How often can you use red light therapy? The frequency depends on several factors, such as the condition (or conditions) you are treating, your age and overall health, and how often you want to visit your red light therapy provider. Other considerations also play a role.
Unlike many other treatment options that limit the frequency at which you can undergo them for safety reasons, there is no maximum number of times you can use red light therapy. Using red light therapy inconsistently or excessively, though, can change the benefits of the treatment. These benefits of red light therapy include:
- Painless treatment
- Zero side effects
- Injury prevention
- Healing wounds
- Reducing acne and wrinkles
- Decreasing oxidative stress
Can You Overdo Red Light Therapy?
Believe it or not, you can overdo red light therapy, also known as photobiomodulation (PBMT).
In scientific terms, red light therapy has a “biphasic dose response.” In simple terms, this means that some red light therapy has a healing or stimulating effect; repeating it a certain number of times helps you reach an optimal dose. However, once you go beyond the optimal dose, the benefits from red light therapy level off. If you continue to add higher doses, the treatment can even have an inhibiting effect that decreases the benefits you receive from therapy.
Overdoing red light therapy can even lead to minor side effects. If you are using red light therapy for its stimulating effects and overdo it, for example, the stimulating effects can make you feel tired.
In some cases, you’ll want to use the biphasic dose response intentionally. For example, you may want to overdo red light therapy to trigger the inhibitory effect if you are in pain. Achieving the optimal dose helps reach other goals, such as improving muscle recovery, enhancing well-being, increasing blood circulation, or supporting brain health.
Dos and Don’ts for Red Light Therapy
You should do a few things to get the most out of your red light therapy. These dos include:
- Do it consistently. Consistency is critical when trying to achieve and maintain the optimal dose to treat pain or other chronic problems.
- Use the correct operation mode. True Continuous Wave and Variable Pulse provide different benefits.
- Track your progress, taking progress pictures of any skin conditions you are treating, for example, or keeping a journal of your pain levels; tracking your progress can help you determine if your red light therapy treatment schedule is working well for you.
- Discuss your red light therapy use with your doctor or primary care provider, especially if you are pregnant; some medications can increase photosensitivity, which can lead to temporary redness or sensitivity.
The don’ts include:
- Wearing sunscreen, makeup, or other creams or lotions that interfere with red light therapy
- Expecting immediate results – as with any treatment, red light therapy can take time to work
- Red light therapy should not be combined with other treatments, such as retinol, to improve skin health.
- Not staying hydrated, as research suggests that red light targets well-hydrated cells.
How Often Can You Use Red Light Therapy?
Like many treatments, red light therapy is generally not a one-time treatment, although many patients experience benefits immediately after their first treatment. To treat most conditions, you’ll need to undergo red light therapy several times weekly for a few weeks or months.
While red light therapy causes instant changes in your body cells, the benefits of PBMT improve with additional treatments over time. Improvement for long-term problems, such as chronic joint pain, is usually noticeable after 8 to 12 weeks of consistent use.
Generally speaking, start with a couple of sessions in the first week and gradually increase the frequency of treatments over time. You might try three 10-minute sessions for the first week, for example. If you do not experience any temporary redness or irritation, you can then slowly increase the number and duration of your sessions to 15 to 20 minutes on four or more days per week.
As a rule of thumb, you can expect good results with three to five 15-minute sessions a week for several months. While the results of PBMT are long-lasting, they fade with time, but maintenance sessions can keep the benefits coming.
Other Things To Consider Regarding Red Light Therapy
Whether you undergo red light therapy for pain or another issue, what you do following a red light therapy session can affect your outcome. A few tips can help you get the most out of your red light therapy:
What Not To Do After Red Light Therapy?
- Avoid using harsh skin products or aggressive exfoliating products.
- Avoid exposing your skin to excessive sunlight.
- Skip therapeutic serums or creams, as red light therapy and these products intensify the effects of each other.
- Avoid pushing yourself too hard during exercise after using red light therapy to repair an injury.
Do You Need Goggles?
While not required, wearing goggles during your red light therapy sessions is a good idea. This is especially true if your eyes are sensitive to light, you take medication that makes your body more sensitive to light, or you are tempted to look at the diodes that emit light in red light therapy devices.
It is the intensity of the light rather than the type of light which causes eye sensitivity. The red light used in PBMT can easily penetrate your eyelids, but health experts agree that red light therapy is safe for healthy patients. Goggles can reduce the intensity of the light.
Who Should Not Use Red Light Therapy?
Red light therapy beds and other devices are generally safe for most people, but some patients should avoid this treatment. Those with medical conditions that cause photosensitivity, such as lupus, should consult their doctor before undergoing red light therapy or any other treatment.
Is 10 Minutes of Red Light Therapy Enough?
Each red light therapy session should last 10 to 20 minutes. A 10-minute session may not provide the results you desire.
Is 30 Minutes Too Long for Red Light Therapy?
Depending on your desired outcome and sensitivity to red light, 30 may be too long for red light therapy.
Consult your doctor or a TheraLight professional for more information on how often you can use red light therapy.
