce energy.
Aging occurs when many dermal cells are struggling for survival: dying faster than they should, not repairing themselves when damaged, not fighting off pathogens, and not proliferating at a healthy rate.
Reversing mitochondrial dysfunction is at the heart of boosting collagen synthesis. This is something red light therapy does very well.
In a way, we’re like plants. Our bodies actually convert light into energy. When red and infrared light photons interact with light-sensitive chromophores, this spurs the mitochondria into action; and in their excited state, they produce more energy. More energy leads to better performance and a positive effect on the skin.
Red light stimulates mitochondria within the skin
NIR light stimulates mitochondria in the skin and subcutaneous circulatory system
Red Light Therapy Treats Oxidative Stress and Inflammation
Oxidative stress is caused by an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants. The production of free radicals is a natural and normal part of cellular metabolism but they must be balanced by antioxidants that neutralize them to prevent cell damage.
Diet, lifestyle, pollution, or other factors can result in too many free radicals, leading to oxidative stress. This leads to chronic inflammation which interferes with collagen synthesis and leads to aging and chronic skin disorders like acne, rosacea, and eczema.
Feel free to seek more info on our site about how red light therapy treats inflammation.
Both red light and infrared light effectively reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, which helps restore normal mitochondrial activity and cell function.
Red light treats inflammation in the skin
NIR light treats inflammation deeper in the body
Red Light Therapy Boosts Circulation
The circulatory system includes the cardiovascular circulatory system and the lymphatic circulatory system.
Blood delivers oxygen and nutrients to the cells
Lymph removes toxins and pathogens
Poor circulation leads to:
An excess of acne-causing bacteria
Poor nutrient delivery to the cells, which affects mitochondrial function
An exaggerated immune response
Red light therapy promotes circulation by stimulating the release of nitric oxide, which is a vasodilator that helps capillaries deliver more oxygen and nutrients to the skin.
Red light therapy also stimulates growth of endothelial cells which make up the structure of capillaries. The body can create new capillaries that branch off from existing blood vessels to increase circulation and benefit skin health.
But let's not overlook elastin, the protein that gives skin its elasticity. Red light therapy also boosts the production of elastin. Both collagen and elastin are needed to restore the skin's youthful firmness and elasticity.
Research on Anti-Aging Red Light Therapy Treatments
Can shining light on your face really restore youthful skin? Research suggests red light therapy can be an effective treatment for signs of aging.
A landmark 2014 study found that both red and near infrared light led to significantly improved skin complexion and smoothness, and increased collagen density.
Another study found that a combination of 633 nm and 830 nm led to 52% of subjects showing a 25%-50% improvement in photoaging scores by the 12th week of use. 81% of subjects reported a significant improvement in periorbital wrinkles (crow’s feet) after the treatment.
An article published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology stated that treating human dermal cells with low level red (640nm) and infrared (830nm)LED lights resulted in a significant increase in the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, collagen, and elastin in as little as three days.
This is just a small sampling of the huge body of research available on red light therapy and dermatology. Many related studies such as studies on wound healing, stretch marks, chronic skin conditions, acne, and uneven pigmentation all concur. The benefits of red light therapy are real and measurable.
There appears to be little or no difference between the effects of red and NIR light on skin concerns. Both are effective.
All you need is a high quality medical grade light therapy device and a regular treatment plan to achieve results comparable to clinical trials.
Home Light Therapy Devices That Combine Red and Near Infrared Light
You have probably seen ads for masks and handheld light therapy devices for facial rejuvenation. Seldom do they have the light energy output needed to deliver enough light into the body’s tissues.
For this reason alone, you’ll want a larger light therapy device with more light output such as the ML75 even for a relatively small area such as the face.
Many users soon find that red light therapy has dozens of other applications including pain relief. Treatment applications of red light therapy include hair restoration, weight loss, arthritis joint pain relief, wound healing, chronic skin conditions including acne and psoriasis, neuropathy pain, muscle recovery, low back pain, and even better eyesight.