Red Light Therapy Benefits – What You Need to Know

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I love exploring complementary therapies that support healing from the inside out. One practice I’ve recently enjoyed is red light therapy – a treatment that’s gaining popularity for its wide range of potential health benefits. In this post, I’ll share what it is, what some of the reported red light therapy benefits are, and how it might support cancer patients and survivors.

What Is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy uses LED lights that emit low-level wavelengths of red or near-infrared light. These wavelengths penetrate the skin and are believed to trigger biological responses at the cellular level, helping your cells function more efficiently.

In professional settings, some clinics also use low-energy lasers in addition to LED lights. For home use, red light therapy is most commonly available through devices like facial masks, handheld wands, or panels. Many alternative wellness centers also offer red light therapy beds for a deeper experience. Chances are, you have one near you – a quick online search can help you find one in your area.

Whether applied to the face, joints, or muscles, red light therapy aims to stimulate cellular function and improve healing, recovery, and overall vitality.

Red Light Therapy Benefits

The light energy from red light therapy is thought to stimulate cell repair and reduce inflammation, which may lead to a variety of health benefits. Some of the most commonly reported red light therapy benefits include:

• Improved skin health – It may help reduce age spots, improve skin firmness, and ease skin conditions like eczema or acne.
  

• Pain relief – It’s often used to help manage chronic pain, post-surgery soreness, or recovery from injuries.
  

• Faster healing – It can promote muscle and wound repair after injury, surgery, or intensive exercise.

  
  

I personally love using red light therapy and have had a positive experience with it. I find it to be a calming and restorative practice that helps me feel more balanced overall. I have found it to be helpful with thinning hair, improvements in my skin and less aches and pains. I recently had surgery and I used it after my surgery for healing.

Red Light Therapy Benefits for Cancer Patients

If you’re navigating cancer or survivorship, you may be wondering whether red light therapy could be right for you. While research is still limited, early studies suggest that, unlike UV light, red light is not harmful to the skin or body (though you should always protect your eyes during sessions).

As always, it’s important to consult your doctor before trying any new therapy. But red light therapy can be beneficial if you are dealing with chronic pain from your diagnosis or treatment, or are recovering post-surgery for cancer. 

It requires a bit of patience, as it typically takes multiple sessions to see improvements, but many people find it helpful for managing pain, easing inflammation, and supporting recovery after surgery or treatment.

While red light therapy is not a cancer treatment itself, therapies that reduce inflammation, support healing, and improve sleep can all contribute positively to your overall health.

Exploring More Complementary Therapies

Treating your mind, body, and spirit is essential when living with cancer or recovering from treatment. I love encouraging my clients to explore additional, safe therapies alongside their medical care – approaches that make them feel supported and well-rounded in their healing journey.

If you’d like to learn more about complementary practices, I encourage you to read some of my other posts on:

• Earthing and Cancer: How This Practice Can Help You

• Grounding and Cancer: Should You Try Grounding Mats?

• Dry Salt Therapy and Its Benefits

• Exercise as a Form of Medicine

• Rebounding for the Lymphatic System

And as always, if you’re looking for a counselor to talk with as you navigate your journey with cancer, I’m always available.