Science & Effects of Red Light Therapy

We’ve done the research so you don’t have to. Over the past two decades, red light therapy and near-infrared light therapy have been backed by thousands of clinical studies proving how and why this technology works.

At the start of the millennium only a few papers existed, but a breakthrough came when NASA research first highlighted the benefits of light therapy, sparking global scientific interest. Since then, the evidence has continued to grow, with studies showing expanding applications for skin health, muscle recovery, anti-aging, pain relief, and overall wellbeing.

Explore The Benefits

Improved Recovery

In sports, both red and near-infrared light play a powerful role. Used before training or competition, it helps oxygenate the muscles for better performance. Afterward, it supports faster recovery—reducing downtime and keeping you at your best. Perfect for athletes of any level, and equally beneficial in everyday life.

💡 How does it work?

Red light

  • Stimulates nitric oxide (NO), widening blood vessels for better circulation
  • Boosts ATP (your cells’ energy supply)
  • Delivers more oxygen and nutrients to surface muscles and tissues
  • Supports quicker muscle recovery after activity

Near-infrared light

  • Reaches deeper into muscles and joints
  • Further enhances ATP production for energy at the cellular level
  • Speeds up muscle and tissue repair
  • Helps microtears in muscles heal faster
  • Reduces inflammation post-workout
  • Improves joint mobility and eases stiffness

Explore the Studies (Improved Recovery)

Improved Blood Circulation

Blood is the body’s lifeline. It delivers oxygen and nutrients that allow our cells to grow, repair, and renew themselves, hundreds of billions every single day. Both red and near-infrared light have a powerful effect on how our cells function, which directly supports overall health and well-being.

💡 How do they work?

Red light

  • Boosts nitric oxide (NO) production
  • Expands blood vessels to improve circulation
  • Supports vascular regeneration and speeds up wound healing

Near-infrared light

  • Stimulates nitric oxide in deeper tissues
  • Aids recovery of muscles, tendons, and even organs
  • Strengthens and supports the cardiovascular system

Explore the Studies (Improved Circulation)

Better Skin & Hair

As we age, our bodies naturally produce less collagen and elastin. This decline leads to wrinkles, slower wound healing, and weaker hair and nails. Red light therapy helps counteract these effects by boosting collagen production and improving microcirculation, delivering more oxygen and nutrients to the skin, hair, and nails.

💡 How does it work?

Red Light Therapy:

  • Supports natural collagen production for firmer, smoother skin
  • Encourages elastin, keeping skin supple and resilient
  • Enhances blood flow, improving oxygen and nutrient delivery to cells
  • Helps reduce and prevent fine lines and wrinkles
  • Promotes faster healing of scars and blemishes
  • Stimulates hair follicles, improving thickness and strength

Explore the Studies (Better Skin & Hair)

High Quality Sleep

Our bodies run on a natural 24-hour rhythm, known as the circadian cycle. When it’s disrupted, sleep and energy levels suffer. While reducing blue light exposure before bed is important, red and near-infrared light therapy can also help restore balance, improving both daytime energy and nighttime rest.

💡 How does it work?

Red Light

  • Balances the effects of blue light that interfere with sleep
  • Encourages evening melatonin production, helping you wind down naturally
  • Makes it easier to fall asleep at night
  • Supports deeper, more restorative non-REM sleep

Near-Infrared Light

  • Stimulates melatonin production within deeper tissues
  • Boosts cellular energy, enhancing recovery and repair
  • Helps the body recharge more effectively overnight
  • Reduces stress and fatigue for a calmer state of mind

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Unrestricted Movement

The musculoskeletal system is highly interconnected, with bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons all working together. Near-infrared light therapy supports this system as a whole, helping with both recovery and long-term prevention.

💡 How does it work?

Near-Infrared Light

  • Supports recovery while also helping to prevent future problems
  • Improves joint flexibility and reduces stiffness
  • Reduces inflammation in both chronic and acute conditions
  • Stimulates collagen production, strengthening the tissues that make up much of the musculoskeletal system
  • Shown in studies to increase bone density, lowering the risk of fractures
  • Boosts circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients for faster healing and stronger support

Explore the Studies (Unrestricted Movement)

Better Mental Health & Cognition

True health isn’t just about the body—it’s also about the brain and emotional well-being. Red and near-infrared light therapy can play a positive role here, helping to ease stress, support cognitive performance, and uplift mood. Much of this stems from the role red-spectrum light naturally plays in our daily sunlight exposure.

💡 How does it work?

Red Light

  • Lifts mood and increases overall energy
  • Helps keep the circadian rhythm in balance
  • Stimulates serotonin, the “feel-good” hormone
  • May help ease symptoms of depression and anxiety

Near-Infrared Light

  • Reaches deeper brain tissues to enhance cellular energy
  • Supports neurogenesis (the formation of new brain cells)
  • Improves learning capacity, memory, and focus
  • Helps balance neurotransmitters, creating greater emotional stability

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Reduced Inflammation

Swelling and pain are often signs of active inflammation. Red and near-infrared light therapy work to calm inflammation at the source, easing discomfort while supporting the body’s natural healing processes.

💡 How does it work?

Red Light

  • Targets the upper layers of the skin
  • Boosts microcirculation to speed up healing and reduce inflammation
  • Supports antioxidant activity to protect and repair cells
  • Helps improve common skin concerns such as acne, eczema, and rosacea

Near-Infrared Light

  • Reaches deeper tissues to reduce inflammation and pain
  • Aids recovery from muscle and tendon strain
  • Supports chronic conditions affecting joints and the musculoskeletal system
  • Shown to help with arthritis and related joint issues
  • Enhances antioxidant effects, lowering inflammatory responses throughout the body

Explore the Studies (Reduced Inflammation)

Enhanced Eye Function

Blue light is all around us, especially from constant screen use. Red light therapy works as a natural counterbalance, helping to offset the strain caused by blue light while boosting energy production within the eyes.

💡 How does it work?

Red Light

  • Helps balance the effects of excessive blue light exposure
  • Increases cellular energy to support healthy eye function
  • May help protect against age-related or degenerative changes
  • Supports overall retinal health and performance

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Longevity & Vitality

The benefits of red and near-infrared light therapy build over time. By supporting your cells with more energy, your body and mind can stay stronger, sharper, and more resilient as you age. Just 20 minutes a day may not feel like much now- but in the years ahead, you’ll thank yourself for the difference in how you look and feel.

💡 How does it work?

Red & Near-Infrared Light

  • Work together to create lasting, interconnected benefits
  • Boost cellular energy to support long-term vitality
  • Help extend healthy cell function and lifespan
  • Promote an active, energetic lifestyle at any age
  • Slow down visible signs of aging and reduce everyday fatigue

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Strong Immune System

The immune system is complex and deeply interconnected, relying on everything from the skin to the gut to defend the body. Red and near-infrared light therapy work together to strengthen this system, helping you stay more resilient against everyday threats.

💡 How does it work?

Red Light

  • Boosts microcirculation, improving blood flow
  • Delivers more oxygen and nutrients to cells
  • Speeds up the removal of waste products
  • Provides extra energy to help fight surface-level infections

Near-Infrared Light

  • Promotes cellular repair and regeneration deep within the body
  • Stimulates white blood cell activity to strengthen immune defenses
  • Supports faster recovery so the body doesn’t get overwhelmed
  • Reduces inflammation, helping to control internal infections

Explore the Studies (Strong Immune System)