Red light therapy (RLT) has been steadily gaining traction for its far-reaching potential health benefits. Its especially known for its ability to penetrate deeply into the skin and impact vital tissues and organs. With Australia at the forefront of the wellness boom, and the global industry now being worth an estimated $7 trillion (dwarfing the pharmaceutical sector by three times), we have to ask –just how effective is RLT really in reaching vital tissues such as muscles, bones, and internal organs to affect health? Understanding this can help us maximise its full potential.
Red and Near-Infrared (NIR) light are the champions of deep skin penetration within the sunlight spectrum. It’s established that Red and Near-Infrared (NIR) wavelengths of light can penetrate between 1 to 50 mm into the skin. However, their penetration depth varies, ranging from a mere 1 mm to a significant 50 mm. This depth is influenced by several factors, including wavelength, intensity, and the mode of treatment application.
However, there’s a catch. Even if the light manages to penetrate 50mm, its intensity dwindles considerably, often leaving just a trace at that depth. This fact raises concerns about whether such light can significantly impact deeper tissues.
Interestingly, studies have observed benefits from Red and NIR light in areas deeper than the light itself can penetrate, or even in completely different parts of the body than the area treated. These effects are termed in the scientific literature as Systemic Effects, Indirect Effects, Abscopal Effects, Remote treatment, Global effects, or Bystander effects. Understanding these effects can help us revolutionise the application of red light therapy.
When light photons are absorbed by cells, a series of reactions occur. These reactions can up-regulate ATP production, release nitric oxide, increase oxygen consumption, and even affect cell signaling. But do these effects only occur in the cell where the photon was absorbed?
What’s fascinating is that numerous studies have shown that these effects are not limited to the directly irradiated cells. A paper by Tuner and Hode highlighted that the impact of the laser beam can influence very distant parts of the body through metabolic mediators.
Such observations suggest that red light therapy can have systemic or “bystander” effects.
Upon absorbing photons, cellular structures, especially the mitochondria, trigger several beneficial reactions. These include:
This systemic influence can significantly enhance the healing process:
From enhancing skin health to treating kidney diseases, the systemic effects of RLT have shown promising results in various domains:
To leverage the systemic effects of RLT, one can:
However, the exact effects and benefits can vary based on the device’s design, power, duration of exposure, and other factors.
The Total Xen by Aesthetic Bureau (pictured above) is one of the most advanced, versatile and effective full body light therapy systems on the market today, delivering maximum tissue saturation with its cutting edge design and technology and precision craftsmanship. It utilises clinically proven Red 630nm/660nm light for skin health and NIR 850nm light for deeper penetration and is based on research findings from over 500 published double-blind studies and 5,000 laboratory studies. Red 630nm/660nm is primarily absorbed by skin cells and accelerates cell renewal and repair by increasing collagen production and promoting optimal skin health. It increases the body’s natural form of cellular energy (ATP) which kickstarts cells to regenerate faster. NIR 850nm can penetrate deeper into tissues compared to visible light which makes it especially useful for reaching muscles, joints, and even bones. Its deep penetration capabilities aid in pain relief, muscle recovery post-exercise, and even show promise in neuroprotection, addressing concerns related to brain injuries and neurodegenerative conditions. Other known benefits include enhancing cellular energy production, reducing inflammation, and promoting tissue healing.
Red light therapy, despite its superficial photon penetration, offers profound systemic effects beneficial for the body. Whether you’re looking at healing a wound or targeting deeper organs like the brain or kidneys, understanding and harnessing these systemic effects can pave the way for more effective treatments.
While the direct penetration of light plays a role, it’s the indirect, systemic mechanisms that truly amplify the benefits of RLT, making it a promising avenue for holistic health and well-being.
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