When you hear "red light therapy," what’s the first thing that pops into your mind? Glowing skin? Fewer wrinkles? Maybe a little acne relief? If your Facebook and instagram feed is anything like mine, then you are bombarded with photobiomodulation and red light therapy adverts for skin care. That is great, because it works and the more people that see light for what it can do, the better it is. 

However, once you get past the headliners—there is much more  Here’s the exciting truth: red light therapy (photobiomodulation), is so much more than a beauty boost.

Light therapy from technology, is powered predominantly by low-level red and near-infrared wavelengths. It is like a secret weapon for your body’s hidden potential. Let’s dive into five surprising benefits that go way beyond the mirror. This is post just about red light therapy devices. The OG of light therapy is of course the sun!

1. A Mood Lift When You Least Expect It

Feeling a bit blah? We all are, just yesterday my daughter ran up to me and told me how much better she felt after being outside in the sun on the first real warm (11 degrees) day here in Drammen. But did you know? Red light therapy might just be your new happy place! Studies suggest that these gentle wavelengths can nudge your brain into a better mood by supporting serotonin production—yep, that feel-good chemical we all crave. It’s thought to work by penetrating deep enough to influence your mitochondria (your cells’ energy factories), giving your brain a subtle energy boost. Imagine swapping out that afternoon slump for a natural pick-me-up, all from a quick session under the red glow. Who knew photobiomodulation could feel so uplifting? If you can combine that with get sun on your stomach (when its warmer), you could be onto a real double whammy of goodness.

2. Faster Healing for Those Stubborn Wounds

This one I tried on myself a few times after long hikes. You know when you go out hiking and you get some sores, or blisters or scrapes, or perhaps you have a scrape that’s taking forever to heal? Light therapy could speed things up! This isn’t just for athletes recovering from sprains—research shows red light therapy can accelerate wound healing by boosting blood flow and collagen production at the cellular level. One fascinating study even found it helped diabetic patients with slow-healing sores. The secret? It reduces inflammation while supercharging your cells’ repair mode. Next time you nick yourself gardening, a photobiomodulation session might just turn you into a healing superhero! The other wonderful things is that it appears to do this systemically. What do I mean? Whilst the best effects are seen when shining directly on the effected area, some of the positive effects can be seen at different parts of the body suggesting that it might not be only improving the local area, but the whole body as well. That is definitely a WIN WIN scenario!

3. A Secret Weapon Against Hair Thinning

Here’s one you might not expect: red light therapy could give your hair a fighting chance! Forget the skin-deep perks - light therapy has been shown to stimulate hair follicles by increasing circulation and energy in the scalp to help shift the follicle phase. It’s like a wake-up call for sleepy roots! Small studies have seen thicker, fuller hair growth in people with thinning locks after consistent use. So, if you’ve been eyeing that hairbrush with dread, a little photobiomodulation might bring back some bounce—and your confidence! An interesting side note - a combination of common hair loss treatments with red light therapy has been shown to improve the effectiveness of those as well.

4. Easing Joint Stiffness Without the Pills

Having Osteoarthritis myself, this one is personal! If you have some Achy joints slowing you down, I can personally recommend that you grab a wrap or button and get it on you right away! Red light therapy will step up to the plate and give you back something you thought you had lost! Unlike the usual suspects (hello, ibuprofen etc), this non-invasive wonder works by penetrating deep into tissues to calm inflammation and improve mobility. No drugs needed. Research hints it could even support cartilage health—pretty cool, right? Picture this: a morning session with your photobiomodulation device, and suddenly those creaky knees feel ready to tackle the stairs. It’s a game-changer for anyone who wants to move freely again! It allowed me to run around with my daughter after originally taking me 20+ minutes in the morning just move freely.

5. Boosting Your Energy - a Natural Espresso Shot without the crash!

Tired of dragging through your day? Light therapy might just be the jolt you need—minus the jitters and crash! By stimulating mitochondrial function, red light therapy helps your cells produce more ATP (that’s science-speak for energy) when they need it. I.e. in the winter, when temperatures are cold and it's dark more (more of that in a different blog where I talk about the importance of keeping a coupled climate(within reason) to the outside). The result? You feel more awake, focused, and ready to roll. Users often report a subtle but noticeable lift after just 10-15 minutes. Swap that third coffee for a photobiomodulation break, and watch your energy soar naturally. Not ready to give the caffeine - then wait an hour or 2 and get the benefits of the coffee later, this should also have a positive effects on reducing the crash.

Shine a Light on Something New!

It's pretty unbelievable how versatile red light therapy can be! That is until you think about it from an evolutionary perspective. We evolved under the sun that is full of these wavelengths of light. We used to spend every minute of every day outside. Now, we don't and we need to supplement light and depending on your location, you might need to supplement a lot!

Red light therapy can benefit you from lifting your spirits to giving your hair a boost, this isn’t just a one-trick pony—it’s a whole wellness toolbox delivered to you via photons of light. Whether you’re using a portable photobiomodulation device, a home panel or dreaming up your next self-care ritual, these unexpected perks prove there’s more to light therapy than meets the eye (quite literally as you can't see near infrared light). Ready to try it for yourself? Your body might just thank you in ways you never imagined!