How Does Red Light Therapy Work? The science simplified

Red light therapy, also referred to as RLT, is the use of specific wavelengths of light in the red and near-infrared spectrum to improve health. Red light therapy works by stimulating mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. This gives the cells more energy to do what they are designed to do, including repair and reduction of inflammation. In 2024, a study published in Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery demonstrated that this process can increase ATP production by up to 40%. Different light wavelengths are absorbed by cells and stimulate natural processes in the body like tissue repair, muscle recovery and immune function. Many other studies show benefits in hair growth, improved wound healing, reduction of stretch marks, fine lines, wrinkles and age spots, improvement in facial structure, scars, sun damaged skin, acne, psoriasis, rosacea and eczema. There are also studies that we will share in another post that show red light can improve brain health and mood. Red light therapy isn't a wellness trend, it's a tool that is backed by science showing that it supports skin health, energy and recovery at the cellular level.  

The Cleveland Clinic also has a great overview of how red light therapy works, which can be read in its entirety here: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22114-red-light-therapy.