Red Light Therapy for Wound Healing How Long and How Does it Work

Red Light Therapy for Healing

The human has miraculous healing ability. One of the best ways to ensure wound healing is to use red light therapy. red light therapy for wound healing does a terrific job. However, there are times when the wound-healing process does not go according to plan. If healing gets suppressed or delayed, it results in the body becoming vulnerable to infection. Thus, the individual would only experience prolonged pain, suffer from increased scarring, lose mobility, and deal with other complications. 

Red Light Therapy for Open Heal?

If the skin breaks such as in case of a puncture, scrape, scratch, or cut, it gets wounded. The internal wound affects cartilage, blood vessels, arteries, and vital organs. If the wounds do not properly heal, it results in serious consequences. As the skin is easily the largest organ, it provides a barrier from the outside world. It is the first line of defense. Hence, it is more likely to experience pressure sores, burns, lacerations, cuts, and injuries. Although skin-deep wounds quickly heal, deeper wounds that involve bones, ligaments, tendons, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves take a lot longer.

Does Red Light Therapy Heal Wounds

An effective way to speed up wound healing is by turning to red light therapy. It has been extensively used for the past 40 years for promoting skin wound healing and many other conditions. NASA scientists were the first to discover its incredible potential. Since the astronauts had great trouble healing injuries that occurred on a space flight, they gave red light therapy a try and found that it could heal wounds a lot faster. The accidental discovery led to extensive research into red light therapy and its potential for healing people.

The therapy involves the use of specific wavelengths of visible light for stimulating the biological processes of the body. These wavelengths are measured in nanometers and red light offers the most therapeutic value at 630 nm to 660 nm. Red light is absorbed by the skin and it offers beneficial effects. It can be used for connective tissues, bones, and muscles. With technological advances, it has become extremely easy to use LED lights for a natural way to promote wound healing.

How Long to do Red Light Therapy to Work

We recommend a 10-minute session for each treatment area at a distance of 6" away from the device, front and back side. You will receive some skin benefits up to 12" away from the device. we recommend daily treatments at the very least, 5 times per week. For some health challenges, additional red light therapy benefits are possible with two treatments per day. However, if you're only interested in skin-related improvements, just 5 minutes at a distance of 12” from the device is sufficient based on published clinical studies.

How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
Red and Infrared LED lights to use ranges of wavelengths that penetrate the outer layer of the skin, providing the cells with usable energy. This brings about Various reactions in the cells including improved healing, the reduction of inflammation and enhanced production of collagen. As the skin absorbs red light, cells respond by generating more energy. This enables them to function optimally. It has a profound effect on wound healing. The reason why red light therapy is so effective is because it works at the cellular level. It has a ripple effect as individual cells improve functioning of different bodily system which together support accelerated wound healing. Here is how red light therapy works.

What Does Red Light Therapy Help With

Increased Cellular Energy

Firstly, red light therapy helps increase cellular energy. If you have been very tired after a sleepless night, you would know how hard it can be to pull yourself together to head to work. No matter how much caffeine you might consume, you simply would be unable to perform your best. You would simply slog along. The same goes for your body. Tired cells are unable to heal your body like energized cells. According to a study conducted in Russia in 2005, it was found that red light absorbed by the skin reaches the mitochondrial chromophores which tend to be photosensitive. This interaction increases energy production in the mitochondria. Thus, the energized cells are better able to perform their functions, effectively repair themselves, regenerate, and fight off pathogens.  

Reduced Chronic Inflammation

When you experience acute inflammation in the form of reddened skin and swelling, it is likely to be followed by new skin structures being produced. However, if the inflammatory process does not stop, it results in oxidative stress which damages the ability of the cells to normally function. According to a study published by the Harvard Medical School in 2017, it was found that red light therapy reduce inflammation in animals and offers wound healing. It also treats spinal cord injuries, arthritis, and brain injury. The findings have shown that people with diabetic ulcers can also rely on red light therapy for tackling inflammatory response.

Increased Collagen Production

In addition to the above, collagen production increases when you opt for red light therapy. Since collagen is a protein that is found throughout the body, it is necessary for healing. By boosting collagen production, it is possible to heal deep abrasions, cuts, herpes lesions, and diabetic foot wounds. The National Institutes of Health revealed that there are about 16 types of collagen in the body which benefit from red light therapy.

Activation of Stem Cells

Stem cells are necessary for skin-rebuilding. They help mobilize the injury site and ensure that red light therapy for body recovers. Red light therapy effectively activates stem cells in the bone marrow. Stem cells play a huge role in communication with neighboring cells. If the cells are damaged, they would send wrong signals. However, when health stem cells are sent, they send the right signals to the new cells which allow them to utilize the right characteristics.

Improved Blood Circulation

Efficient blood circulation is required for healing. Red light therapy boosts microcirculation which ensures that blood is circulated even in the smallest of blood vessels. It increases perfusion which allows for blood to easily pass through from organs and tissues. An in vitro study was conducted by Austrian researchers in 2017 wherein they compared the effects of light on endothelial cells of the human umbilical cord. It was found that red light boosts the proliferation of endothelial cells. Thus, exposure to red light increases the growth of capillaries in the injured area which allows for the wound to be healed.

Use Red Light Therapy to Treat Wounds at Home

Today, there are companies such as RedDot LED that offer red light therapy products that you can use at home to treat wounds. Wounds which require medical attention need to be treated by a professional. On the other hand, minor wounds can be treated on your using LED panels that produce red light. When you start using the product for about 10 to 20 minutes several times a week, you will benefit from accelerated wound healing.