Red Light Therapy is More Popular Than Ever – What it is and How to Make it Work for You
The search term, ‘red light therapy’, is at its highest ever, generating 40,500 monthly Google searches, on average, just in the UK. This is a 49% increase in searches since the same period last year, and a 22% increase in searches compared to last quarter. While searches for the term are higher, and more and more red light therapy products are being brought onto the market, there are still thousands of people in the UK who don’t understand the benefits.
Here, I want to educate the population on what red light therapy is, how it works and how it should be used.
What is ‘red light therapy’?
Red light therapy is exactly what it sounds like, exposing your skin to a red light. This visible light operates at wavelengths between 600 and 700 nanometres (nm), with the most effective range believed to be 630–680 nm. It’s often paired with near-infrared (NIR) light, which you cannot see.
Together, red and near-infrared light are used to stimulate cells, increase collagen production, support healing, reduce inflammation, and boost energy production within the body.
Whether delivered through LEDs or lasers, the goal is identical: to use safe, low-intensity light to encourage natural biological repair and rejuvenation in the skin and body, increasing energy and stimulating blood cells.
How should you maximise the effects of ‘red light therapy’ and when is the best time to do it?
The best time to do it is always the time that you are going to stick to regularly. For most people, this is the morning, as once done, it cannot then be undone, no matter what the day brings..
Personally, I also find that the morning is the best time to really start the day bursting with energy, as light is a form of energy, and a good way to think of red light therapy is your own personal charger, just like you would charge your mobile phone most days!
Time varies based on the power of your red light therapy bed or mask. However, from extensive personal experience, the best time is between 15 to 20 minutes.
There are some people who say around 12 minutes is better, so, like all things in life, test what works best for you.
Start with 15 minutes for a week, make a record of how you feel, then increase this to 20 minutes for a week and do the same, then try 10 minutes for a week, then you can find a level that works best for you.
What are the benefits of ‘red light therapy’?
There are just so many benefits to red light therapy and like all of my favourite wellness and longevity therapies (Sauna, Cryo chamber, Ozone Sauna, EBOO IV Ozone Therapy, HBOT chamber and PEMF) they all help reduce inflammation, increase blood flow and increase your levels of energy, though do it in different ways.
For example, red light uses light, HBOT uses oxygen and sauna uses heat. Though all sources of energy to the human body.
The main reasons that people use red light therapy daily are for anti-ageing, pain relief and reducing inflammation, hair growth, increased energy and longevity.
Written by Ralph Montague, Longevity Expert and Founder of The Longevity Clinic