Red light therapy is an up-and-coming treatment that is taking the health and wellness industry by storm! By now, we’re sure most people already know what it is and how it can benefit the body in more ways than one – but what about side effects?
Most people are quick to explore how red light therapy can help you, but we want to give you the full picture to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself in for. Let’s take a quick refresher course on red light therapy treatment and whether or not there are any side effects you need to be aware of below.
What is red light therapy?
Red light therapy is a treatment which uses low levels of red light to penetrate the skin and blast your cells’ mitochondria to give them an energy boost. This reportedly makes them more effective and more likely to regenerate faster, which has been shown to improve skin appearance – including reducing wrinkles, scars, redness, and acne. Research is still ongoing, pilot studies have shown that this treatment might also be effective in other medical conditions.
There’s still lots of research ongoing surrounding the effectiveness of red light therapy. Some studies have reported impressive findings, while others require more in-depth research to back them up. It’s up to you whether you try it out for yourself with the limited findings attached to it!
Is red light therapy safe?
Red light therapy generally appears to be safe and isn’t associated with any major side effects when used for a short amount of time and as directed by healthcare professionals. The therapy is actually less invasive than a lot of alternatives, less harsh and non-toxic – unlike ultraviolet (UV) light which can cause cancer.
It’s worth noting that the long-term safety effects of red light therapy aren’t yet known, so side effects and risks can become more apparent if you misuse it. This might include using it too often or not according to the directions recommended to you – remember, like many other health and wellness treatments, red light therapy machines have the potential to become risky if not used in the correct capacity.
Potential side effects of red light therapy
Most people who have used red light therapy have reported no side effects, and professionals claim that the risk of developing any is very low. But it’s not impossible – and without as much research on this therapy as others out there, there’s no way of telling how your body will react.
If you do experience any side effects of red light therapy, you might see:
- Increased swelling or inflammation
- Localised rashes
- Redness
- Pain
Some people report that their skin feels sunburnt a few hours to a day after the treatment. This should go away on its own and doesn’t leave any lasting consequences. If you’re worried about any potential side effects after receiving your therapy treatment, always contact a doctor or healthcare professional to make sure what you’re experiencing is in the realm of normalcy.
Are at-home red light therapy devices safe?
With the popularity of red light therapy increasing day by day, you’ll find many products to use at home online. These products are generally safe to use as they might use less powerful wattage than the machines in wellness centres, but you need to make sure that they are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as these are the safest machines to use. Because of these machines being less powerful, you might not get the results you’re hoping for.
If you do choose to use an at-home machine, always read the instructions and follow them to a T. Take care of your device, shield your eyes to avoid damaging them, and always make sure you trust the brand you’re buying from. You can even take your at-home machine to a professional to see if they deem it safe and make sure you’re using it correctly if you’re worried.
Is red light therapy worth it?
The answer to this question all depends on you and what you’re hoping to get out of your treatments. For example, if you’re hoping to minimise the appearance of fine lines and
wrinkles, then you might be impressed with the results after a few weeks of continued treatments. If you’re hoping for something more drastic, like the reduction of chemotherapy side effects, you might be a little disappointed if your body doesn’t react in the way you were hoping for. We recommend working with a professional to help you achieve the best possible results to avoid leaving you disappointed.
Final thoughts
There’s plenty of claims online about red light therapy – one of the most common being that it’s completely safe and doesn’t come with any side effects. This is mostly true as long as you use the treatment correctly as instructed by a professional, but the long-term effects are still largely unknown and therefore can’t be predicted.
There are a few side effects reported if you use it for too long, such as pain and swelling, but these are usually mild and go away within a day or two. Our advice would be to always use red light therapy as instructed by a professional instead of making it up as you go along – it’s better to be safe than sorry!
