Everything You Wanted To Know About Red Light Therapy
The Simple At Home Treatment For Repairing Skin Damage, Boosting Collagen, Fading Scars and Hyperpigmentation and Eliminating Dark Undereye Circles.
Is It Halloween Again Or Is Mom Just Trying To Look Her Best?
If You’re Ready To Get More Radiant Skin As You Binge Watch Netflix, With The Bonus of Terrifying Your Children, Then It’s Time To Talk Red Light Therapy.
A Little Bonus
++ I’m doing something extra special for our Annual Substack Paid Subscribers. If you sign up for an Annual Subscription to The Edit With Nicole and place an order at NAHLA by April 30th, reach out below with your Substack email
address and order number and I’ll make sure a full sized bottle of Retinoic Night Repair Serum a $94 value and (my favorite Red Light Therapy partner) included in your order. And if you’ve previously signed up for an Annual Subscription and missed out, just order anytime in April, reach out and we’ll include one for you too. It’s my way of saying thank you - for your support of The Edit With Nicole & NAHLA. One gift per person/subscriber and may not be combined with other offers or in addition to previous Substack gifts.
What Device Is Right For Me
I’ve tried my full share of red light devices and some are really awful. But the five standouts that I personally own are, in order of my preference:
This handheld device has so many features it’ll make your head spin. Optional light therapies to combat blemishes, percussive technology to massage away facial tension, a microcurrent attachment and so much more. It’s the RLT I use more than any other because it charges in a jiff, fits comfortably in my hand and gives you a gentle little “bloop” sound when it’s time to more on to the next section of your face. FIVE STARS
The more top-shelf option from TheraFace, this mask option offers red, blue and infrared B and Blue light therapies plus 648 LED lights, eight vibration motors around the eyes and is seriously thorough. The down side, it is inconvenient to be wearing this contraption as you go about normal life during its 15 minute long cycle. Unlike a hand held device, you can’t just take a break and come back to it. I have also noticed some redness around the eye area that lasts for about 30 minutes after use so it’s not a great fit unless you’re doing it right before bed. Also, full disclosure: my husband finds it creepy as hell and it terrifies my kids. FOUR STARS
This is a great choice if you’re trying to add RLT to your routine at a lower price point. It does the job but I don’t find the results as profound as the Theraface Pro Set and the handle isn’t as comfortable in your hand. Other than that, it’s a great option. FOUR STARS
This portable device is really affordable and great for travel because of its size. But I definitely don’t notice quite the same results as some of the other options and again, this one has a handle that’s a bit awkward in hand. THREE STARS
HigherDOSE Red Light Therapy Face Mask
I included this mask version because so many people I know rave about it. The results are great and this one contours beautifully to your face. For me though, it’s not the winner because the mask versions make me feel ridiculous and I find this one so heavy that I literally want to lay down while I do it. THREE STARS
So, What Is Red Light Therapy?
In October of 1995, NASA began experimenting with red light therapy on plant growth in space. During these experiments, astronauts noticed the red light accelerated the healing of things like scratches on their hands or worts. This led researchers to dig deeper, discovering that red light therapy used deliberately as a type of photomedicine, penetrated cellular tissue and caused cells to work at a higher level.
How Does Red Light Therapy Work?
Red light therapy acts on the mitochondria or the “power house” of your body’s cells. When the red light penetrates, it goes deep - producing a biochemical effect in the cells that strengthens the mitochondria, which in turn strengthens mitochondrial function. This triggers the cells to produce more adenosine triphosphate (ATP) which carries the energy molecule in cells. When this happens, cells work much more efficiently, accelerating skin repair and dramatically promoting new cell growth.
What Are The Benefits of Red Light Therapy?
Improved Wound Healing
A Reduction In Stretch Marks and Scarring
Reduced Fine Lines, Wrinkles and Age Spots
Improvement In Inflammatory Conditions Like Eczema, Psoriasis and Rosacea
Enhanced Hair Growth When Used On The Scalp
Improved Circulation
Increased Collagen and Elastin Production
Improved Facial Texture and Tone
Boost In Elasticity and Laxity
A Reduction In Overall Cellular Inflammation
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Edit With Nicole to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.