Taking care of your skin is important for your overall health, not just how you look (though that is also important). The skin is involved in everything from immunity to body temperature regulation to hormone regulation. But, what are the immediate effects of red light therapy on the skin? Using a high-quality device, red and near-infrared light therapy can help your cells work better and make your skin healthier all over your body. In this article, we will discuss why skin health is so important, as well as how red and near infrared light therapy can benefit the skin.
Why is Skin Vital to Overall Health?
Our skin is our largest organ and our immune system’s first line of defense. The skin is also important for things like blood flow, making hormones, and keeping the body at the right temperature.
Here are some of the skin’s most important functions:
Protection and Immunity: The skin serves as our first line of defense against the world’s hazards. It protects us from dirt and other things we can see as well as things we can’t see, like germs and diseases. Skin is a key part of a healthy immune system because it protects against allergens, toxins, and carcinogens.
Circulation and Repair: Our skin is an important part of our circulatory system, and for it to be healthy, blood needs to flow through it well. Blood flow brings oxygen and nutrients to the skin, and it also gets rid of waste and carbon dioxide. When the skin is injured, circulating blood transports the proteins and cells required for repair.
Storage and Hormone Production: Our skin’s deeper layers serve as vital storage areas for water, fat, and metabolic products. Our skin also produces important hormones, such as Vitamin D, which is produced in response to sunlight exposure.
Temperature Regulation: The skin regulates body temperature by protecting you from heat and cold and preventing dehydration.
Beauty: Although your skin is more important than your appearance, this does not mean that appearance is unimportant. Skin is a big part of how we see ourselves and how others see us. This has a daily effect on self-esteem and mental health.
Red Light Therapy for Skin Health
Red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation (PBM) or low-level laser therapy (LLLT), is a simple, non-invasive treatment that targets the skin and cells with wavelengths of red and near infrared (NIR) light. More information on red light therapy can be found here.
Red light therapy improves cellular function. Researchers have found that red and near-infrared light wavelengths stimulate the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell, and can improve the cellular respiration process that makes ATP (adenosine triphosphate) energy. Red light therapy treatments are quick and easy, lasting about 10 minutes per session, and allow a person to supplement their natural sunlight with specific wavelengths of red and NIR light.
Light is essential for skin health as well as overall health and wellness. When our cells are in a state of balance, or homeostasis, our bodies work better and even look better. Red and near-infrared light promote balance throughout the body by improving the cellular environment, resulting in more efficient energy production with less inflammation and oxidative stress. When your cells are more balanced, your skin will appear and feel softer and more energized. That inner equilibrium is ideal for outer beauty.
Conclusion: Support Skin Health with Red Light Therapy
Skin health is critical to your overall well-being. Immunity, circulation, hormone production, temperature regulation, and self-esteem all benefit from healthy skin. It is critical to care for more than just your face, and getting enough healthy light while maintaining a balanced lifestyle is essential. Red light therapy can help you deal with inflammation and keep your skin healthy in general.