Does red light therapy work?

10 Minute Read

If you are interested in health and wellness, you have probably heard of red light therapy. You may have heard it is used for skin care treatments or to address hair loss. You may have heard people use it for weight loss or to relieve pain.

If you have your doubts that red light therapy might just be another wellness fad, you may have even asked, “Does red light therapy work?” This article answers that question while also addressing some additional topics surrounding red light therapy.

Article highlights:

Definition of red light therapy and history of how it was discovered.
How red light therapy is used to treat various ailments.
Red Light therapy in Jacuzzi® Infrared Saunas and Jacuzzi® Hot Tubs with Infrared and Red Light therapy.

What is red light therapy?

Red light therapy is being used in a variety of ways in today’s health and beauty industries. But the technology has been around more than 100 years and heavily researched for nearly as long. In fact, even an article on the NASA website states that although decades of studies (including extensive research funded by NASA itself) indicate that specific uses of light can help a wound heal faster, alleviate pain and even prevent loss of eyesight, “the mounting evidence hasn’t always drawn the attention that might be expected for such a striking discovery.”

How does red light therapy work?

Perhaps this is because it sounds too scientific or too good to be true. But it is actually quite straightforward. According to the NASA article, “Today it’s thought that red and infrared wavelengths are absorbed by cytochrome C oxidase, a key enzyme in cellular metabolism, and probably by other light-sensitive chemicals, triggering a cascade of effects within the cell.”

How was red light therapy discovered?

NASA scientists initially “stumbled into the world of medical light therapy” during a research study using LED light for growing plants in space. What they discovered is that the “NASA scientists who had spent time working with their hands under the lighting found that abrasions on their hands seemed to heal faster than normal.”

Between 1995 and 2003, through a series of experiments on medical uses of LEDs, the article states: “Researchers showed that high-intensity red and near-infrared LEDs significantly accelerated the healing of oxygen-deprived wounds in rats and also sped the growth and proliferation of skin, bone, and muscle cell cultures from mice and rats. The team supplied LED devices to U.S. Navy crews for treatment of training injuries. These produced more than a 40 percent greater improvement in musculoskeletal injuries and a 50 percent faster healing time for lacerations, compared to control groups.”

The research also led them to suggest that light therapy could be used as a treatment for retinal ailments from glaucoma to age-related macular degeneration. Furthermore, the technology began to be used “to treat pain, inflammation, and minor inquiries in military personnel,” the article states. “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared its use for the temporary relief of minor muscle and joint pain, arthritis, and muscle spasms.”

How is red light therapy used?

Red light therapy can be used for a variety of issues. According to the Cleveland Clinic, some ways that red light therapy is used include:

Skin issues, including reducing wrinkles, scars, redness, acne, fine lines, and age spots
Reduce pain
Reduce inflammation
Stimulate collagen production
Increase blood circulation
Improve wound healing

How to use red light therapy at home

A simple internet search for “at-home red light therapy products” results in endless options, from face masks and belts to therapy bags and lamps. The Jacuzzi® brand offers products that allow you to experience Infrared and Red Light therapy in a hot tub, swim spa, or sauna.

Jacuzzi® is the first and only brand to offer Infrared and Red Light therapy across a range of its wellness products. These combined therapies can help take a hydrotherapy or a sauna session to the next level as they soothe, rejuvenate, and reach deep beneath your skin. With Infrared and Red Light therapy in Jacuzzi® Hot Tubs and Swim Spas and Jacuzzi® Infrared Saunas, you can achieve ease of pain, improved ranged of motion, and a soothing state of mindful tranquility.

Jacuzzi® Saunas were the first of the brand’s wellness products to feature Infrared and Red Light therapy. Jacuzzi® Saunas are available in one-, two-, and three-person models, allowing you to choose how you would like to achieve your Infrared and Red Light therapy sessions—and with how many people. Whether you decide to enjoy a solo session, or time with close loved ones, Jacuzzi® Infrared Saunas deliver the same high-level results. Relax, rest, and restore your body, mind, and soul as you enjoy the release of muscle tension and a boost of mood and overall wellbeing.

Jacuzzi® Infrared Saunas include high-intensity Red Light therapy and therapeutic far Infrared heaters with a combination of mica/carbon low EMF heaters that surround you in soothing Infrared heat. Meanwhile, powerful full-spectrum heaters deliver near-, mid-, and far-Infrared to elevate the benefits of your sauna session.

Jacuzzi® Saunas also feature:

Built-in Ergonomic Backrests—Sit back and relax against the ergonomically designed, built-in backrest that allows you to be close to the soothing Infrared heat.

Vibrational Resonance Therapy (VRT)—Enjoy the addition of sound and vibrations to complement your Infrared and Red Light therapy session.

Enhanced Audio with Bluetooth and AUX—Connect, listen, or charge your devices and enjoy the included subwoofer for an even more immersive experience.

If you prefer your relaxation time to be spent in a hot tub, you can experience the amazing benefits of Infrared and Red Light therapy while immersed in the incredible hydrotherapy of a Jacuzzi® Hot Tub.

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Several of Jacuzzi’s most luxurious hot tub models feature Infrared and Red Light therapy, which takes your hydromassage to new heights.

When you sink into your hot tub soak, you can enjoy Infrared and Red Light therapy, which combines the rejuvenating power of Infrared and the regenerative qualities of Red Light therapy. Together, they work deep beneath your skin’s surface to ease pain, improve range of motion, and allow you to achieve a state of tranquil bliss.

The way it works is that jet pressure delivers varied hydromassage through surface contact, plus specialized deep Red Light reaches surfaces tissue and cells. Meanwhile, near Infrared is positioned to target deep tissue within the lumbar region of your lower back. This technology is delivered through the FX-IR seat, which is standard in the models in the J-LX® Collection and the J-400™ Collection and available as an optional upgrade in the models in the J-300™ Collection.

Does red light therapy work?

There is evidence that red light therapy can be effective, depending on the product, the way it is used, and how often it is used. Not all at-home red light therapy devices for skin care or hair loss may be approved by the FDA, but they may be FDA cleared. At-home devices’ effectiveness will vary, so you may want to do your own research to determine how well red light therapy can work for you.

If you experience pain, soreness, tightness, inflammation, mood, relaxation, stress, and so on, you may want to consider Red Light therapy via a Jacuzzi® Hot Tub or Sauna to see for yourself the answer to the question, “Does red light therapy work?”

If you are interested in seeking Infrared and Red Light therapy in a Jacuzzi® hot tub or sauna, it’s best to visit your nearby spa showroom. Here, you can view various models and speak with a trusted hot tub dealer about all the incredible features of Jacuzzi® Infrared Saunas and Jacuzzi® Hot Tubs with Infrared and Red Light therapy.

Medical disclaimer: This information is not intended to prescribe a particular diagnosis or course of action. We are not medical professionals. Please contact your GP or other medical professional for advice if you have any concerns about your current health or well-being.

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