Photodynamic Red Light Therapy (Photo courtesy of the National Cancer Institute)
CF writes: “I was reading about the new LUMEBOX red light therapy. It is promoted to be better than medications in helping almost everything. Could you illuminate me as to whether this is a hoax?”
Red light therapy (RLT) is not a hoax and there’s plenty of ongoing research into its uses. Although some studies do show promise, the full effectiveness of RLT has yet to be determined.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, RLT is a treatment that uses low levels of red light to reportedly improve skin conditions such as wrinkles, scars, and acne. Some of its other uses include wound healing, increasing blood circulation, and reducing inflammation in cells.
“Red light therapy is thought to work by acting on the ‘power plant’ in your body’s cells called mitochondria,” the Clinic reports. “With more energy, other cells can do their work more efficiently, doing things like repairing skin, boosting new cell growth and enhancing skin rejuvenation. More specifically, certain cells absorb light wavelengths and are stimulated to work.”
The idea of RLT came from NASA’s experimentation with RLT on plant growth in space and to help heal wounds in astronauts. To date, RLT is widely accepted medically in its use in photodynamic therapy, which involves using a low-powered red laser light to activate a photosensitizer drug which creates a chemical reaction that destroys cells. Photodynamic therapy is used to treat skin cancer, psoriasis, acne, warts, and other types of cancer.
As for at-home RLT devices such as LUMEBOX, these devices range anywhere from $20 to hundreds of dollars. They are generally safe to use but may be less powerful that the devices used by dermatologists and other medical professionals, which means you won’t get the results you expect.
It’s also important to shield the eyes when using one of these at-home devices and follow directions for use very carefully.
The bottom line is that experts know RLT is effective, but they don’t know if it is effective for all of its claimed uses. “Most say that the studies published so far show some potential for certain conditions, but that more studies need to be conducted,” the Clinic reports. “Red light therapy is still an emerging treatment that’s generating growing interest. But at this point in time, there’s not enough evidence to support most uses.”
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