How Many Minutes Should I Use Red Light Therapy?
Perhaps you will agree with us if we told you that the good things in life require hard work, patience, and adamant commitment. Whether you are looking to lose some extra pounds, gain a new competence, or simply break a habit, you should adopt the right mindset and prepare for a longer and steady journey. Accept the fact that quick fixes are just a pure marketing term and get ready for astonishing results.
Similar is the case when it comes to red light treatment – a type of exercise that strengthens the ability of your cells to produce more energy. As much as you may expect immediate results and a massive energy influx, just as with all the other good things in life, red light therapy takes time and requires full dedication.
And because most probably you are already asking yourself “ How many minutes should I use red light therapy?”, we are moving on to the point. But before that let’s find out a bit more about the red light treatment itself.
What does the red light therapy do?
In a nutshell, red light therapy (RLT) is an exercise for your bodily cells. More specifically, the therapy accelerates the energy-producing capabilities of your cells, thus leading to increased power, stamina, and strength. Furthermore, the procedure has been found to enhance the cells’ reproducing and rebuilding mechanisms. It is an emerging type of treatment that has been showing some pretty promising results lately.
So far, scientists have discovered that RLT is particularly helpful in tackling the following conditions:
- Wrinkles
- Redness (erythema)
- Acne
- Warts
- Scars
- Skin cancer
- Psoriasis
Often referred to as Low-level laser light therapy, phototherapy, or photonic stimulation, the RLT uses red light within the lower wavelength spectrum that promotes the health of your skin and the way it looks. Ever since NASA introduced RLT to grow plants in space and heal wounds in astronauts, the potential of the therapy in human health has been vigorously studied by scientists.
At present days, the RL laser treatment is widely accepted within the medical environment. During the procedure, the specialists use low-level red laser light that helps activate a so-called photosensitizer medicine. As part of the interaction, a biochemical reaction happens in your body that destroys harmful cells and heals the good ones. Along the process, cells are stimulated to produce a greater volume of energy.
Can you use red light therapy too much?
The exact way red light therapy works is by directly acting on the cells’ mitochondria – the infamous power plants of your body. When cells produce more energy (ATP), they work much more efficiently, thus promoting faster cell growth, skin repair, and rejuvenation. The way RLT helps our skin and promotes our health is by
- Accelerating blood circulation and blood flow to vital tissues
- Stimulating the production of collagen, which is responsible for the optimal structure, elasticity, and strength of our skin
- Increasing the formation of fibroblasts (the most commonly found type of cells in the body’s connective tissue) further aids collagen production
- Decreasing the inflammatory processes in bodily cells
Among the most frequently asked questions when it comes to RLT is “How many minutes should I use red light therapy?” and “Can I use red light therapy too much?”. These are indeed important topics, which is why scientists have dedicated a substantial amount of time to trying to find the most beneficial numbers. Bear in mind however that the duration and frequency of RLT may vary in different individuals and is heavily dependable on the condition it is used for.
If you consider implementing red light therapy into your health routine, you should keep in mind the following aspects:
- RLT is proven to be a safe type of treatment that has not been associated with unwanted side effects when used accordingly and short-term
- The therapy offers a non-toxic, non-invasive, and extremely gentle treatment for your skin
- The long-term safety of RLT is still under scientific investigation, meaning more studies are needed in that direction
- Always use protection for your eyes as otherwise you risk damaging them
- Do not overuse the treatment procedure
- You should not use RLT for more than 10 – 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week
How many times should you use red light therapy?
There is no doubt RLT is exhibiting a broad range of potential health benefits. More and more Americans are embracing the procedure as relief from various skin conditions, to reduce the pain in muscles and joints, or simply for slowing down the visible marks of aging. Of course, here comes the question “How many minutes should I use red light therapy?”.
According to scientific findings, for best health outcomes, most of you should engage on average in 15-minute daily RLT sessions with a weekly frequency of 3 – 5 days. Having said that, please keep in mind that the procedure is highly individual and varies from person to person. Therefore, before going for such an RLT treatment method, you should consult a dermatologist or a red light therapy specialist.
For example, when you plan the time duration of each RLT session and the weekly frequency, you should take into consideration the following factors:
- The severity and progression of the skin condition you are targeting
- Your age
- Your overall health status
- The level of sensitivity of your body to the influence of red light
As much as red light therapy is found to be safe and leads to no side effects, specialists still recommend you introduce the procedure slowly and progress gradually. For instance, during the first week, you should start with a 10-minute therapy session and allow 48 hours between sessions. Eventually, if you don’t encounter tightness or redness, you can extend the duration of your daily sessions to 15 – 20 minutes.
Summary
Red light therapy is an innovative treatment method that has been showing some pretty impressive results over the past several years. So far, scientists have revealed that the procedure helps tackle various skin conditions, such as acne, wrinkles, and redness, among others. Apart from these, RLT has been exhibiting promising outcomes for addressing other pathological conditions like skin cancer, psoriasis, and even neurodegenerative conditions.
Even though the therapy is still emerging, scientists are unanimous that it holds plenty of health potential. If you are considering implementing red light therapy into your treatment regimen, it is recommended that you discuss with your medical provider or an RLT specialist. Just make sure you adhere to the safety precautions and never attempt to overuse the procedure.
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