I have now been using my Red Light Therapy panels for nine months, so I wanted to share an update, answer some of the questions I’ve received, and share some stories from friends. Because I’ve gotten so many questions about my lights and how they’ve been performing long term, this post is going to be a little long, but I’ll break it up into sections based on the questions I regularly receive to make it less painful and easy to skip around.
What are you talking about, Rachel? I have no idea what Red Light Therapy Is.
The quick version: Red Light Therapy consists of using specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to heal your body. There have been many clinical studies proving their effectiveness at healing and strengthening the body at a cellular level (they have been shown to stimulate mitochondria), and they have been used in many types of medical clinics for quite a while. They have just now become affordable for individuals to own, and I believe in a few years they will be a typical component of households. For me, they replaced daily muscle relaxers, pain medicine, ibuprofen, heating pads, and twice weekly physical therapy within days.
To get the detailed version of my story (and believe me, I was skeptical), click here. I know it sounds weird and hokey, but it is by far the most objectively measurable health improvement I have ever experienced.
I bought my lights originally to help with recurrent and long term back and shoulder pain (after my physical therapist had been urging me to look into it for a year or more), and I experienced immediate relief to that pain within days. Within a month, I noticed that it didn’t hurt to run anymore, and I was able to run significantly faster.
For an expert’s explanation on how they work and what all they can help, read this – it was written by the same author whose book I bought and read before investing in my own lights.
Okay, so they took away your pain. Are you still using them? If so, why? What other changes have you noticed?
I am still using my lights on a daily basis. I have had to go without them a couple of times while traveling, and though I missed them, I didn’t experience an immediate back-sliding into symptoms. I did have an uptick in back and shoulder stiffness when I was in Macedonia for ten days, but it was manageable and quickly righted back to zero pain when I got back home to my red lights.
Besides the fact that the lights are relaxing and calming, they keep my back from becoming inflamed again. Also, now that I’ve been using the lights for nine months, I have noticed some more long-term benefits:
Objective Benefits:
– I had deep neck injuries from my car wreck in 2015. Although it didn’t hurt during the day, I hadn’t been able to comfortably sleep on my stomach or side since the wreck. (I was always a stomach sleeper before the wreck, but couldn’t even lay comfortably on my stomach for a minute after the wreck. I know, I know – stomach sleeping isn’t good for you anyway – but it makes me delightfully sleepy.) This May, five months into my light usage, I realized that I was sleeping on my stomach and side again, and my neck wasn’t hurting. I suspect that my neck problems were such deep injuries that it took longer for the light to heal them. But the red light certainly did heal them, as the pain had been present for over three years and I haven’t changed anything else that could have instigated the healing.
– My running is still showing improvement. I ran my fastest 5K this year. I ran it in 27:37, which is a pace of 8:55. Before using the red light and after the wreck (which slowed me down tremendously), I felt like I was doing good to be in an 11 minute pace. I also ran the Lake Martin 27.1 Ultra Trail Marathon this year, and my total time was 1 hour and 19 minutes faster than when I did the same race last year.
– My ability to run without injury has been exceptional. Before getting my red light, I had never run a race that was 13 miles or longer without ending up with an injury of some sort that required me to go to physical therapy for a few weeks. (My body likes to break. Often.) Since I’ve been using the red light, I’ve run a half marathon and an ultra marathon without having any hint of injury. I have not been back to my Physical Therapist a single time since I got my red lights on December 1st. I have not gone this long without some sort of PT in five years.
– I’m still sleeping well and quickly. I haven’t had any periods of insomnia since I started using my lights.
– I have significantly less overall soreness after running.
– Chris and Ali also used my red lights before and after Lake Martin (Ali, my 12 year old, ran the 27.1 mile race with me, and Chris, my husband, ran the 100 mile race.) Both of them had significantly shortened recovery time. Ali woke up the next morning and said “Welp, my legs are healed!!” Chris bounced back from his epic adventure in just a few days.
Subjective Benefits:
– Red Lights are supposed to help reverse some skin aging, wrinkles, and discoloration. I didn’t notice any results in my first couple of months. However, I do think I have less wrinkles around my eyes and mouth now. The results aren’t spectacular and I didn’t take before and after pictures, though, so I cannot say for sure.
– I definitely have significantly less cellulite. Again, no before and after pictures. Nobody wants to see my thighs like that.
No Results:
– The Red Light Therapy has not helped with my tinnitus (ear ringing), though there weren’t any studies that showed it would. I was so hopeful, though.
– I still haven’t seen a significant change in my cognitive functions that were decimated by my dysautonomia. I’m holding out hope that I just have a thick skull and it’s going to take a little longer to repair my brain.
Sure, they worked for you. But has anyone else used these lights with success?
I have had eight other people come to my house to use my “spa”, and most of them have subsequently bought their own lights because they found it helpful and wanted daily access. Here are a couple of their stories:
Kris:
It’s a gross understatement to say I’ve tried everything in the last 20 years to alleviate the horrible joint and muscle pain, exhaustion and fog from Fibromyalgia. I was often bed-ridden and when I could walk it was with a painful limp. Becoming sugar, gluten and dairy free has helped immensely but this red light of mine has taken away ALL of the residual joint and muscle pain. It’s just incredible!
And even more miraculous, I just got my bone scan back to find that the osteopenia in my spine is IMPROVING! I HAVE MORE BONE MASS! The only change to my lifestyle has been a daily dose of my glorious red light.
Nikki:
I have chronic lower back pain, ranging from unpleasant to unbearable, and it has been a recurring issue for the past seven years. It very much escalated last year and resulted in numerous MRIs, doctors, chiropractors, and extensive physical therapy. I’m thankful for each of those options, and they all play a role in bringing my back to a better place. Nonetheless, it is a fact that my issues are here to stay, and there isn’t just a “fix” for them. We were, however, able to determine that inflammation is a huge part of my problem. When I have inflammation in my lower back, it greatly exacerbates the issue and leads to nerve pain as the inflammation pushes my spine into a nerve cluster.
Rachel encouraged me to try the red light therapy as a way to possibly combat the inflammation. I began using the light a few times a week at a friend’s house about 8 months ago. Initially, I was uncertain as to whether or not it was working. I wasn’t having any big flares, but I’d had good spells before. How could I know it was the light?
I became convinced when I had to go on an 8 hour road trip and stay in a hotel for three nights then drive back another 8 hours. I hadn’t been able to do more than 2 hours in the car without a flare for years, but I made this trip with nothing more than some minor discomfort in the car. The BIG test came when I decided to go on a trip to Macedonia. I had been convinced for years that an international flight was permanently off the table for me. There was no way I could sit in an airplane that long. To prep, I ramped up to using the red light everyday for a week and a half before the trip. I traveled over 24 hours both coming and going, slept on a not-so-hot mattress for ten nights, and had to ride on the worst van ride ever from the airport a couple of hours away. Afterwards, I was tired and miserable just like my travel companions. JUST LIKE THEM! I wasn’t having searing nerve pain shooting through my back and down my leg. I was just really stiff and tired like a normal person after a whole lot of travel. That’s when I was truly sold.
I saved up and bought my own light, and I use it every day now. It is not a magic cure all. I recently had a car wreck and have been experiencing lower back pain since then. It has not escalated though and is improving much quicker than a flare used to improve. I haven’t had any nerve pain whatsoever. The red light therapy has kept my inflammation at bay.
So, What lights do you have? And where do you buy these things?
NOT from Amazon. There are a lot of really cheap options out there that have no therapeutic benefit because they’re the wrong wavelengths.
I read a book (highly recommended) about red light therapy before purchasing any. The book is awesome because it takes the thousands of clinical studies and puts them into plain English. It’s also a great resource to look up specific ailments to see if the light helps them, as well as to help pick out an effective light. The author of the book had tried out dozens of different brands of lights and had tested their wavelength and output. He only recommended three or four brands.
I researched/stalked the brands he mentioned and landed on one company, Platinum LED Therapy Lights. After my extensive stalking, I felt they were the least expensive, most effective, least sketchy company out there (for instance, one of the other companies that was recommended in the book stated on their website that they had a 90 day return period on their lights. But when I read the fine print, it said the return period applied to regularly-priced items only. Yet they only had one product and that product was permanently on sale. Therefore, nothing was *actually* returnable.) I have been extremely impressed with Platinum LED – the lights are very high quality, obviously effective, and their customer service and responsiveness has been really spectacular. For example, one of my friends had a question about how to set the lights up for a clinical setting, and the president of the company gave him his direct number to discuss it and figure it out.
My original light purchases were two of Platinum LED’s BIO-600s, which makes my setup a little more more than body length. A few months after my original blog post, the company found my post, contacted me, and sent me a BIOMAX-900 before it was released to the public to try out and give them feedback. The BIOMAX series has more wavelengths to provide more benefits, and also has a system built in to where you can link the lights together for more seamless operating. The merging of five wavelengths makes the lights able to penetrate farther, including to and through bone (and the skull – so maybe my brain has hope after all.)
The previous line of lights had 660nm and 850nm wavelengths. The BIOMAX lights have those and add 630nm, 810nm, an d 830nm. 630nm is good for the skin layer, including wrinkles, psoriasis, hair regrowth, and acne. 810nm has shown benefits for brain injuries, wound healing, stroke recovery, and improvement in psychiatric conditions. 830nm offers the “feel good” endorphins, improved bone repair, and accelerated healing and reduced infection.
(You can read about the new BIOMAX series’ benefits here in more detail.)
So now I use a combination of one or both of my BIO-600s and the BIOMAX-900.
Having already been using the BIO lights for six months, I could tell an immediate difference to the heat output and penetration of the BIOMAX, and it definitely made me significantly happier feeling the first time I used it. I started noticing the facial wrinkle reductions after I got the BIOMAX, so that could be why that result took so long – I needed that 630nm wavelength. I also like how the red and near infrared lights are spaced in the BIOMAX – it makes a lot more sense and doesn’t give a whole strip of your body just red or near infrared light.
However, the BIO lights dropped in price by $30 after they came out with the BIOMAX lights, so if you’re looking for the least expensive option, the BIO lights are excellent.
The company also gave me a discount code to share on my blog, so the code “FNAZP6205” gets you 5% off any purchase at Platinum LED Therapy Lights.
You don’t need three light panels to get the results I have had, but you want a light big enough so that getting red light to a large part of your body doesn’t take all day. If you want the least expensive but still practical option, I would go with one BIO-600 (make sure you get the dual light option.) If you want the most effective, most wavelengths, quickest option, I would go with either a combination of one BIOMAX-300 and one BIOMAX-600 or one BIOMAX-900 and one BIOMAX-450.
Tell me exactly what it looks like to use these red lights of yours. Like, do you lay on them or what??
I lay my lights end to end on their side and have a yoga mat next to them. I use an app on my iPhone called “Interval Timer” that will beep at me at the intervals I set up (“every x minutes.”) I lay on my back six inches away from the lights to get my right side lit, on my right side to get my back lit, on my left side to get my front lit, and then flip to the opposite end of my yoga mat (so that my feet are where my head was) and lay on my back again to get my left side lit. I usually give my back an extra rotation when I’m laying the opposite way so that both my shoulders get equal attention. I typically do 6 minute intervals (a total of 30 minutes), but if I’m in a hurry, I’ll do 4 or 5 minute intervals.
I read while I’m lighting, or play on my phone. It’s actually a lovely forced break somewhere during my day which I look forward to quite a bit. The light is warm and comforting and definitely makes me feel happier and calmer.
…And, you aren’t supposed to have clothing between you and the lights, so…. Yeah. We also keep Lysol antibacterial wipes next to our yoga mat to complete our spa health regulations.
What time of the day do you lay in front of these magical red lights of yours?
Whenever it fits in my schedule. I move my lighting time around quite a bit. I try not to do it right before bed, or if I do, I wear sunglasses or don’t face the light. A couple hours before bed and it makes me sleepy at bedtime. But right before bed it makes me feel awake and alert. Chris uses it every morning before work while he’s drinking his coffee, and he said it helps him start the work day off more calmly and positively.
Also I’ve noticed the best results for my runs is to light about two hours beforehand. It makes me more energized, prevents soreness or achiness while running and after, and makes me run faster. If I have a really long run, I’ll use my lights afterwards as well to speed up healing and prevent any soreness.
Are there any dangers of red light therapy?
Not that I can find, nor have I seen any studies that have shown negative side effects. I’ve read a lot of studies, and I’ve read the book that breaks down a lot of the scientific studies into normal language. The only thing I can find is that if you use the light too long, the benefits are negated. One of my friends felt achy and flulike the first couple days after she started using the lights, but that faded, and the lights really helped her quite a bit. I did find that when I went from one light to two lights, I felt kind of achy at first (double the power and all), so I backed my time down. Other than that, I have not experienced any negative side effects.
Is this a sponsored post? What is your relationship with Platinum LED?
I bought their lights (at full price) because in my research, they were the most effective, least expensive lights on the market. I have been extremely happy with them.
A few months AFTER writing my original post, Platinum LED contacted me because they’d been getting a number of link-throughs from my post. They offered to send me one of their new lights to try out since I had been so studiously documenting my results and could study the differences objectively. They also gave me the coupon code mentioned above, which does pay me a referral percentage. They did not pay me to write this post, nor did they have any part in the writing of it.
As my regular readers know, I typically do not promote things on my blog – I like my blog to be my personal space, that is only a reflection of my life and the things I love. These lights have been so life changing to me that they absolutely are a huge part of my life – I would never give anything 30 minutes of my day every day if it weren’t life changing. I’ve been thrilled to see how it’s helped my friends and other people who have contacted me from the internet, and I’ve had many people ask for a follow-up post.
All opinions are my own and will always continue to be.
What are some of the other things that the studies have shown that the red light therapy can help?
There are quite a number of things I haven’t mentioned yet. Click to this article for a more comprehensive list. Some of the other things that studies have shown it helps includes:
- Lose fat (nearly twice as with diet and exercise alone)
- Rid the body of chronic inflammation
- Fight the oxidative damage that leads to aging
- Combat some autoimmune conditions and improve hormonal health
- Overcome fatigue and improve energy levels
- Combat other skin conditions like acne, keloids, vitiligo, burns, herpes virus sores, and psoriasis
- Reduction of cellulite: one study found that when it is combined with massage, it created a 71% reduction in cellulite
- Enhanced quality of life for fibromyalgia patients, including decreased pain, muscle spasms, and tender points.
- The most amazing benefits I’ve read about were for for autoimmune hypothyroidism. A randomized, placebo-controlled study in hypothyroid patients demonstrated that in people who got near-infrared light therapy, thyroid function dramatically improved, and thyroid antibody levels were massively reduced. 47% of patients were able to stop medication completely. The researchers also followed up 9 months after treatment and found that they did not have to restart their medication even after ending their red light treatment.
- Speed up bone healing
- Decrease anxiety and depression
- Potentially increase fertility
I know – it sounds way too good to be true. But I have experienced such inexplicably amazing results of my own that I do not doubt the results of these research projects.
How can I try a light out before buying?
If you are local and know me IRL, send me an email.
If not, some gyms, physical therapists, aestheticians, and other types of health clinics do have red lights. If your gym has one, it’s worth googling the brand to see if it’s a the right wavelengths or not before wasting your time on it (I’ve heard that some are not.) I bought my lights instead of trying them out elsewhere, fully intending on taking advantage of the return window (60 day window, minus a 20% restocking fee) if it didn’t work for me. I wanted the freedom to try it out in my own home, on my own time, every day to see if it really worked.
What do your neighbors think about the totally sketch “red room” in your house?
I haven’t asked them. Sometimes it’s best just to leave things up to the imagination.
WHY IS THIS POST SO LONG, RACHEL?!!
Because I’ve gotten so many questions about these lights, and there is far too little public awareness about them. Forgive me?
…But let me know if I didn’t address your particular question – I’ll be glad to email you back or answer in the comments!
2023 Update: After over four years, I still use my red lights nearly every day, and still notice the physical rejuvenation that they give my body (if I go out of town for a week, I can tell the difference.) I struggle much less with muscle knots, back pain, and recurrent injuries than I did before I started using red light therapy. I still highly recommend them!
Ok, I juat read this to my husband, I had also told him about your original post. We really want to try them but he works
out of the country, he is gone about 3 months at a time and home only about 40 days so which do you think would be best , having them at home or having them with him at work ?
If I were gone that long, I would take mine with me. I took it on a couple trips we went on. I’m not sure if you could fly with one or not?
If he can pack it up safely so it doesn’t get damaged he should be able to take it with him. I just ordered the Biomax 900 and can’t wait for both of us to try it, thanks for the discount!
Awesome! Be sure to let me know how it goes for you. They come in really sturdy boxes with styrofoam insets – I’ve traveled with mine multiple times. I would even feel comfortable flying with it. So make sure you save the box!
If I was your neighbor, I would be SO CURIOUS about that red light. I would never ask, but I would definitely be wondering. :)
I have been waiting for this update, so thank you! I deal with chronic back/nerve pain and have had one surgery. It helped, but I still struggle and have to really put limits on what I can and can’t do so as not to aggravate it. I do have a couple of questions that maybe you can answer. First, do you know how long the lights last before needing to be replaced? And second, have you seen a significant increase in your power bill? Thanks again for your detailed report on these lights. I will be doing more of my own research to see if this is an option for me.
I have not noticed any increase in my power bill, no. Since they’re only used half an hour a day (per person) I don’t think they’re using that much electricity.
And I have no idea about the light replacement. They’re LED lights, though, which typically last a really long time.
Thanks for the update. After your original post, I bought the book you recommended and read that a few times, with lots of highlighter, went and read a number of the referenced research studies, and finally took the plunge not long ago. I got the red rush 360. I have a partial tear in my rotator cuff, so that’s where I’m concentrating on for now. I’ve been using it for maybe 2 weeks and can’t tell much yet. But I’m holding out hope, because I really don’t want to have surgery.
And I had never thought about the neighbors seeing it! That would raise eyebrows! I usually use mine in the morning, so maybe it’s not so obvious. My kids saw the light under the door and though I was doing some weird science experiments.
Wondering how this worked out for you Leanne
Rachel – are you still using it daily? I can’t find anywhere that shows the recommended times for treating different conditions. Can you suggest where to look? The app from Platinum won’t load And says it is not available in my country (US)
Have you seen any info about use during pregnancy and how young it is recommended?
Can you give links to the actual studies? How do you know whether it’s the time spent relaxing vs the lights that is giving the results? Could it be the placebo effect?
I’ve had so much pain for 30 years and it gets worse every year. I’ve tried so many things, so lease forgive my scepticism.
I have sever chronic pain. Multiple conditions causing it. I use the light daily and definitely noticed a difference. Then stopped to see how long it lasted. Since I share your troubles I wanted to encourage you to try it!
Love your writing, I just discovered your blog! I was planning to order two sets of 450+900 for front and back full-length coverage in 10 minutes. I was going to hang one set on the wall and put the other set on the rolling stand and then stand between them.. I’d much rather lie down between the two sets of panels, though. Do they stand up well on their sides? I see you are doing the therapy lying down. It seems so much more relaxing than standing between the panels! Thanks also for the 5% code. Please let me know your thoughts, and whether you need to prop the panels up somehow to do this lying down.
I failed to notice this post earlier, but thanks for the update!
My sister and I decided to try the lights but we are slackers and have not kept up. I find that if I have time for it, and I take the time, I am guaranteed to be interrupted. But if I don’t take the time, and just do almost anything else, I won’t be interrupted. I thought it would just be my kids, but my husband does it too, and at times when he wouldn’t normally even be awake!
Whine whine complain fuss!
Thank you your reviews have been extremely helpful! I ordered the 900 and 450. I see that you lay the lights down? So that has not been a problem because I have odd sized doors and just discovered I cannot hang. Just wanted to see if you’ve experienced and cons laying them. Thank you!
Yes, correct. I’ve been using them laid on their side for over a year and have had no trouble whatsoever. It’s a much more comfortable way to use them than hanging on doors anyway.
Do you know if the Platinum LED red lights are manufactured and the US? I have been researching. Is products for some time now And want to buy something that is USA made over the many foreign made products That are available. . I have narrowed my choice down to the Platinum LED serious But cannot find anywhere They are made.
Do the lights need to be used in a dark room?
They do not!
Hello! thank you so much for these awesome articles. Can I ask why you recommend the bio max450 and bio max900 together? What is the benefit of that? Why Is that better than using two bio max 900s?
It’s just a less expensive solution – 2 BIOMAX-900’s is great – you can be a little closer to the lights and shorten your time – but a BIOMAX-900 and BIOMAX-450 is a less expensive but still body-length option.
Very excited to read your blog. I was led there by Google after my husband texted me to research a place here in Vancouver that was giving light therapy and I have been meaning to sort out some sort of light therapy for years because of my great results having had full spectrum glasses lenses and full spectrum lights in my house once upon a time. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of the film ’The white cellar’, I think it’s called? I believe it was a Disney time lapse photographer and how he discovered that the regular yellow light bulbs were actually affecting the plants he was trying to film growing which led to discovering how the full spectrum lighting in schools and buildings improve productivity, reduce stress and increase children’s concentration. so again in short I’m very excited to find your blog and I am going to try and find the funds to invest in one of the lights. The UV information I’ve had since the late 70s and now at 66 I have a lot of inflammation, fybro aches pains etc. but I’ve never let it stop me I just keep powering through but this would be a great help. Thank you!!
Please get rid of the Lysol and get something not so toxic. Lysol is nothing but toxic chemicals. You can use vinegar and some essential oils that kill germs without the toxic overload.
My husband and I just got the Platinum LED 600 and I love it. I have had joint pain for years and the worst was my right sacral ileac area. I could not move without terrible pain. I have had my own stem cells injected into that area and I have done countless other things(never pain pills), but nothing has really helped, but doing the Platinum 600 for just one week my pain is 90% gone. Sometimes I go all day and I realize I have not noticed the pain at all. The pain was constant and I was aware of the pain with every step and move I made. It’s really hard for me to believe. I sleep so much better now because the pain was constantly waking me up. We will be adding the Platinum 900 soon, and I can’t wait.
Hi Rachel your story so inspired me that I bought one and I am using it because I need a hip replacement and have arthritis in my knee and my quad muscles are jacked up because of the pain of the hip yes I know it won’t cure my hip but I bought it for pain relief I am only one week into it but I am so discouraged and despondent because it seemed to make my pain worse and I can’t find anything on that you can imagine how depressing this is I wonder if you have any insight into this? I’m using it daily for about 15 minutes
So I have had my red lights since 5/2020. 2 lights hung one on top of the other for full body exposure. I got it for help with sleep. Much of my research said to use it 6-12 inches for up to 20 minutes. I did this for 20 minutes frontside then 20 backside daily for 2 weeks. I stopped when I noticed dark patches occurring on my face and legs (like age spots not like melasma or rosacea). I dug deeper into research and found I was way overexposing My body dose wise (joules) That wasn’t initially explained very clearly. According to my math with the research on how to calculate a dose, I was getting about 1000 joules per Side per session! The age spots have not gone away. I am afraid to use it now. I have since gotten a few more dark spots on my body and I’m not even using lights. All my research these past few months only says it HELPS with improving skin including brown spots. My husband uses it for his minor eczema and his dose is 10 joules per session and this seems to keep it at bay. My question is do you think with all of your research, using it at a 7 joules dose (as recommended by research as far as skin care I’ve learned since) would counteract these brown spots?
Goodness – I am not sure. I’ve been using it longer per day and for nearly two years and have only had positive skin effects, and haven’t heard of this happening to anyone else. I would say that if it’s affecting your skin this way, I wouldn’t attempt to try and use it to reverse the effects, but I am not an expert – I can only talk to my own experience. Hopefully it will fade soon!
I would suggest contacting the manufacturer and asking them about your experience. One thought I had was that the brown spots might be sun damage being brought to the surface of your skin so that it’s more visible. But again, the manufacturer should be able to address this with you.
My sister had the same thing happen using my biomax 900 panels. Later found out her blood pressure medication made her light sensitive (listed as side effect on her medicine bottle). After stopping light therapy, they ended up going away. Just wondering if you might be on any medicines that would be light sensitive? (Many antibiotics are guilty of this)
Is it possible you had some sun damage when you were younger? Bad sunburns, &c.? I’m a massage therapist and when we studied skin in school we were told that childhood sun damage starts to surface as age spots in adulthood. I believe one effect of red light is to increase the rate of turnover of skin cells, just like a topical product like vitamin C or retinol does. So it’s possible that some of these spots may have become visible as a result of increased cellular turnover and are not necessarily new damage from the lights. Again, not a doctor, please do some investigating on your own. For example, can you really overdose on red light? And isn’t it only UV light that causes pigmentation issues? I don’t know the answers here … off to do more research myself!
Do you eat a diet high in PUFAs (polyunsaturated fats – vegetable oils, nuts, etc.)? There are some studies that link these to liver spots and other aging-related skin pigmentation changes to excess PUFAs.
Essential oils are often found blended in lotions, oils and deodorants that are topically applied to the skin. Certain essential oils, especially expressed citrus oils such as orange, lemon, lime, bergamot, tangerine, and grapefruit, are photosensitive and can cause brown/dark spots if exposed to sunlight.
The skin damage or discoloration is due to phototoxicity which can occur when certain essential oil constituents (natural chemicals found in particular essential oils) particularly furocoumarins (FCs), coumarins, and linalol/linalool, react when exposed to ultraviolet light. Darkening, browning, inflammation, blistering and reddening/burning of the skin are common side effects.
Julie – This is troubling & would cause me some panic as well! My understanding is this should NOT happen when using true near-infrared or RLT. Have you contacted the manufacturer of your lights to clarify if they can provide information about the system and FDA approval certification?
Throughout my research & discussions with my botox doc (board certified plastic surgeon) I came to understand the difference between therapy lights & UV light. The wavelength determines what layer of dermis or tissue the light can penetrate & the light type (often color bases) determines what type of cell structure it can enter to help correct “errors” our cells develop due to age, trauma, physiology, etc.
However, none of the light devices approved for therapy purposes contain UVA or UVB & shouldn’t cause any form of exposure / sun spotting on the skin. *The only exception I found was if someone has a non-stable form of Melasma its possible the therapy could exasperate the issue due to its underlying systemic condition & easy irritability.*
Hello,
I am so enjoying your straight forward commentary regarding your red light therapy. I am considering making a purchase. I have had Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism for about ten years. I also have RH. Recently I developed a terrible case of seborrheic scalp dermatitis which is very itchy. It is causing my hair to fall out. My question is what type of panel/panels would you recommend. I would especially want the red light therapy to reach my scalp. Also cost is a factor. I’m a retired teacher living on a fixed income. Thank you so very much, in advance.
Great idea documenting your red light therapy journey and sharing with everyone. It has been helpful during my investigation into this treatment plan for so many maladies! I suffer from degenerative disc disease, thyroid issues, arthritis in my knees and joint pain. For years I have searched for a way to keep from hurting and as I age it just seems to get worse. I hate taking medication and try not to unless it is just unbearable.
During the spring and summer months my issues seem to be not as bad and moving is so much easier. I always thought that I couldn’t recreate the effects of the light that I knew gave me relief. Thanks to finding Red light therapy, I can feel better ALL the time.
You are right, the book by Ari is a must…lots of information written for those of us who are new to this that you can understand.
Also, after compiling all the information I decided to purchase the BIO-MAX 900 myself from Platinum LED. I felt in comparison that it was the best value and a quality product in to the others that are available.
It arrived Wednesday and I am so excited! Only used it for a couple of days so far but anything it can do to alleviate some of my issues I will gladly take. Feeling like crap day in and day out is no way to live and Red light Therapy gives me hope.
Thanks for putting together a great way to help encourage others to give it a try. My plan is to invest in another light but for now this will have to do, it is expensive but I think worth the investment in my over all well being both physically and mentally.
Again, thank you.
Rita
What are your thoughts on red light tubes used in canopy and stand-up beds (e.g. Beauty Angel)-? I keep seeing LED lights referenced when I come across favourable RLT findings, but no research on flourescent tubes. Would really appreciate unbiased advice on their effectiveness, and how they compare to LEDs. Thanks!
Read the book. I believe Ari talks about the florescent as having the downside of having too much electromagnetic frequency or something.
Do you always protect your eyes? Is it not dangerous for the eyes?
Have you heard or learned anything about the red lights helping increase health bacteria and reduce dangerous bacteria in the gut microbiome?
Several years ago when my body, but especially my hands were inflamed with excema a friend recommended a red bed at a tanning salon. From the first use I loved the warmth and the relaxation. I went for 4 to 5, 20 minute sessions and in about 1 month I saw major changes and after three months I had kicked out the excema I had been struggling with for years! And it didn’t come back for about three years. The tanning salon I had been going to no longer offered the red bed so I found another one. This time no wonderful results. I just assumed it was my body that was no longer reacting positively, but now after reading your articles I think they might have had different wave lengths that were ineffective in treating excema. When I went to the first red bed, the owner, knowing that it was quite a chunk out of my day to drive to her place suggested I get a used tanning bed and switch out the bulbs, because that’s all she did. Have you ever thought of doing that? There’s something so relaxing about lying comfortably knowing every part of your body is getting treated ( there is always a fan going at the end of the bed so there’s a beautiful warmth, but not overheat).
Several years ago when my body, but especially my hands were inflamed with excema a friend recommended a red bed at a tanning salon. From the first use I loved the warmth and the relaxation. I went 4 to 5 times a weeks, 20 minute sessions and in about 1 month I saw major changes and after three months I had kicked out the excema I had been struggling with for years! And it didn’t come back for about three years. The tanning salon I had been going to no longer offered the red bed so I found another one. This time no wonderful results. I just assumed it was my body that was no longer reacting positively, but now after reading your articles I think they might have had different wave lengths that were ineffective in treating excema. When I went to the first red bed, the owner, knowing that it was quite a chunk out of my day to drive to her place suggested I get a used tanning bed and switch out the bulbs, because that’s all she did. Have you ever thought of doing that? There’s something so relaxing about lying comfortably knowing every part of your body is getting treated ( there is always a fan going at the end of the bed so there’s a beautiful warmth, but not overheat).
Can kids use this? I have a 6 year old with bad eczema.
I’m just some stranger on the internet & no substitute for discussing it with your pediatrician and/or family doc so take this with a grain of salt…
I grilled my botox doc (board certified surgeon) about light therapy a few months ago, specifically asking about limitation or potential issues related to age, condition, etc…
While talking she mentioned her youngest daughter suffered severe dermatitis & had been using near-infrared light to treat it from the age of 7 (shes graduating HS this year).
Her oldest tore rotator cuff in HS – used it to minimize inflammation pain & combined w/ sports therapy she was fully healed in less than 1/2 the doctors “best case scenario” projection.
Great post. I have a few questions. Are there charts that show how long to be in front of the light for certain conditions. If we are using this for mitochondria, is ok to just have it on my back–will it affect the whole body? Also, what is the book you read about it called?
I have not seen any charts, but the book talks about different lengths of time for different needs. Just doing it on your back will not affect your whole body.
The book is The Ultimate Guide to Red Light Therapy – https://amzn.to/2OxUtnm
Super post, thank you for the info – Questions and comments are so helpful. I’m looking at purchasing the Biomax900 – I can’t seem to find much or any info about exposing the Red light to tattoos. Have you come across any info about this? I’m concerned with the rejuvenation of cells, will this effect the ink on my skin? Also, have you had any change with you tinnitus? Thank you.
I don’t know about tattoos and haven’t heard anything either way about them. I have friends who have tattoos who use the lights and they haven’t mentioned anything…but that’s all I know.Sorry I can’t be of more help!
One other comment…Super important: avoid looking at your NIR lamp without light goggles. . https://www.hightechhealth.com/2020/08/27/near-infrared-causes-cataracts/
Jo this is someone promoting their far-infrared saunas so criticizing the NIR ones that are most common. I would like to know more about this effect on cataracts from a more objective source. There is also the U. London study showing vision improvement with red light exposure for subjects over 40 years old (not for under 40s). I did have some small improvement in my eyesight at opthamologist last week (I am 70 years old).
I have the Biomax 450 for about two months now. It is definitely having an effect on wound healing and skin and I think also on healing a muscle tear and other aches and pains., maybe even my ME/CFS.
I have it handing on door and am getting a ratchet to be able to move it up and down more easily. I use daily in the morning, immediately after shower when I have no creams or oils on my skin.
Most of what I read says exposure in one place can affect the whole body, so I was surprised to see that Rachel does not think so.
Rachel thanks for documenting, great blog.